Chapter 188: Chapter 188

"Anna, have you heard? That Zane Family is finished!"

"The one that was close with Marilyn Ford. Later at the banquet, you threw that Zane heiress into the lake! Their company is about to shut down, and they’re swimming in debt. Recently the news is all about her parents being involved in financial crimes!" Dıscover more novels at Novᴇl_Fire(.)net

"You mean Jean Zane?"

"Yeah, Jean Zane herself is even worse off. Her incident of going to a club looking for male companions couldn’t stay under wraps and exploded online, complete with bed pictures. This time she can’t blame you, claiming we leaked the news, right? We don’t have her nude photos."

Mary said and suddenly beckoned to Anna Thornton, leaning closer to whisper: "I heard it’s because they offended the Grant Family, and Young Master Grant did them in! Do you think Finn Grant is doing this for you? I think it’s very possible!"

As an agent, Mary’s strongest professional skill lies in gathering gossip.

Initially, her business scope was limited to show business, but since Anna Thornton returned to the country and got involved with the Grant, Ford, and Conrad Sterling families, Mary had to expand her business into the financial circle.

It turns out, not investigating isn’t knowing; investigating is shocking.

The financial circle’s oddities are no less than entertainment, and the level of drama refreshes Mary’s worldview, even as a veteran in the entertainment industry.

"No wonder Jean Zane hasn’t come to trouble me recently."

Anna Thornton is currently in the phase where she feels ’commoners always want to harm me.’

Jean Zane was convinced that the club incident was Anna Thornton’s doing. Later she tried to harm Anna at Willow Residence but ended up thrown into the lake herself, surely holding a grudge.

Anna Thornton remained vigilant, but her time filming had been relatively smooth.

Looks like Jean Zane is too tangled with her family’s downfall to bother Anna.

However, Anna still can’t let her guard down; Marilyn Ford is still in the neighboring crew.

Who knows when Conrad Sterling, that jackass, might dump another load of trouble on her?

"Young Master Grant often visits our set to see you. You’d never guess he could bring the Zane Family to bankruptcy in just one week!"

"The Aethelgard circle is truly a pit of dragons and wolves. Without some tactics, how do you think Finn Grant rose to his current status?"

"True, out of the four big families, the Grant Family has the fewest members; it’s basically just Young Master Grant holding it all together. Who would’ve thought he would be the most prosperous! By the way, Anna, have you heard about the curse on the Grant Family? It says people in their family keep dying one after another over the past twenty years..."

Just as Mary said this, a tall shadow loomed over.

"Whose family keeps dying?" Finn Grant asked.

"Gr-Gr-Young Master Grant..." Mary was startled into a shiver, "Why...why are you here?"

Anna Thornton raised her eyes and glanced at the suddenly appeared Finn Grant, relatively calm: "You’re back again?"

Seizing the moment as Mary stood up, Finn Grant casually took her chair and sat beside Anna: "I’m here to invite you for a meal, is that how you talk to me?"

"Actresses really can’t handle big meals every day. Spare me, please!"

Mary stepped back a couple of steps to sneak a look at Finn Grant, who was quite affable in front of Anna. Even if sometimes his invitations were rejected, he didn’t seem to get angry.

But for some reason, Mary couldn’t help but shudder when she remembered his gaze when he heard her speaking.

Anna’s right; these big shots are certainly no simpletons behind the scenes. If he can bring down the Zane Family in a week, dealing with people like them must be as simple as squashing an ant, right?

Maybe he didn’t hear clearly what she said just now. Mary must take care to be cautious in badmouthing him in the future and remind Anna to be wary too.

"Young Master Grant, I appreciate your intentions. But if you could visit our set less, disrupting the filming schedule, I’d burn a high incense and thank you!"

Finn Grant, having been busy for a week and seeing Anna Thornton less during this time, was unexpectedly accused of disrupting her when he showed up, making him slightly aggrieved: "When did I ever disrupt you? With so many male actors in your crew, I’m worried they’re harassing you."

"Please, this movie I’m filming involves romances with seven different men. It’s just normal performance work, why is it harassment in your eyes?"

"Other men coming within a one-meter radius of you already constitutes harassment in my view. Do you think they’re acting? Do you have any idea how sordid a man’s thoughts can be?"

"Then you’re within my harassment range now, do you have any sordid thoughts?"

"Of course, do you want to know?"

"Never mind! Consider I didn’t ask!"

"The script itself is flawed. If it’s set in the future, why can women in the future only have romances with men? Why can’t women be with other women? I think you should have more female actors, to show societal openness!"

"Your idea is great, Young Master Grant. Why not invest some money and shoot a movie according to your vision?"

Anna Thornton was just joking; she didn’t expect Finn Grant to show an expression that he was seriously considering it.

Judging by his expression, he was already planning to bankroll the entire crew and force them to shoot according to his whims.

Anna quickly withdrew this proposal: "No way, it won’t pass censorship! Save your idea until regulations loosen up a bit in the future!"

"If you shoot it, I have ways to get it aired." Finn Grant thumped his chest, assuring Anna Thornton, "I can see your crew is quite strapped for cash, aren’t you lacking investment?"

"It’s enough, thank you, no need for further concern!"

"No one ever thinks they have too much money!"

Saying this, Finn Grant had thoughts of discussing investment with Quinn Locke.

Luckily, a phone call came, urgently calling him back to the company.

As soon as Finn Grant returned to the company, two figures rushed towards him.

However, before they could reach Finn, the surrounding security and bodyguards stopped them.

They were a pair of middle-aged couple, looking very downtrodden.

But not the typical downtrodden like beggars, more like despair from a sudden major calamity.

These two people were Jean Zane’s parents.

Though the Zane Family in Aethelgard can’t compare to the four great families, their daughter befriending Marilyn Ford meant they weren’t shabby.

They still didn’t understand how they offended Young Master Grant to suffer such a calamity.

The couple was of older age; had they not been truly desperate, they wouldn’t have come to plead in front of Finn Grant.

Stopped from getting near by bodyguards, they knelt on the ground and abandoned their dignity, kowtowing thrice to Finn Grant.

"Young Master Grant, please... spare us!"

"Young Master Grant, if we had any other option, we wouldn’t be disturbing you! If you don’t relent, nobody in Aethelgard dares help us! Just one word from you could save my entire family!"

"Young Master Grant, we’ve never had any resentment or grudge against you, do you really have to be so ruthless?"

After being unmoved by their pleading, Finn Grant suddenly stopped.

The expensive shoes on cold, hard marble floor turned towards the couple kneeling.

"No resentment or grudge? Huh, ask your precious daughter what she said? I heard... you both treat me as a joke behind my back?"

"No, no!" The Zanes hastily waved their hands, who would dare!

"She even said you fear me only because I’m sick? And now you’re begging in front of a madman, don’t you find it ironic?"

The Zane couple turned pale upon hearing this.

It’s known that ’being sick’ is something Finn Grant most detests being called.

Some matters, if he finds out but doesn’t mention them, might still be let go.

But today, he invites the phrase ’madman’ in front of so many of his company’s employees.

Can’t point to anything else... no negotiation, they’re done!

Anna Thornton was on set, receiving real-time gossip updates from Mary: "Anna, you know? Jean Zane’s parents have jumped off a building and committed suicide!"