章 23: this could be worse

The next morning, I sat in the conference room, staring at the clock, counting down the minutes until Felix arrived. I'd spent most of the night alternating between dread and resignation, knowing full well that this guy was going to be a nightmare.

I didn't have to wait long. Right on the dot, the door opened, and in walked Felix Brandt. He was tall, lean, with the kind of perfectly styled brown hair that looked like it had never seen a bad day in its life. His suit was tailored so perfectly it was almost offensive, and his expression was one of mild disinterest like he was already bored just by the idea of being in the same room as me.

"Oh good, another fashion model who thinks his haircut qualifies him for leadership," I muttered under my breath.

He walked over, extending his hand with all the enthusiasm of someone greeting a mildly interesting houseplant. "Amara Lyselle, I presume."

"Yes," I replied, shaking his hand and trying not to roll my eyes. "And you must be Felix. Pleasure."

[This guy's more cardboard than a cereal box,] the system quipped, making me suppress a snort.

"I've gone over the project files," Felix began, wasting no time on pleasantries. "There's a lot of work to be done."

Translation: You've barely scratched the surface, and I'm here to save the day.

"I'm aware," I replied as politely as I could manage. "But I've already laid out the groundwork. We're shifting the show's focus toward authenticity and unscripted content. The rebranding is in the works."

Felix nodded, though his expression didn't change. "Yes, I saw your notes. A solid idea. But the execution is where things often fall apart."

Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence, Felix. I can already tell we're going to be best friends.

"I've handled projects like this before," he continued, his voice smooth but completely devoid of any real warmth. "I'm here to ensure everything goes smoothly."

"Oh, I have no doubt you will," I replied, barely hiding my sarcasm. "I'm sure your expertise will be invaluable."

[Careful, you might choke on that sarcasm,] the system whispered.

"I'll start by reviewing the influencer roster you've suggested," Felix said, pulling out a tablet and scrolling through my meticulously planned list. "Some of these names are… interesting choices."

"Interesting in a good way or a bad way?" I asked, already knowing what he was going to say.

Felix raised an eyebrow. "Let's just say I have some concerns about their ability to align with the brand's vision."

Of course, he did. Because nothing says 'team player' like tearing apart someone else's work the second you walk in the door.

"Right," I said, doing my best to keep my cool. "Well, I'm open to suggestions."

Felix's expression softened slightly. "Good. I think with the right adjustments, we can make this work. We'll also need to tighten up the marketing strategy. I've already outlined a few areas where we can improve."

Oh, great. He's come with homework.

[This guy's a joy vacuum,] the system muttered.

"Sounds good," I said, resisting the urge to throw my tablet at him. "Let's review your notes and go from there."

As Felix started outlining his plans in excruciating detail, I couldn't help but wonder if this was some kind of cosmic punishment for a past life crime. Maybe being hit by an ice cream truck wasn't enough. Maybe the universe decided I also needed to deal with Felix Brandt and his perfectly sculpted hair to balance the scales.

[You know, this could be worse,] the system said, breaking into my thoughts.

"How?" I hissed under my breath.

[He could have brought PowerPoint slides.]

I nearly burst out laughing but managed to hold it in. Barely.

Felix looked up from his tablet. "Did you say something?"

"Nope. All good. Let's keep going," I replied, flashing him a smile that was probably a little too enthusiastic.

As Felix droned on about marketing strategies, my mind drifted. I had three days left to finish the system's mission, and my parents were breathing down my neck. If I didn't figure out how to get Elara into the family business soon, I was going to be stuck here for… eternity? That couldn't be right. I refused to believe this reality had been cooked up just to torment me forever. Even the universe wasn't that cruel. Right?

[Oh, it absolutely could be,] the system chimed in cheerfully. [But let's focus on the task at hand, shall we?]

Right. Elara. I needed to get her involved in the reality TV show in a way that would showcase her talents without my parents catching on. If they realized I was doing this to get her recruited, they'd probably shut the whole thing down just out of spite.

"Felix," I interrupted, suddenly struck with an idea. "About that influencer roster. What if we expanded the casting a bit?"

Felix blinked, clearly thrown off by my sudden enthusiasm. "Expanded? In what way?"

"We've been focusing too much on established influencers and personalities," I said, leaning forward as if I'd been hit with a stroke of genius which, to be fair, I kind of had. "What if we brought in fresh faces? New talent. The kind that can bring authenticity to the show. People who aren't already tied up in the influencer world, but who have something unique to offer."

Felix frowned slightly, but I could see the gears turning in his head. "New talent could be a risk. We'd have to vet them carefully."

"That's the point, though," I said, now fully committed to my plan. "We find someone who hasn't been overexposed, who's raw and real. It'll make the show stand out. People are tired of the same old influencers promoting the same old products. We need someone who's different."

He hesitated, but I could see I was getting to him. Felix Brandt didn't seem like the type to take big risks, but if I framed this right, I could make him think it was his idea. "Do you have anyone in mind?" he asked cautiously.

"As a matter of fact, I do," I replied smoothly, trying not to show how smug I felt. "There's this actress I've come across Elara Whitfield. She's not well-known yet, but she's incredibly talented. If we bring her in as a sort of wildcard, it could shake things up."

Felix tilted his head, considering it. "An actress? This is a reality show. It's supposed to be unscripted."

"I know," I said quickly, "but that's what makes her perfect. Elara's not just an actress; she's got this raw, natural charisma. She's been doing some indie stuff, but she hasn't hit mainstream yet. If we bring her in under the radar, no one will expect it. She'll come off as a regular participant, but her presence will elevate the whole show."

Felix frowned, still uncertain. "We'd have to make sure she doesn't come off as too polished. People want real."

"Trust me," I said, keeping my tone confident. "She's the opposite of polished. Elara's got a way of making everything seem authentic. And if it doesn't work, we can always cut her scenes. Low risk, high reward."

[You're really laying it on thick, aren't you?] the system snickered.

Shut up, system. I was on a roll.

Felix rubbed his chin, clearly mulling it over. "We'd need to bring her in quietly. Can't have the higher-ups thinking we're throwing in some random actress for no reason."

Oh, Felix. If only you knew.

"Exactly," I agreed, nodding sagely. "We make it look like she's just another contestant, someone we plucked from obscurity to give the show a different flavor. We can run her through the usual vetting process to make sure she fits the show's brand."

Felix seemed to be coming around. He glanced back at his tablet, making a few notes. "I'll have to check with the casting team, but… this could work. We'll need to keep it under the radar, though."

I fought the urge to smirk. Under the radar was exactly what I needed. If my parents caught wind of this, they'd sabotage the whole thing. But if I could get Elara on the show without them realizing… well, they'd see her talent for themselves. And when they did, they'd have no choice but to consider bringing her into the company.

"Good," I said, keeping my voice neutral. "I think it'll be a great addition to the show."

Felix nodded, looking more convinced by the second. "I'll talk to the team and set up a preliminary meeting with her. If she passes the audition, we can move forward."

I gave him a tight smile, trying not to let my relief show. "Perfect."

As Felix continued to make notes, I leaned back in my chair, feeling a wave of satisfaction wash over me. I'd done it. Elara was going to be on the show, and my parents would never see it coming. Once they saw how talented she was, they'd be forced to recognize her potential and then, hopefully, she'd be recruited into Lyselle Media without anyone realizing it had been my plan all along.

[Well, look at you,] the system chimed in smugly. [Actually using that brain of yours for something useful.]

"I try," I muttered under my breath, ignoring Felix's curious glance in my direction.

[You've got three days to pull this off. Think you can manage it?]

"Oh, I'll manage," I whispered, already plotting my next steps. "Felix might be a corporate robot, but he's useful. I'll get Elara in without my parents even noticing."

[Just remember, failure means—]

"Failure isn't an option," I snapped, cutting the system off. "Elara's going to get recruited, and I'm going to finish this mission. End of story."

Felix looked up from his tablet, raising an eyebrow. "Are you sure you didn't say something?"

I gave him my most innocent smile. "Just thinking out loud."

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