Chapter 890 – The Return

Everyone was dumbfounded. No one could figure out who had moved so quickly, sweeping up every last available share of stock. Not even a crumb was left for the rest. Seriously? Eating all the meat without leaving a single sip of soup—wasn't that a bit excessive?

While countless people regretted missing out on the opportunity, the only one laughing in the end was Laila. She had always maintained a massive cash flow, with nowhere urgent to spend it. Leaving it in the bank to collect interest was far too inefficient. So, when stock prices dipped, she had quietly instructed her people to buy up all the shares being dumped on the market—accidentally buying everything available.

In hindsight, it was clear she was still a bit too inexperienced in this game. If she had waited longer before making her move, she could have scooped up shares at an even lower price and maximized her profit. But from the perspective of the company's interests, her actions weren't wrong at all. Her intervention kept the stock from plummeting further, limiting the drop to just a minor dip.

—

When Roy joined the company, it didn't take long for him to charm his way into people's good graces. With his superstar charisma and natural talent for making friends, he quickly got to know everyone. And through these casual conversations, he learned about all the challenges Laila had faced when she first arrived—and how she had fought back and won against all odds.

The way people passionately recounted those events fired him up.

Hearing how the arrogant think tank had unanimously opposed her decisions, he was so furious he wanted to storm into their offices and knock some sense into them. But when he heard how Laila had ultimately slapped them across the face with success, he practically wanted to stand up and cheer.

It made him realize that while he might never fully understand the world of business or match Laila's level of skill, that was okay. He didn't need to be a leader—he could be her strongest soldier. Whatever she needed, wherever she pointed, he would charge forward. He didn't need to take command—he just needed to stand beside her and make sure she never fought alone.

And just like that, his decision was made.

Thus, Laila gained the most high-profile assistant in history—a Hollywood superstar worth billions.

**Fetching coffee, tidying the office, organizing documents, compiling research, accompanying her on business trips, ensuring she ate proper meals—**he even took it upon himself to watch over her sleep schedule.

With a dedicated personal assistant like that, it was no surprise that the entire company was burning with jealousy. Most employees didn't dare to dream of a celebrity assisting them with paperwork, but even just having such a handsome man around was enough to make their daily grind feel like heaven.

But while everyone else was envious, Laila was suffering.

Yes, Roy did help her with small tasks. The problem was, the trouble he caused made her want to cry.

As a self-proclaimed connoisseur of beauty, having someone as good-looking as Roy around was enjoyable. Just looking at his face was enough to make her eat an extra bowl of rice. But if only he would stop micromanaging her schedule to be so… healthy.

For example, he had set fixed times for her meals, fixed times for her to sleep. And if she didn't turn off her lights by 11 p.m., he would personally shut them off—then deduct the wasted time from her other activities.

She wanted to follow the doctor's recommended optimal sleep schedule, but if she did, she wouldn't have enough time to get her work done. Forget work—she still needed to carve out time for script reviews.

She had tried to negotiate with him—both nicely and sternly. Neither worked. If she tried to reason with him gently, he'd ignore it. If she pushed back too hard, he'd call Janet and let her handle it instead.

The moment her mother found out, there was only one possible outcome.

If she dared to ignore her health, Janet would immediately arrive and launch into a tearful, dramatic performance:

"Laila, my dear daughter, you're disobeying me? You don't love me anymore? If you keep this up, I'll cry for real!"

Faced with such a no-win scenario, Laila finally surrendered.

But to be fair, there were benefits. For example, the stubborn dark circles under her eyes soon vanished completely.

—

Amidst this chaotic yet strangely warm work environment—filled with bickering, care, and reluctant compromises—awards season finally arrived.

This year, movie fans were beyond excited. It wasn't about which films would win—it was about watching The Lord of the Rings dominate everything.

This was shaping up to be one of the most historic years in cinema.

Not only had The Lord of the Rings become the highest-grossing trilogy in film history, but its third installment had now secured the #2 spot in global box office rankings. It was just $300 million shy of dethroning Titanic, which had held the top spot for a decade.

If it were just a high-grossing commercial film, it wouldn't have been such a big deal. Big-budget blockbusters often made tons of money. But The Lord of the Rings wasn't just a financial success—its critical acclaim was just as overwhelming.

Nearly every major media outlet had praised it to the heavens, and among audiences, countless fans hailed it as a cinematic masterpiece.

As the awards season approached, the question wasn't if it would win—but rather, how many trophies it would take home.

No one doubted its chances. It was too extraordinary, too flawless, too unforgettable. If a film this well-received didn't sweep the awards, then the credibility of those awards would be seriously questioned.

—

And amid this pivotal moment—

Oswald Moran suddenly returned.

He wasn't alone.

Arriving in New York with him was Laila's grandmother, now fully recovered and looking healthier than ever.

That evening, as they sat down for a long discussion in his study, Oswald finally said the words she had dreamed of hearing for so long—

"You've done well. Now, it's time for you to return to your true battlefield."

Laila had imagined this moment countless times. But now that she was hearing it, she felt a wave of exhilaration—she was finally free.

God knew how much she had missed film sets—missed the cameras, the actors, the sheer magic of filmmaking. Even the editing room, which had once been her biggest nightmare, now felt like a cherished memory.

And now, she was going back.

"Thank you, Grandpa." She meant it. She knew he had returned specifically so she could attend the awards season. This year wouldn't be like previous ones—it would be monumental for her career.

"Thank me?!" Oswald shot her a look. "That just proves you still don't see yourself as the rightful acting CEO. If you were truly thinking like a leader, would you need to thank someone for doing their job? The day you feel annoyed that I'm taking back control—that's the day I'll thank you."

Laila chuckled awkwardly. "I really enjoyed my time at headquarters."

"Good. Then you can stay—"

"Wait! I only said I enjoyed it, not that I wanted to stay!"

If a single careless comment got her trapped in this role again, she would cry!