Chapter 888 – Dictatorship (Part 2)

Oswald's decision to stand by Laila and ignore the complaints of his once-valued think tank wasn't just about having unshakable faith in her. It was a deliberate move to train his successor. He firmly believed that people who had never experienced failure were far more worrisome than those who had failed multiple times yet still dared to rise again.

Laila, aside from her childhood spent confined in a hospital, had never truly encountered failure. Ever since she stunned the world with her debut film in Hollywood, every decision she had made had eventually proven to be a success. Whether it was selecting films, planning reality shows for NBC, or making business decisions that initially seemed outrageous, time always validated her choices as strokes of genius—visionary and innovative.

Oswald didn't care if she lost money pushing a few books as bestsellers. If she lost, then so be it. The money meant nothing to him. He simply believed that if this turned out to be Laila's first real failure, and she learned from it, then the loss would be worth it. And if she succeeded? Even better. She would prove her abilities once again while simultaneously putting the arrogant think tank in their place. Those men had grown too comfortable, forgetting that their job was to assist the president—not to assume decision-making power for themselves.

So, whether Laila succeeded or failed, Oswald was happy to sit back and watch. But the think tank? They refused to let it go. After failing to get Oswald's support, their opinion of Laila plummeted even further. Some of them even began spreading whispers within the company, subtly hinting at an impending disaster. Of course, they knew better than to make a scene—only leaking just enough information to stir curiosity. The result? The office was now filled with spectators, eagerly waiting to see how this all played out.

As the initial uproar died down, Laila knew exactly what was happening. The think tank wasn't backing off out of goodwill. They were simply biding their time, waiting for her to fail so they could gloat. After all, she wasn't just anyone. She had never lost. She was a proven genius—so unless her failure was undeniable, they knew it would be difficult to turn the tide against her. At least half the company—employees and even some shareholders—were practically fanatics when it came to her. To them, anything she decided was automatically the right choice. But the think tank believed that once the market proved her wrong, all those blind supporters would abandon her. Then, and only then, would they be able to show everyone who was truly indispensable to the Moran Group.

And what could Laila say to that? "Guys, relax. I can see the future. I already know these books are going to become global bestsellers." Yeah, right. If she said that, she'd be locked in a mental hospital before she could finish the sentence. So, just like the think tank wanted the market to prove her failure, Laila would let the same market prove her right. She would take this chance to show the entire corporation that those who followed her lead would thrive, while those who resisted? Well, they were about to get slapped by reality.

Despite Laila's official title as Acting CEO, many still saw her as just a Hollywood director. Even within the company, some people supported her. But outside? The stock market fluctuations told a different story. Many investors did not believe in her ability to lead. No one doubted her talent. If she had spent a few years learning under Oswald first, the public would have happily accepted her as the rightful successor. But the way she had suddenly taken over—right after an accident—raised too many concerns.

To make things worse, Oswald had left the country to accompany his wife for medical treatment. Insiders knew that he had handed full presidential authority to Laila. She wasn't just a figurehead with him secretly pulling the strings behind the scenes. No. She was actually in charge. So, when she first took over, Moran Group's stock dipped slightly. It wasn't a massive drop—less than a dollar per share—but it was enough to indicate investor uncertainty. Under these circumstances, Laila needed a major victory. Something undeniable. Something that would solidify her position.

Reflecting on her actions, she admitted she had been too reckless. Just because she recognized a few future bestsellers among the submissions, she had immediately signed them—without any background checks or analysis. Worse? She hadn't just signed them. She had preemptively secured adaptation rights and lined up top-tier marketing campaigns. Even though she knew those books would spark a publishing frenzy, right now? Their authors were still nobodies. Some of them were even struggling to make ends meet. And yet, here she was, treating them like literary icons.

Honestly? It was insane. It was no wonder the think tank lost their minds. Right now, the only reason no one besides the think tank had openly opposed her decision was because her previous successes had built an overwhelming amount of trust. But that trust? It was fragile. If she failed this time, every bit of confidence in her would crumble overnight. People would start saying: "She should just go back to directing." And if that happened? The stock price would nosedive again. But this time, it wouldn't be a few cents. It would be a full-scale market crash.

At that point, the losses wouldn't just be a few million spent on book promotions. It would be billions in evaporated market value. And if things spiralled that badly? Her position as heir could be in jeopardy. No one wanted a failure as their leader—especially not a stubborn dictator who ignored repeated warnings. And let's not forget—the think tank had fought her on this from the start. If she did fail, they could proudly say: "We told you so."

And that? That was exactly what they wanted. They weren't hoping for the company's downfall. No, no. They knew that if things went to hell, Oswald would return to clean up the mess. He was a titan of the media industry—a living legend. A little turbulence wouldn't shake him. But when the dust settled, and he retook control, what would happen to Laila?

She would lose her credibility. Her autonomy. And worst of all—she would be forced back into Oswald's shadow. For the think tank, this was ideal. Because no matter how powerful Laila seemed right now, once she failed, Oswald would step back in… And they would return to their rightful place—as the true decision-makers of Moran Group.

So now? Everyone—inside and outside the company—was watching Laila's first real test as CEO.