Accidentally Slept With The Ruthless Billionaire

Chapter 608: Rupert’s Wicked Plan

Selection, a name that promised both glamour and opportunity. Everyone knew what was on the line. Any artist chosen would land a prized five-year contract with Universal Pictures and first pick of roles in their film projects.

The moment the announcement went public, it was like a dam breaking. Companies rushed to sign up, eager to be part of the spectacle. Advertisers scrambled to secure sponsorships or host events, while agents hurried to register their artists.

The surge of activity quickly became too much for Ashley to handle alone. Luckily, Rupert had seen it coming. He had already arranged a team of seasoned professionals to manage the workload.

“This time, the Lawson Group’s name might be on the event,” Rupert said, sliding a list across the table to her, “but most of the real players are mine. These people work for Lawson on paper, but their loyalty is to me. You can count on them when it matters.”

“So many?” Ashley’s eyes widened as she scanned the names, middle managers, and even a few high-ranking executives. “You’ve really gone all out.”

“I saw through Brady’s tricks long before he made his move, so I started preparing early. Still, I lost my grip in the end. But this time, we won’t just push Dave out of the Evans Group, we’ll make sure you come out on top.”

Rupert took Ashley’s hand, his voice carrying a mix of regret and strength, both carefully staged. “Ashley, I owe you more than I could ever repay. You’ve given everything for this plan, even gone through plastic surgery. Honestly, even handing you the entire Lawson Group wouldn’t be enough.”

“Don’t worry. They’ll regret ever crossing us,” Ashley said, her resolve hardening as his words stoked the fire inside her.

Rupert’s moves were driven by his thirst for revenge against Dave and his dream of taking back the Evans Group. But Ashley’s place in his plans was far from secondary. To him, she was his heir, his blood, his only legacy.

And to Ashley, Rupert was the only anchor she had in a world that had left her adrift.

Just a week ago, Ashley’s biological mother, Stacey, had suffered another breakdown in prison. The guards found her face down in a toilet bowl, lifeless. By the time they pulled her out, it was over.

That very day, Ashley went to Blake’s door, revealed her true identity, and struck an alliance with him.

But Blake’s pawn had already stumbled on the first move. Ashley, however, had no plans to fail. She would see Bianca and Reese fall from their lofty perches and enjoy every moment of their descent. She wanted justice for herself and for her mother.

“Have you gone through the plan?” she asked Blake over the phone, her voice sharp and direct. “Any problems?”

“Yeah, I’ve read it. But are you sure this will work?” Blake’s doubt cut through the line. “Do your backers really think this is enough to bring Dave down?”

“Absolutely.” A sly smile curved across Ashley’s lips. “Let them enjoy their so-called victory. We’ll pull the rug out from under them at just the right moment and expose everything. They won’t just be humiliated, they’ll drown in lawsuits and face compensation so steep it’ll make their heads spin.”

The plan was flawless, a carefully laid trap, ready to snap shut. Once it did, Dave would be caught in a fraud scandal so tight there’d be no way out. One small push, and it would be the end of him.

But…

Blake’s expression darkened, a trace of anxiety in his eyes. “The plan works, but Bianca stays out of it. She’s my concern, and I’ll handle her myself.”

Ashley gave a cold scoff. “Once public opinion starts, it’s out of our hands. If you’re looking for revenge, think about the bigger picture. It’s not worth ruining the whole plan over Bianca. I know you care about her, but there are plenty of women out there. If you just opened your eyes, you might find someone even better right in front of you. Why risk everything for one person?”

Her voice was smooth and persuasive, the kind that could easily sway most men.

Blake didn’t flinch. His voice was cold. “Don’t forget how much I’ve backed you on this. We’re supposed to be working together, and I expect to get what I want. If you can’t do that, then maybe we should think about ending this partnership.”

Ashley’s face darkened in an instant.

What was it about Bianca that kept Blake so obsessed?

Ashley’s fists tightened in frustration. After a moment of silence, she chose to keep Blake on her side for now while she planned her next move.

“Fine. I’ll do as you want.”

Three days went by quickly, and the Universal Actor Selection Competition finally began. Over a thousand artists joined the contest, and after a week of eliminations, only a hundred made it to the finals.

These finalists stood for the agencies backing them, and each of them was willing to prove their acting skills.

Some agencies had only one artist left, which made them even more anxious. Others had several in the finals, but the pressure was still heavy on them all.

The competition was set to be broadcast nationwide, and no agency wanted to face public embarrassment. The artists felt the same weight on their shoulders.

Even without winning, placing high could still lead to new opportunities. A national stage like this was sure to raise their popularity.

On Twitter, the competition was already trending, causing nonstop conversations.

“It’s been a while since we’ve had a competition this exciting. Every contestant is a big name.”

“Reese is definitely taking first place. If she doesn’t, then something shady is going on here!”

“Did you forget about the best actress, Sophia Johnson? And the best actor, Nicolas Foster, is coming too… So many stars! I can’t believe it!”

“And the judging panel is top-notch! Besides Brenda, there are world-famous directors, professors from the Film School, and even Hugon superstar Jerry Robert. I’m going to lose my mind!”

“Wow, they actually got Robert for this? This is going to be the most exciting event ever!”

Universal Pictures’ influence was undeniable, and this competition was shaping up to be truly world-class. No one could guess how many new superstars would rise from it. Without question, it was the biggest event the film and television industry had seen in the past decade.

Rumor had it that legendary actors Ruby Garcia and Louis Watson would be attending as special guests, adding even more prestige and ensuring the competition stayed fair.