Chapter 6 Replace Her

Just as Violet, got downstairs and hailed a cab, a figure stepped in front of her. Mike, his face still bruised, had deliberately chosen rush hour to block her path. His voice was sharp with frustration. "I texted you! Why the hell did you block me?!" Violet walked right past him without stopping. "Are you done? I'm gonna be late for work." Mike rushed forward again to block her path. "Grandpa said we have to go back to the old house for dinner tonight. I'll pick you up from your office later." "I'm not going." "You're my fiancée—you have to go!" Mike was getting anxious. If Violet didn't show up, what excuse would he have to ask his grandpa for money? "I promise you, as long as you go and make Grandpa happy, he'll give me money. And if he does, I'll split some with you. That way, you can pay off what you owe my uncle, right?" At the mention of debt, Violet finally hesitated. Her sharp gaze locked onto Mike. "You said it yourself. If you dare go back on your word, don't blame me for making things ugly." Mike's face instantly lit up with joy. "Relax, you're my lucky charm—how could I ever fall out with you?" After all, who else but Violet would tolerate him and help him win over Grandpa? Violet, on the other hand, felt sick just looking at him. "Get lost." Having gotten what he wanted, Mike only chuckled instead of getting angry. "I know you look down on me, but it's not my fault you look so sweet and innocent. No wonder even my uncle is bewitched enough to stand up for you. Violet, you really have some skills." There wasn't another face like hers in all of City B—delicate, pure, yet strikingly unique. And the worst part? That cold personality of hers. It hit a man's need for conquest so hard it made them want to tear her apart. Violet met his mocking tone with a smirk. "Then you'd better be careful. If I ever end up with Lucien, you'll have to call me auntie-in-law. Wouldn't that be tragic?" Mike's face turned as green as his hypothetical hat. "You wouldn't dare!" Violet shot him a dismissive look, got into the waiting car, and left. Mike's furious roar echoed behind her. "My uncle would never want you!" She scoffed. Wanting someone and deserving them were two very different things. After all, even in her dreams, their chemistry was... disgustingly perfect. ****** BF Entertainment Film & TV Branch Violet stepped into the office just as she ran into her colleague, Doris. The two of them took the elevator together. "Morning, Producer Violet." "Morning." Doris was a production supervisor at BF Entertainment, while Violet was the executive producer. They often worked together. Leaning in slightly, Doris whispered, "Have you heard? Our big boss just got back from overseas. Now every department is on edge, scared he'll drop by for a surprise inspection." Violet pulled out her employee badge and clipped it on, reassuring her, "Relax. We haven't done anything wrong. Just focus on our work." "How can I not be nervous? I heard he's fired people on the spot before." Doris glanced at her with admiration. "No wonder you can hold your own against those celebrity agents. The way they've been nagging me about this new project is driving me insane—everyone wants a backdoor deal." Hearing that, Violet suddenly remembered something. "Oh, by the way, replace Flora Taylor for the third female lead." Doris looked surprised. "Isn't she your cousin? And she's got some connections with the investors too. Wouldn't it be tricky to replace her?" Normally, in a production team, the executive producer had the final say—especially someone like Violet, who had multiple hit shows under her belt. Recasting a role was the bare minimum of her authority. Still, most producers would take the investors' opinions into account. Besides, Flora wasn't entirely talentless. She had some acting skills and a decent fan base—hardly an absolute deal-breaker. But Violet's stance was firm. "Replace her." Flora had long used their cousinly relationship to boost her image, and now she was even tangled up with Violet's so-called fiancé, climbing her way up by leveraging Mike. The media hadn't dared to expose anything because of the Davis family's influence, but sooner or later, the truth would come out. If they didn't replace her now, she'd be the rotten apple that spoiled the whole barrel. Doris had also heard whispers about Flora's scandals, but she still found the situation tricky. "Flora isn't exactly an easy one to deal with," she said, worried. With a potential inspection coming up, what if she caused trouble? Violet arched a delicate brow, her crimson lips curving into a smirk. "And you think I am?" They exchanged a knowing look and chuckled. Violet's name carried weight in the industry. Gorgeous. Fierce. Professional. A top-tier sense of aesthetics. And an execution style as sharp as a blade. Fresh out of college, she had made a name for herself by both starring in and producing an indie art film, which swept multiple mainstream domestic awards. That was her breakthrough. But soon after, her family scandal sent her plummeting into disgrace. That same year, Brighter Future Entertainment Group signed her. While the industry assumed her past achievements were just the product of her privileged background, and that she'd now transition into being a pretty-faced actress to pay off her debts, Violet chose a different path. She stepped behind the scenes and stayed there. Within a year, she produced two hit dramas for BF Entertainment, securing the Best Producer Award of the Year. At twenty-five, Violet had shattered every doubt and cemented herself as an undisputed genius in the industry. The only lingering regret? Her background. Once the heiress of a prestigious family, she now bore the burden of nearly a billion in debt—forced to compromise and seek opportunities through marriage. Everyone knew that if she married into the Davis family, her debt would disappear overnight. Yet, there was still no wedding in sight. ****** Violet's Office Just as Violet arrived at her office, her assistant knocked on the door. "Director Violet, all the actors for the audition have arrived." She nodded slightly. "I'll be right there." Audition Set Violet sat on a chair, script in hand, a pencil between her fingers as she attentively observed and noted the actors' performances. Suddenly, the doors swung open with a loud bang. A sharp female voice cut through the room. "Violet! Who the hell do you think you are replacing me?!" Flora stormed toward her, completely disregarding the setting. The crew scrambled to stop her, but she shoved them aside in her fury. Violet, still seated, simply raised a hand and gestured to the director to pause the audition. She lifted her gaze lazily, looking at the enraged woman. "Don't make a scene." Flora was livid, her voice echoing across the entire set. "Who the hell are you calling crazy?! What gives you the right to kick me out? Just because you're the producer? Big deal! Without investors backing you, you're nothing! How dare you replace me?! What, are you scared people will find out Mike is already tired of playing with you?" A flash of cold fury passed through Violet's eyes. Without hesitation, she raised her hand—smack! A crisp slap landed on Flora's face. Gasps filled the room. "You think I owe you respect?" Violet's voice was ice-cold. Flora clutched her cheek, staring in disbelief. "Violet! You actually hit me?!" She lunged forward in a frenzy, but a few strong male crew members quickly restrained her. Amid of the chaos, someone at the entrance suddenly shouted in panic— "The big boss is here!" Instantly, the noisy set fell into a dead silence. Everyone stiffened, their expressions tense as they exchanged nervous glances. They were screwed. The staff immediately parted, stepping aside to make way, not even daring to lift their heads toward the man standing at the door. Seizing the opportunity, Flora immediately complained, "Everyone saw it! Violet, as a producer, abused her power for personal revenge and even assaulted an actress! Does no one in your company care?!"