Chapter 212 - Gossip Storm 3

Laila was annoyed by the constant ringing of her phone, so she gave up on getting more sleep and decided to drive to the company for work.

As the owner of the company, she didn't adhere to a strict work schedule. If there was nothing urgent requiring her attention, she would come and go as she pleased. After all, her work involved making movies and writing scripts, tasks that didn't necessarily need to be completed in an office setting.

Furthermore, she enjoyed being hands-off, delegating many responsibilities to different departments. She provided the salaries, but if employees couldn't fulfill their job requirements, she believed it was better for them to move on and make space for more suitable individuals.

As a result, the employees at her company remained quite motivated. Instances of being demoted on a whim weren't unheard of. On the flip side, if you did well, her generosity as a boss was widely recognized.

However, as Laila arrived at the company's entrance, she didn't see anything else but a swarm of reporters gathered outside. Three or five in groups, they were either pestering employees for interviews or scouting around, engaged in hushed conversations. People familiar with the place knew it was the Phoenix Entertainment Company, but those who didn't might have thought some sort of market had opened up!

"Moran is here!" Someone with sharp eyesight exclaimed, identifying the approaching car turning into the company's parking lot.

Rushing forward, the reporters surrounded her car, blocking Laila and her vehicle at the company entrance.

"Laila, I think we should make our way inside," Claire observed the tightly packed surroundings with a hint of helplessness. Attempting to navigate a car through the crowd of paparazzi, who were known for their relentless determination, was nearly as challenging as trying to move a mountain.

"Yes, let's go down," Laila agreed, nodding, and with her bodyguards and Claire by her side, she stepped out of the car.

"Director Moran, can you tell us about your boyfriend?"

"What's your boyfriend's name? Will he join your company in the future?"

As soon as Laila stepped out of the car, a barrage of questions was hurled at her. Camera flashes popped like they were going out of style, a relentless barrage of blinding lights. Fortunately, she had prepared by wearing sunglasses; otherwise, she might have worried about damaging her eyes.

"First, I want to clarify something," she spoke up, understanding that journalists wouldn't back down without some enticing tidbits. "The man in the photos is not my boyfriend; he is a close family friend."

"Really? According to a store clerk, you two seemed very close."

Reporters weren't inclined to believe her words. They only believed in the "facts" that would boost newspaper sales or television ratings.

"Laila and her boyfriend's intimate outing on the commercial street" sounded more enticing to the audience and readers than "Laila strolling with a friend." Reporters naturally aimed for a more sensational story. As for the truth? They were journalists, not scientists, after all.

Of course, not all journalists lacked integrity. Larger, more reputable media outlets tended to respect facts.

With a wry smile, Laila continued, "He truly is just a friend. I trust your investigative skills, and if you doubt my words, feel free to investigate. His name is Zeni Rhodes; he's a chief forensic scientist. The Rhodes family and the Moran family have a longstanding and close relationship. He's here this time to assist me in designing the plot for my new movie."

The journalists diligently recorded her words, searching for the most intriguing and newsworthy angles to present.

Many curious fans who came across the news rushed to check their DVDs for his name. To their surprise, they found Zeni Rhodes's name in the credits of both the first and second films.

The first film didn't involve any deaths, as there were no scenes of mortality. However, the subsequent two films, "Saw" and "Final Destination," presented various ways of dying.

This excited some people with a particular interest. They meticulously analyzed each death case, involving even professionals like doctors and nurses. Those without relevant expertise weren't deterred either; students would show photos and scenes from the movies to their teachers to ask for explanations.

The final findings were shocking: the depicted death methods and their corresponding reactions were accurate. There wouldn't be the discrepancies present in certain other movies, where things appeared fine but didn't correspond to realistic reactions.

These fans were astounded. They hadn't expected the young Laila to be so meticulous in her approach to filmmaking. What level of dedication did a director need to display to ensure such authenticity in her work?

Hehe, this was just a small surprise. The real explosive rumors were yet to come.