Chapter 20：Drift off to dreamland (1/2)

Mr. Celo has excellent timing, though; we'll be having a meeting very soon. Both Mr. Boet and Mr. Hille will be present.

* * * * *

It's been about an hour since the meeting has started.

We've already gone through most of the offers. Jett is about to go into consultation mode, but I stop him as I've yet to tell him about the latest one.

With a bored face, I go ahead and inform them, ”Sorry for interrupting, but there's one more thing. I've received a phone call from Big Red Studios, and they were wondering if we'd be interested in 'I challenge you!'. The gig extends to the four of us.”

Ren Hille, who was leisurely tilting his chair back, suddenly leans forward.

The sound of the chair's front legs hitting the ground, along with his hand smacking the table, scares me, as per usual. ”WHAT?! The FOUR of us?! Really??? Me, Charles, Jett, and even Si- I mean, Ms. Raley?!?!”

The suddenness of it all earned him a glare from me.

Ren sheepishly smiles back, as if he knew that I was cursing him inwardly.

He turns to Mr. Boet and begs, ”PLEASE, PLEASE, let's do this! I know it's going to be FUN! I've seen a few episodes, and it's entertaining. I can't imagine how awesome it's going to be with the four of us!”

”Well, I'm honestly, not sure... Are Mr. Harland and Ms. Raley even okay with this, though?”, Charles Boet reluctantly asks.

Jett, who has been silent the entire time, speaks up, ”I think we should do it.”

”This show is top-rated worldwide and has a huge following. Unfortunately, Ms. Raley has been so busy that I don't know if we should go ahead unless she signs off on this.”

My fierce scowl does nothing to shut him up.

... What is he doing...?

I'm sorry, but that's just... no!

This idiot can act as cute and polite as he wants, but whatever he's doing is not going to work on me.

I look away and close my eyes, hoping I can protect it from further damage.

The darkness is not enough to cleanse that image from my vision.

”How about I'll owe you one, Ms. Raley?” Jett tries to reason with me.

Mr. Boet, seeing it as a chance to talk, also chimes in, ”Yes. I'll owe you one as well, Ms. Raley? How about it?”

I sigh, close my eyes and rub the area where my eyebrows crinkled deepest.

Noting that this is three against one, I've decided to agree but on one condition, ”Only if the studio agrees that they owe me a favor as well. Who knows, it might come in handy one day.”

Snickering inwardly, I continue, ”Are you guys sure? Who knows, I might even ask you guys to do something ridiculous? Last chance to take it back.”

The three of them insist that they're sure, so all that's left now is to negotiate with Mr. Celo, so I give him a callback.

We keep it brief and come to an agreement.

Everyone's desperation has turned the whole thing into something worthwhile for me.

While the three of them are busy talking and aren't paying attention to me, I smirk evilly.

...