Chapter 16: The Kingmaker’s Favor
The morning after his confrontation with Harvey Delacroix, Nate woke to a text from Damien Cross.
Damien: Meet me at Club Imperium. Midnight.
Nate smirked.
The timing was too perfect.
He had just won his first industry battle—and Damien had noticed.
This wasn't just a meeting.
It was a summons.
A chance to prove himself further.
Nate knew one thing—when the kingmaker calls, you answer.
---
At midnight, Nate arrived at Club Imperium, a hidden fortress of wealth and vice.
Inside, the air was thick with the scent of power—the rich, the famous, the untouchable.
Damien Cross sat in a private booth, flanked by two beautiful women and a man Nate didn't recognize.
As Nate approached, Damien gestured to an empty seat. "Take a drink, Whitaker. You've earned it."
Nate slid in, accepting the whiskey poured for him. "I take it you heard about Delacroix."
Damien smirked. "Everyone did."
The unknown man finally spoke. "The way you handled him… that wasn't an actor's move."
Nate studied him. Sharp suit, expensive watch, a presence that demanded respect.
Damien gestured lazily. "Nate, meet Leon Castano. He's a fixer. When problems need to disappear, Leon makes them vanish."
Leon tilted his glass. "You handled your own mess well, Whitaker. Most actors cry to their agents. You went for the throat."
Nate sipped his drink. "I don't like loose ends."
Leon and Damien exchanged a glance.
Then Damien chuckled. "That's exactly what I wanted to hear."
The real conversation was about to begin.
--
Damien leaned in. "Tell me, Nate. How ambitious are you?"
Nate smirked. "If you have to ask, you haven't been paying attention."
Damien chuckled. "Good answer. Because I have an opportunity for you. A role that will do more than make you famous—it'll make you untouchable."
Nate's interest piqued. "I'm listening."
Damien slid a confidential file across the table.
"Ever heard of The Orion Project?"
Nate opened the file—and felt his pulse spike.
Inside were details about a billion-dollar film trilogy.
An adaptation of a bestselling series. A guaranteed global phenomenon.
And Damien was offering him the lead role.
This wasn't just a career move.
This was an empire in the making.
But there had to be a catch.
Nate looked up. "And what do you want in return?"
Damien's smirk widened.
"A favor. One I'll call in when the time is right."
Nate exhaled, considering.
A risk. A gamble. A deal with the devil.
But he had already chosen his path.
Nate closed the file and looked Damien in the eye.
"You have yourself a deal."
Damien lifted his glass.
"Then welcome to the top, Whitaker."
And just like that—Nate took another step toward absolute power.
The night at Club Imperium had changed everything.
Nate Whitaker was no longer just a rising star.
He was now tied to Damien Cross—a man whose favors always came at a price.
And the offer he'd accepted?
The Orion Project.
A billion-dollar trilogy. A role that would make him a household name.
But at what cost?
As Nate sat in his penthouse the next morning, staring at the confidential file, he knew one thing—
Hollywood wasn't just a dream factory.
It was a chessboard.
And every move he made had to be calculated.
---
A week later, the entertainment world erupted.
"BREAKING NEWS: Young Actor Nate Whitaker Cast as Lead in Billion-Dollar Orion Franchise!"
Social media exploded.
Some fans celebrated. Some doubted him. The industry took notice.
This wasn't just a role.
This was a crown.
And Nate Whitaker had just put it on.
At the official press event, cameras flashed as Nate stood beside Damien Cross and the film's director.
Journalists fired questions.
"Nate, how does it feel to land the biggest role of the decade?"
Nate smiled confidently. "I've always believed I was meant for something big. Now, I get to prove it."
More flashes. More headlines.
And behind the scenes, power players watched.
Some with interest.
Some with envy.
And some… with plans.
---
That night, at an exclusive after-party, Nate noticed someone watching him.
A man in his forties. Sharp suit. A presence that felt dangerous.
When Nate stepped onto the balcony for fresh air, the man followed.
"Nate Whitaker," he said smoothly. "Enjoying your success?"
Nate turned. "Depends. Who's asking?"
The man smiled. "Someone who appreciates talent. The name's Jonathan Mercer."
Nate recognized the name instantly.
A major player in the industry. Silent partner in multiple studios. Controlled more deals than most executives.
And yet—he rarely appeared in public.
Which meant this wasn't a casual encounter.
"I hear you've made some… powerful friends," Mercer continued. "Damien Cross, for example."
Nate stayed neutral. "He believes in my potential."
Mercer chuckled. "He believes in control."
Nate raised an eyebrow. "And you don't?"
Mercer stepped closer.
"I'm just saying… Cross isn't the only one who can make careers."
There it was.
A new player stepping into the game.
And he was offering Nate an alternative.
Mercer smiled. "Enjoy your night, Whitaker. But remember—loyalty in Hollywood is a dangerous thing."
Then he disappeared into the party.
Leaving Nate standing in the cool night air.
One promise to Damien.
One offer from Mercer.
And the realization that he was now at the center of a battle for power.
The real game had just begun.