All According to Plan pt.3

In the midst of media speculation and mounting public backlash, the situation at Stardust had reached a fever pitch. Chris, Jeremy, and Jacob convened in a hastily arranged meeting. The other shareholders had blamed them for the situation and demanded immediate resolution.

Chris's office was spacious, with a large mahogany desk sitting at its center, papers and devices scattered across its surface in organized chaos. Behind the desk, floor-to-ceiling windows framed a picturesque view of the studio lot, allowing natural light to flood the room and cast long shadows across the plush, navy blue carpet. Bookshelves lined one wall, filled with a mix of books, awards, and personal memorabilia.

It was a tense atmosphere as Jeremy and Jacob sat in the office's seating area, anticipating Daniel's arrival.

Chris, standing by the window with his back to the sunlit studio below, broke the silence. "The situation's gotten worse," he said, his voice cutting through the tension.

The frustration in his tone was palpable, a rare crack in his usually composed demeanor. He turned to face Jeremy and Jacob, the seriousness of the moment reflected in his eyes.

"Fake news is spreading, and most of the backlash is aimed at you two. It's being reported that two executives are behind this."

Jeremy and Jacob exchanged glances, the weight of the situation pressing down on them.

"So, you're planning to blame everything on us, letting us take the fall?" Jacob asked angrily.

The public narrative had dramatically shifted against them, framing them as villains.

"You did cause all this. All the rest of us wanted was to negotiate for a more favorable profit sharing for the Blair Witch project. You are the ones who took it further with threats of lawsuits," Chris fired back.

"But we were never going to follow through; it was a bluff, we thought…" Jeremy began to defend himself.

"Thought Daniel was just a kid you could scare off?" Chris interrupted, walking closer to Jeremy.

"Look, let's not fight amongst ourselves. Let's talk to the kid; we can come to an agreement," Jacob said, coming in between them.

They heard the phone beep, and Chris went to answer.

"He's here. Good, send him in," he responded before putting the phone down.

Soon they heard a knock on the door, and Daniel entered with Lucy and his lawyer, Alexandra, following him.

Daniel looked calm and collected. He was wearing a sharp suit, very different from his usual attire. Jeremy's eyes met Daniel's, and he felt a twinge of unease; Daniel was too confident for his liking.

"Daniel, thank you for coming," he began, attempting to maintain a veneer of professional civility.

Daniel merely nodded, his silence a clear indication he was here to listen first and talk later.

Chris, opted for strategic silence, and watched the unfolding scene closely. Jeremy cleared his throat, and addressed Daniel directly.

"Look, Daniel, can I call you Daniel?" Jeremy began. Daniel nodded, and Jeremy continued, "This whole thing has gotten out of control. It was a mistake, a lack of communication between us. We never intended for it to escalate like this."

"To tell you the truth, Daniel, we just wanted to negotiate a more suitable contract. We don't want to kick you out and steal your property," he added.

"We feel that your current contract sets a dangerous precedent within Stardust," Jacob chimed in.

They both offered several arguments for their actions, and Daniel listened, his expression impassive. Finally, he spoke, his voice calm but firm.

"I understand your concerns. However, my contract was agreed upon by all parties involved, recognizing the value I bring to Stardust. To dispute that now..."

Alexandra, his lawyer, leaned forward, adding legal weight to Daniel's argument, "Mr. Adler's contract is not only lawful but fair. Any attempt to alter its terms post-success sets a concerning precedent. Regarding the Blair Witch project, the contract there is crystal clear. Daniel was to receive the majority of the profits as per the agreed terms."

Chris, finally breaking his silence, sought to mediate, "Surely, there's a path forward that respects Daniel's contributions while addressing your concerns."

The conversation continued but quickly escalated, with accusations flying and tempers flaring.

"And what message does it send if Stardust backs out of its agreements? That success here comes with caveats?" Daniel retorted to an accusation leveled to him by Jacob.

Jeremy, unable to contain his frustration, made a thinly veiled threat, suggesting that Daniel's career could suffer if he didn't back down. "You might think you have the upper hand now, Daniel, but remember, this industry is small. People talk. It would be a shame if your future projects encountered... unexpected difficulties."

Daniel's response was one of defiance. "Is that so? Well, let me remind you that my 'future projects' will do just fine without Stardust."

"Are you willing to take that chance, Mr. Adler?" Jacob challenged.

"Yes, Mr. Stein, I am. You see, a fairly large studio contacted me just this morning," he said with a smirk playing on his lips, showing he had more cards than they had anticipated.

"Oh, please," Jeremy dismissed Daniel's claim.

Daniel's eyes turned to Chris.

"DreamWorks?" Chris asked.

Daniel nodded.

"Chris, what is he talking about?" Jacob asked.

"I heard they were looking to talk to you; I never thought…"

"Are you saying it's true?" Jeremy asked.

Chris nodded.

Jeremy and Jacob's faces paled, the realization dawning on them that their attempts to corner Daniel had backfired spectacularly.

"I have heard enough," Daniel said, standing up. "We are leaving," he announced as he walked out of the office.

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They sat in silence for a while until Chris finally spoke up. "Gentlemen, I think it's best that you leave. I need some time to myself."

"Yes, of course," Jeremy answered, maintaining a facade of confidence.

As they made their way out of the building, Jeremy and Jacob contemplated their next moves in a battle that had grown far beyond their control.

Jacob broke the silence. "It's time to get out," Jacob said, his tone serious. "This ship is sinking, and we should offload our shares before things get worse."

Jeremy stopped in his tracks, turning to face Jacob with a look of disbelief. "Sell now? With all this negative press, who in their right mind would buy?"

Jacob offered a wry smile, a hint of a plan forming behind his eyes. "Actually, I got an offer a few weeks back. Given the current circumstances, it might just work."

Jeremy's skepticism shifted to curiosity. "An offer? From whom?"

"I'd rather not say just yet. But it's someone who sees potential in the studio. Someone who thinks they can turn things around," Jacob explained, his smile widening as he saw Jeremy's interest pique.

"Do you think the others will agree to it?" Jeremy asked.

"Look, the kid is leaving anyway. I mean, DreamWorks is an offer he can't turn down. Let's just get out now; it's the perfect opportunity. We always wanted to start our own studio; this is a great chance."

The implications of Jacob's revelation began to dawn on Jeremy. This could be their escape route, a way to exit the drama and uncertainty that had engulfed Stardust Studios without suffering a total loss. It was an opportunity to start fresh, albeit with the knowledge that their actions had contributed to the upheaval.

"Alright, let's hear more about this offer. If it's as solid as you say, it might be our best option," Jeremy conceded, the gears in his mind already turning, considering the possibilities.

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Chris reached for his phone and dialed Daniel's number. The device barely completed its first ring before Daniel's voice came through.

"Did they take the bait?" His tone revealed an eagerness to know the outcome.

Chris, allowing himself a momentary smile despite the seriousness of their scheme, replied, "Yes, they did. Jeremy and Jacob are rattled. And knowing Jacob, he will be looking to get out, and Jeremy will, of course, follow." There was an unmistakable note of satisfaction in his voice.

Daniel's reaction was a soft chuckle.

"Are you sure about the buyer, Daniel?" Chris asked.

"Yeah, he is serious about the whole thing. We are going to talk more; I am going to his granddaughter's birthday next week," Daniel answered, reassuring Chris.

"Good. Then everything's set for a smooth transition if Jeremy and Jacob decide to go through with selling their shares," Chris said.

"The others?" Daniel asked about the other shareholders.

"As long as you renegotiate the Blair Witch project's profit-sharing," Chris responded.

"I guess money talks… I'll do it," Daniel replied without any hesitation.

A brief silence followed, broken by Daniel.

"Chris, I want to thank you. None of this would have been possible without your help." His words were genuine, acknowledging Chris's pivotal role in orchestrating his plans.

Chris, with a modest wave of dismissal, responded, "I hope this works out, Danny."

"Don't worry, Chris. We are going all the way to the top," Daniel replied.

"To the very top" Daniel emphasized before cutting the call.

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