Chapter 50: The White Whale Movie.
Kyle was done with his haircut, but instead of heading straight home, he decided to linger outside for a while. He needed the fresh air to clear his thoughts. He found himself at a nearby park, settling onto a bench as he absorbed the peaceful surroundings. Every detail seemed more vivid to him, from the rustling leaves to the faint laughter of children in the distance.
Sitting there, he reflected on how far he’d come. The weight of his past lingered, a stark reminder that attempting suicide was no easy feat. It required a different level of bravery—one that still left its mark on him. Kyle had made the decision to end it all but, in a twist of fate, had found something worth living for. Yet, despite that, there remained an emptiness within him, a hollow ache that no amount of success or effort seemed to completely fill.
A part of him craved genuine human connection, and he suspected this was why the system had introduced the "harem category." It was as if it understood his innermost desires, the ones he didn’t dare acknowledge fully. He had done things he wouldn’t normally consider, all because of the affection bar. It guided his actions, shaping his interactions, and it was the reason he felt so drawn to Jane.
Without the system, Kyle admitted to himself, he wouldn’t have had the courage to be so direct. Based on how things were progressing, he estimated that Jane’s affection bar would be hovering around 20% in real time—nowhere near enough for her to feel as attached to him as she currently did. Similarly, Calista wouldn’t have been intrigued by him either, though his interest in her was more of an experiment than anything else.
Kyle leaned back, tilting his head toward the sky as if seeking answers in its endless expanse. He knew this was only the beginning of his journey, a prologue to the story he was determined to write. Dreams he never thought he’d have were now etched firmly in his mind, even if others might call them unrealistic.
Money commanded attention, yes, but true status commanded respect. He couldn’t afford to doubt himself, not even for a moment. As Kyle thought more about the system, he began to understand it better. It didn’t just add women he was attracted to—it seemed to require some level of mutual interest. That realization meant he had to tread carefully in all his interactions, balancing his words and actions to maintain control.
Kyle shifted slightly on the bench, grimacing as he realized how tired his legs felt. He wasn’t exactly in peak physical condition, and his body reminded him of that with every subtle ache. "Perhaps I do need to exercise," he muttered to himself, considering Aiysha’s earlier offer. However, the idea of spending more time with her felt risky. He knew that more frequent interactions could complicate things unnecessarily.
There were other gyms in the area, of course, and Kyle considered signing up at one of them instead. Aiysha wouldn’t have to know. But then a troubling thought crossed his mind—what if she did find out? The potential for awkwardness made him groan in frustration.
"Argh!" Kyle grumbled under his breath, rubbing his temples. Everything felt far more complicated than it should have been. He understood the influence women could have over men, especially wives over their husbands. The last thing Kyle needed was for Mr. Jones, who was no longer just his landlord but also a business partner, to become involved in unnecessary drama.
Kyle needed a distraction, something to take his mind off his swirling thoughts. He’d been speaking to Calista a little too much recently, and he knew that excessive communication could backfire. Jane, too, needed some space. He had just seen her, and it was better to give her time to miss him rather than smothering her with attention.
That’s when he remembered Cassandra. She was new on his radar, someone whose interest he had yet to fully gauge. Cassandra hadn’t given him any clear signals, but the challenge of winning her over intrigued him. Married couples, Kyle mused, often lost the passion and romance that once defined their relationships. What better way to reignite that spark in someone’s heart than by being the stranger who reminded them of desires long forgotten?
Kyle pulled out his phone, intending to plan his next move. To his surprise, he noticed a missed call from Isabella.
"Huh?" he muttered, confused. He didn’t remember hearing his phone ring. Without hesitation, he called her back, hoping the matter wasn’t urgent.
The call barely rang twice before Isabella answered. Kyle knew that if he weren’t who he was, someone like Isabella wouldn’t have picked up so quickly.
"Good evening, sir..." Isabella began, her tone professional yet warm.
"Hello, Isabella. How are you? Is everything alright on your end?" Kyle asked, his voice steady but curious. He had previously told her to inform him of any pressing issues, and he entertained the possibility that this call was related to that.
"I’m great, sir. Everything is better than ever!" Isabella reassured him enthusiastically before getting to the point. "I called to inform you that Calista Wave has secured the role."
Kyle’s lips curved into a small smile. "You followed all the instructions I gave you?"
"Yes, sir," Isabella confirmed confidently. "I informed the Distort Company that ’The White Whale’ film was in production and that we were willing to cover 15% of the production costs if they cast one of our actors as the lead."
Kyle leaned back on the bench, his smile widening. Calista’s career now revolved entirely around him. He could elevate her to unimaginable heights or let her crash and burn with a snap of his fingers. This wasn’t just about Calista, though—it was a stepping stone. Kyle knew he had to start small, using these connections to build a network that would eventually open the doors of Hollywood to him.
"Thank you for this, Isabella," Kyle said sincerely.
Lucas, the casting director, hadn’t kept Calista in the role because he wanted to. He had done so because the higher-ups had given him a directive, one that Kyle had orchestrated.
"The $15,000,000 has also been transferred from the agency’s primary funds to finalize the deal. Would that be all, sir?" Isabella asked, maintaining her professional demeanor.
Her curiosity, however, was evident. She wanted to know who Calista was to Kyle and why he’d gone to such lengths for her.
"That will be all. Thank you, Isabella. Our goal is to get as many actors and actresses under our agency into the spotlight. Once people see what we can do, they’ll be more inclined to join us," Kyle explained smoothly, offering a plausible cover for his actions.
"And what better way to showcase our capabilities than by giving someone like Calista a lead role in a major film?" he added rhetorically.
Isabella chuckled softly, finally understanding his logic. "That’s genius! I can’t believe I didn’t think of this myself!"
"Good thing I’m here," Kyle replied with a slight laugh. "Get some rest, Isabella."
"I will, sir. Thank you for trusting me and giving me the chance to prove myself," Isabella said, her gratitude genuine.
"You’re too modest. I’ll talk to you later," Kyle said before ending the call.
As he put his phone away, Kyle leaned back on the bench again, his mind racing. The game he was playing required precision, but for the first time in his life, he felt like he was truly in control.
