Chapter 189: Not a choice, but obligation.
Freya halted the moment she heard Adelyn’s question.
She had already turned to leave, so her back was still facing her.
However, she didn’t turn around immediately.
Nor did Adelyn rush her.
She simply let the silence settle between them —calm, unpressured, almost deliberate.
After a moment, Freya finally turned back.
Her gaze met Adelyn’s, and slowly, her lips curved into a soft, reassuring smile ...
"I can handle them," she said gently.
Then, after a brief pause, she added further,
"You don’t need to worry about such small matters. Focus on your training first. Leave everything else to me."
Freya didn’t deny it.
And that alone was enough for Adelyn to understand—
She had guessed right.
The company was already making its move, trying to pressure Freya into giving her up.
Sooner or later, things would turn ugly.
However—
Adelyn chose to trust her.
If Freya said she could handle it, then it meant she must already have a plan.
With that thought, Adelyn gave a small, knowing smile and nodded.
Freya hadn’t expected that.
Not when her reputation within the company had long been in ruins —when most people had stopped trusting her entirely.
And yet, Adelyn believed her so easily.
That quiet, unquestioning trust—
It eased something deep within her.
She looked at Adelyn, then slowly raised her hand.
It paused mid-air for a brief second before she cautiously brought it down to her shoulder, giving it a light, reassuring pat.
"Let’s head to training," she said, finally leading Adelyn out of the company.
The car was already waiting outside.
Adelyn took the passenger seat, while Freya got into the driver’s side.
Moments later, the car pulled away from the ZX Media premises.
Meanwhile—
On the top floor of the company building—
Corrin knocked on the CEO’s office door before pushing it open slowly.
"CEO Gibson," he called politely, "may I come in?"
The man in his late forties sat behind his desk, one hand pressed against his forehead, partially covering his eyes.
At the sound of Corrin’s voice, he lowered his hand and looked toward the door.
A frown immediately creased his brows.
"What are you doing here again, Thatcher?" he asked, his irritation clear in his tone.
Corrin smiled faintly, as he stepped inside.
"I just came to check on something," he said smoothly. "You spoke with Freya Finn earlier. Did she agree?"
The frown on Harry Gibson’s face deepened instantly.
His expression hardened as he suddenly slammed his palm against the desk.
"She had the audacity to refuse me," he snapped. "How dare she?"
Corrin wasn’t surprised.
Having treated Freya as a rival for years, he knew her far too well.
She would never back down without a fight —especially not in something this important.
And this—
This was a decisive battle.
How could she possibly accept defeat so easily?
"As expected of her," Corrin muttered, clicking his tongue lightly.
When Gibson shot him a look, he quickly added,
"I mean ... it’s only natural she would reject it, given how the company has treated her over the years. She must still hold resentment. Perhaps she doesn’t want to share her success with us anymore."
Gibson scoffed sharply.
"What nonsense are you spouting?" he snapped. "Have we treated her unfairly?"
He jabbed a finger toward the door, his voice rising.
"We kept her here even after she lost all her value. We supported her when no one else would. And she calls that mistreatment?"
Corrin stepped further inside, his expression shifting into one of measured concern ...
"We know the company hasn’t treated her unfairly," he said calmly. "But Manager Finn may not see it that way."
He paused, then continued deliberately,
"She still blames the company for what happened back then. After all ... when her artiste died, we allowed the blame to fall on her instead of protecting her. She—"
"Bullsh*t!" Gibson barked, no longer able to sit still.
He leaned forward, anger flashing in his eyes.
"Her artiste died because of her own ambition. If she had been more careful, none of it would have happened. And even then, we didn’t hold her accountable for the company’s losses afterward. That alone was more leniency than she deserved."
The more Corrin listened, the more satisfied he became.
This was exactly what he wanted—
For the CEO to turn completely against Freya.
The deeper the resentment, the stronger the pressure.
And once Freya was forced to give in—
Everything she had built would fall into his hands.
Just like it always had before.
A faint smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.
Gibson caught it.
"What are you smiling at?" he demanded.
Corrin’s expression changed instantly.
He straightened and shook his head.
"I’m not smiling," he said quickly. "I was just thinking ... now that Manager Finn has finally found another gem, it’s only fair that the company benefits from it as well."
He spoke smoothly, planting each word with care.
"After all, without ZX Media, how would she have even gotten such an opportunity for her artiste?"
Gibson leaned back slightly, his anger settling into cold agreement.
He believed the same.
In his mind, Freya had only managed to secure that audition because of the company’s name.
Otherwise, who would have even bothered to entertain her?
What he didn’t know—
... Was that Freya had relied solely on herself when she approached James Polson.
ZX Media’s name had never even been mentioned.
James had agreed only because he trusted her—because he owed her a favor.
And she had chosen to use it this way.
"Freya’s wings have grown too strong," Gibson said coldly. "But she’s forgetting something."
His gaze sharpened.
"She’s still a signed manager under ZX Media. Sharing her success with the company isn’t a choice —it’s an obligation."
His voice dropped, firm and absolute.
"And I won’t let her walk away from it."
This was exactly what Corrin wanted.
And seeing how easily he had steered the situation in this direction—
He could barely suppress his satisfaction.
Still, he kept his expression composed.
"But CEO Gibson," he said seriously, "since she has already refused once ... she’ll likely refuse again. We can’t force her to agree, can we?"
