Celeste Monroe's delicate brows furrowed. She refused directly, "I have plans tomorrow evening."
Simon Stone's tone was unyielding. "This is work."
Celeste Monroe stated calmly, "My work is singing, not having dinner with a boss's family."
"Celeste Monroe!" Simon grew annoyed. "Do you have to make things difficult for me?"
Celeste Monroe remained composed. "Mr. Stone, you're the boss, I'm the employee. We each do our part."
"Celeste, you know my mom has always wanted to meet you, and my cousin. You kicked him out of the studio last time, and that made things too awkward. It's not good for you. Use tomorrow night's dinner to smooth things over, so it's easier to get along in the future." Simon's tone softened slightly, speaking earnestly.
Celeste Monroe replied, "Mr. Stone, I don't need to get along with your family." She then hung up.
Lily was standing nearby, catching most of the conversation, looking bewildered. "What? Why is Mr. Stone arranging dinner for Celeste and his family? What gives him the right?"
Sarah Chou patted her, then said to Celeste Monroe, "Celeste, you just renewed your contract with Gemstone Records. Don't make things too difficult with the boss." Celeste Monroe had renewed her contract with Gemstone Records earlier this year, signing for two years. Given her status, she could have opened her own studio long ago. However, Celeste Monroe had always remembered Simon Stone's initial patronage and never thought of leaving Gemstone Records, even after becoming famous. She just hadn't expected that less than half a year after renewing, her disagreements with Simon would grow so much.
Celeste Monroe leaned back in her seat, a little tired, watching the scenery flash by outside the window. She said blandly, "As long as it doesn't affect my singing, I won't bother with him."
Just then, Sarah Chou's phone rang. It was Alex Carter, the director of American Voice.
"Sarah, busy?"
Director Carter was almost forty, and Sarah Chou was only thirty-five, yet he called her "Sister."
"Director Carter, how can I help you?" Sarah Chou thought to herself, but her tone remained polite.
Alex Carter chuckled. "Isn't the second episode airing tomorrow night? We'll be posting a preview on X (Twitter) soon, with quite a few shots of Professor Monroe. Just wanted to ask Professor Monroe if she likes it."
Sarah Chou understood Director Carter's intention: he wanted Celeste Monroe to help promote the show. She smiled. "Okay, Director Carter, that's thoughtful. Celeste has an engagement, but I'll mention it to her later."
"Great, great. I won't bother you then, Sarah."
"Okay, Director Carter, goodbye."
Sarah Chou hung up. Seeing Celeste Monroe looked tired, she decided not to tell her. American Voice might be a hot show for other artists, but for Celeste Monroe, no show's popularity surpassed her own. If she appeared, they should be treating her like royalty; she had no obligation to help with promotion.
Sarah Chou didn't plan to mention it, but Celeste Monroe suddenly spoke, "The second episode of American Voice airs tomorrow night?"
Sarah Chou nodded and then had to explain Director Carter's intention. She expected Celeste Monroe to ignore it, but to her surprise, Celeste Monroe picked up her phone, logged onto X (Twitter), and actually followed American Voice's official account.
A short while later, American Voice's official account posted the preview for the second episode. Celeste Monroe clicked on it. It indeed contained many shots of her, and one or two of Frank Castle, but it didn't reveal the song Frank Castle sang. Director Carter probably wanted to keep it under wraps until the episode aired, aiming for a big reveal.
However, the audience was unaware. In the comments section below the preview, many people expressed immense anticipation for tomorrow night's episode, and quite a few grouped together to curse Frank Castle.
"Heh, Frank Castle still hasn't been kicked off this show?"
"Boycott the violent scum!"
"As long as that scum Frank is on, I'm not watching this show!"
"Frank Castle get out of entertainment!"
Celeste Monroe looked at the comments slandering Frank Castle, her brows tightly knitted, her finger pressing against the phone screen.
Capital City.
Gemstone Records.
Owner's Office.
Under the spacious, brightly lit panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows, various scattered decorations lay on the floor. They had just been thrown there by Simon Stone. Simon now sat in his chair, his face still gloomy.
"How dare she, how dare she..."
It was his mother, Evelyn Stone, calling. Simon composed himself and answered the phone, his voice softening.
"Mom."
"Did that Celeste Monroe agree?" Evelyn Stone's typically loud voice boomed from the other end of the phone. Simon slightly moved the receiver away from his ear before replying, "She has plans tomorrow evening, so she might not be able to make it."
"The little wretch is playing hard to get?!" Evelyn Stone exploded. It was her idea for Simon to invite Celeste Monroe and the family to dinner. Evelyn planned to use the dinner to lay down some rules for Celeste Monroe and then make her agree to accept her nephew, Jason Stone's, song. Evelyn didn't think highly of Celeste Monroe. In her view, her son should at least marry the daughter of a multi-billionaire. A mere singer, how could she be worthy of her son? But Simon was smitten, so she, as a mother, could only teach this less-than-satisfying prospective daughter-in-law some manners in advance, lest she be so ill-behaved after marrying into the family. Yet, she never expected this little wretch to actually refuse!
"Son, you're her boss! She dares to disobey you? If she ever gets into our family, won't she just walk all over you?!"
"Mom, please don't say that." Simon frowned. Evelyn came from humble origins, and even after all these years of living in luxury, she hadn't shed her coarse ways.
"You're already protecting her before she's even married in! Got a wife, lost your mother! You heartless child, why is my life so hard?!" Evelyn began to wail on the phone. Simon quickly said, "Mom, I didn't mean it that way. Celeste is a bit headstrong, but don't worry, I'll make her apologize to you another day."
Only then did Evelyn stop her outburst. She huffed angrily, "Son, women like her need to be disciplined before you marry them, otherwise you won't be the master of your own house! And as for your cousin's song, you're the boss, just make her record it! Don't spoil that ill-behaved little wretch!"
"Mom, I'll handle it," Simon promised repeatedly, finally managing to hang up. He mused for a moment, thinking his mother was right. Celeste Monroe would eventually be his woman. When they married, one spouse would always be dominant, the other submissive. If he didn't tame Celeste Monroe now, he'd be the one suppressed later.
Just then, Victor Lewis knocked and entered. "Brother, I just saw Celeste Monroe retweeted American Voice's post on X (Twitter)! Was that your arrangement?" Last time, Victor Lewis had suggested to Simon that Celeste Monroe should look after Brandon Hayes, Tiffany Wells, and Jackson Bell on American Voice, but Celeste Monroe flatly refused, making him feel humiliated. Recently, Olivia had been complaining to him that the three promising newcomers were isolated and unsupported on the show, so Victor Lewis had been following the matter closely. Just now, American Voice's official account posted the preview for the second episode. Victor Lewis saw it immediately, and then, not long after, he suddenly noticed Celeste Monroe had actually retweeted the post. This "ancestor," as he thought of her, rarely even participated in company events. Voluntarily retweeting a promotional post for a variety show was unprecedented. Victor Lewis instinctively felt it might be related to Simon's instruction to look after Brandon, Tiffany, and Jackson, and immediately ran to find Simon.
Simon immediately went onto X (Twitter) and indeed saw "#CelesteMonroeRetweetsAmericanVoice" trending. Netizens were equally surprised. Some speculated: Was it because American Voice featured three new artists from Gemstone Records, and Celeste Monroe was looking out for her junior labelmates?
Simon's face broke into a smile. "She finally caved."