Chapter 180: I Am the Top Director

[Chapter 180: I Am the Top Director]

After sorting things out with Megan Fox and venting his frustrations, Ian had her drive her own car home.

"Are you not going to drive me?" Megan asked, a hint of disappointment in her voice.

"I need to chase a scoop; I've got important business to take care of," Ian replied, giving her a light kiss.

"Can I come with you?" Megan pressed, still unsatisfied.

"No, this will involve some heavy hitters, and it's not a good scene for you. Just go to Lockbridge first and sign the contract; I'll arrange everything for you," Ian said while waving at the road.

Brydon had pulled up with the car.

Ian got into the car, waved goodbye to Megan, and drove off.

...

Back at the Grand Theater, the Oscar ceremony had already concluded.

There was supposed to be a major after-party, the kind that really brought out the big names, but Ian Carr had no interest in mingling with the Hollywood elite.

He had more pressing matters at hand.

The car parked quietly in a corner, waiting patiently.

...

Before long, George Boyce walked out.

He left the Grand Theater and got into his car, his face a storm of anger.

"Follow him," Ian instructed calmly.

The car trailed George Boyce all the way to a luxurious hotel.

...

Boyce entered the hotel, fuming as he stormed into his room.

The more he thought about it, the angrier he got. In a fit, he swept everything off the table: "Useless! All of it is useless! You can't even get this simple task done!"

After a moment, he picked up the phone, "It's me... Did you see? Yes, I have no idea how he did it. They told me the list was swapped, yet Jennifer Connelly won. I need you to release a statement immediately, accusing Ian Carr of tampering with the list."

A male voice responded on the other end, "That's going to be difficult. She was supposed to win. You need to create a scenario where the Oscars made a mistake, not deny an established outcome."

George Boyce shouted, "I don't care about that! The Oscars aren't even under ABC anymore, so we need to destroy it! Tell everyone this is all a cover-up!"

"I'll need to consult with the chairman."

"Damn it! My father won't agree to that."

"Then I can't go along with it."

George Boyce hung up the phone in frustration.

After a moment, he shouted to his assistant outside, "Get me a woman!"

"Right away, sir."

...

Half an hour later, a sultry girl appeared in George Boyce's room.

"Hello, sir. Yara is here to provide you with full services," she smiled.

Boyce sized her up, "How old are you?"

"Not 18 yet," she smiled back.

She stepped closer and pulled on his collar, saying, "I can handle all kinds of treatment. You seem a bit down. Want to indulge in some rough play? I've got a whip in my bag."

Boyce looked at her with intense anger, "Definitely, I need to let off some steam right now."

...

An hour later.

Boyce looked at Yara, who was bruised and battered, and tossed a stack of cash at her. "This should cover your treatment."

Yara stood up to get dressed, "I'm afraid that's not enough."

"What did you say?" Boyce exclaimed, "That's ten thousand dollars!"

Yara shook her head gently, surveying her body marked with scars, especially where cigarette burns had marred her skin. She glared at him, "You ruined my skin. I won't be able to fetch a good price anymore; this job is worth at least a hundred grand."

"You're crazy! They'll heal back!" Boyce shouted.

Yara chuckled softly, "Not for you."

What?

Boyce was taken aback.

Bang!

The door swung open violently.

...

A burly Black man stood in the doorway, arms crossed.

Ian strolled in leisurely, "Okay, let's say a hundred grand!"

"Ian Carr?" Boyce exclaimed.

He wasn't an idiot; in that moment, he realized he had fallen into one of Ian's traps.

Boyce yelled, "Don't even think about blackmailing me! This isn't rape!"

"It could be!" Ian sneered. "But it's not just that."

He gave Yara a look, signaling her to leave.

Boyce tried to grab Yara, but Hadark slammed a fist into his face, sending him crashing to the floor.

"Don't expect your people; they're all out cold." Ian rubbed his hands together and casually pulled out a camera, handing it to Boyce. "Take a look."

Boyce looked at the footage in desperation, exclaiming, "Oh my God!"

Not only was there footage of him abusing Yara, but also recordings of his earlier phone calls.

Ian laughed, "You bribed the person who sent the list, altered the Oscar winners' list, and attempted to create an Oscar scandal... Really, there's nothing wrong with that from a business standpoint. The issue is that it can't be messed up!"

Boyce screamed, "I didn't do it! That recording doesn't prove anything."

Ian nodded, "Right, it doesn't quite prove anything yet."

What?

Boyce was confused.

Ian sighed, "Because this recording only proves your personal actions... That's bad, even though you work for ABC, you're just a minor player. What I need is the big fish. So I need you to provide me another recording!"

Boyce looked at him in horror, "You want me to drag my father into this? No way! He knows nothing about it!"

"But if you say he ordered it, then no problem."

"I won't do it, even if you use that woman to put me away, I won't do it."

Boyce wasn't naive; he could hire a good lawyer, and even if he went to jail, he wouldn't let his father get dragged down with him.

Without a father, he was nothing!

Ian scoffed, "Going to jail? No! I'd just toss you out the window."

Hadark laughed and stepped closer.

The scenario replayed itself, the irony being that this guy was named Boyce. Apparently, both Boyces would end up in the same game?

Ian puffed on a cigar, "Let me introduce you, the prime enforcer from the Crips gang, ruthless, bloodthirsty. Ever since he's been with me, he hasn't killed anyone for a good while, and that's his biggest grudge against me. He'll get to fulfill it today."

Hadark grabbed Boyce and walked toward the floor-to-ceiling windows.

Boyce shouted in terror, "No! No! Ian Carr, you can't do this; it's a crime; you're committing murder."

"Not me." Ian glared at him, his left eye glowing once more. "You're going to give me a new piece of evidence, proving that the entire ABC board was involved in the list alteration. The reason being retaliation for losing the Oscar broadcasting rights! Of course, if the ABC board agrees to hand over the Super Bowl broadcasting rights to me, then I won't hold your actions against you. It won't get exposed. You'll agree!"

As his gaze shifted, Boyce felt his mind starting to blur.

He muttered, "I accept..."

Ian smiled.

Even without any tricks, Boyce would agree, but if that happened, his performance wouldn't be genuine.

What Ian needed was a perfect performance, and the fear of death combined with mind tricks would maximize that performance.

He nodded, "You can let him down now."

Hadark laughed and tossed Boyce back to Ian: "I think you're the greatest director in the world. Others direct fictitious stories while you direct real life. You script every target you care about, orchestrating them to perform the life you need! The entire world will be under your command."

Ian smiled, "I love your way of thinking, Hadark; that's exactly what I strive for... Unfortunately, while my connections keep growing, as my empire expands, the non-disclosable things also keep piling up."

As a reporter, he held a significant sense of regret and dissatisfaction about not being able to disclose such matters.

In the past, he broke stories ten out of ten times, but now, most had to be shelved.

Oh well, money and status were ultimately the goals!

He raised the camera towards Boyce: "We can get started now."

*****

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