Chapter 400 - 398: Once You Go, Can We Still Stand Together?

Keith Coleman reported the current situation to Melody Monroe.

"But they’ll have to clean up the aftermath now. That should keep them busy for a while!"

Rose Shaw looked at Keith Coleman. ’He must have orchestrated this whole thing,’ she thought. ’No matter how Wayne Payne and his people respond, they’ve already suffered a major, humiliating defeat!’

’And I’m sure Keith has the means to make sure that man, Chester Johnson, never sees the light of day again, but he didn’t do it.’

’He probably has another move up his sleeve. I just don’t know who it’s aimed at.’

Keith Coleman looked up and saw Rose Shaw watching him. A faint smile touched his lips.

Rose Shaw immediately averted her gaze, her expression returning to its usual cool composure.

Keith Coleman: "..."

...

After being questioned by the authorities, Eileen Scott didn’t return to the show’s set. Instead, she flew directly back to Rockwellburg.

As her agency, Stellaris had to issue an official statement about the incident.

News of the incident had already reached Christopher Sterling.

Rose Shaw knew Eileen Scott was back, but she didn’t go out of her way to follow up on it.

Rose Shaw was playing with Bunny alongside Melody Monroe when her phone suddenly rang. The moment she saw the caller ID, the smile on her face froze.

Melody Monroe glanced down and saw the two words on the screen: President Sterling.

Rose Shaw swiped to answer the call.

"You’ll handle the cleanup for Eileen Scott’s situation."

"President Sterling, isn’t Wayne Payne her manager? It wouldn’t be appropriate for me to handle this," Rose Shaw replied, tactfully refusing.

Christopher Sterling was taken aback for a moment.

In all these years, Rose Shaw had never once questioned his words. She had always been completely obedient, following his orders to the letter.

Even the last time, when eighty million was pulled from one of her projects, her tone had only been slightly firm. She had never outright refused him.

"Only you can handle this matter and achieve the results I’m looking for."

Hearing his voice over the phone, Rose Shaw felt her throat tighten, and she couldn’t bring herself to speak.

"Don’t worry about Wayne Payne. I’ve been busy with other matters lately and haven’t been focusing my energy on Stellaris. Rose Shaw, I can only rest easy knowing you’re here. You’re not just Melody Monroe’s manager; you also need to manage the company’s affairs, big and small."

"President Sterling, I can’t—"

"Lana will no longer be interfering in company affairs."

"Come back to the office today. From this day forward, you are the Executive President of Stellaris! You won’t have to answer to anyone but me!"

Listening to the voice on the phone, Melody Monroe’s heart sank.

"Okay," Rose Shaw responded, her voice hoarse.

Melody Monroe looked up at Rose Shaw and suddenly reached out to grab her arm. "Rose, don’t go!"

’If Rose leaves now, we can no longer stand together, side by side!’

’It’ll be impossible for us to leave Stellaris together!’

"Rose, you and Felix Hughes are about to get engaged."

"Don’t worry, I won’t let myself sink back into that quagmire. It was so hard for me to crawl out. Melody, President Sterling was my savior. He gave me a new life. I can control my romantic feelings for him, but I can’t control my gratitude. I’m sorry, I can’t leave Stellaris. At least, not right now."

"Rose!" Melody Monroe cried out in desperation.

’I knew this would happen.’

’Rose Shaw’s feelings for Christopher Sterling were complex. It wasn’t merely the love between a man and a woman; there was so much more mixed in.’

’Right now, Rose Shaw wouldn’t refuse any request from Christopher Sterling.’

"I’m relieved that you have Keith Coleman by your side." Rose Shaw gently patted Melody Monroe’s head. "I’ll go back and handle Eileen Scott’s situation. As for this Executive President position... I might not necessarily accept it."

"Rose, you don’t need to worry about me. Go on back."