Desire Investment System

The CEO's office was large and imposing. Its walls were lined with matte black panels and shelves of neatly arranged files. A wide glass desk stood at the center, catching the morning light from the tall windows.

The air was quiet, except for the scratching sound of a pen over paper.

CEO of K.F. Entertainment, Francis Kiefer sat in the leather chair behind the desk. He was in his early fifties, tall and broad-shouldered, his dark gray suit pressed without a wrinkle. His salt-and-pepper hair was slicked back, his jaw clean-shaven, his sharp features giving him a look of cold authority.

He flipped through documents one after another, signing as he went.

Beside him stood his secretary, Emma Duvall. She wore a crisp white shirt tucked into a black pencil skirt. Her short black hair framed her face, and square glasses gave her a strict look.

Her movements were efficient, passing one file after another across the desk.

Jace spoke first, his tone respectful. "Mr. Kiefer."

Francis didn't reply. He didn't even glance up from his paperwork.

Jace tried again, louder this time. "Mr. Kiefer."

Still no reply. Francis kept signing, as if he wasn't even in the room.

Emma, however, adjusted her glasses with one finger, her hand half-covering the faint smug smile on her lips. Her eyes flickered past Jace, landing on Elizabeth.

Jace followed her gaze and glanced at Elizabeth.

Elizabeth's eyes were locked on her father. Outwardly she looked calm, but her trembling hands on her lap betrayed her fear. Her curled fingers pressed tightly against her maroon skirt, trying to suppress her nerves.

And Jace caught it. A thought crept into his mind.

He rose from his seat.

Elizabeth startled, her eyes darting up to him.

Jace smiled. "It seems the CEO is far too busy to notice us."

Emma frowned at the remark.

Elizabeth muttered in a low voice, "What the hell are you saying?"

Francis still ignored them, marking contract clauses with his pen.

But Jace's smile only deepened. "Perhaps I should take this offer to L.V. Entertainment instead."

Francis's hand paused mid-writing.

Jace straightened the lapels of his black overcoat. "And hand them over full control of the billion-dollar project."

At last, Francis raised his head. His gaze locked on Jace, sharp and cutting. "What?"

Jace smirked before answering. "I assumed President Elizabeth had already informed you."

Francis's tone dropped heavy. "ELIZABETH."

She flinched and stood. His stare pierced through her like needles.

Her lips parted, but the words stuck in her throat. "I-I…"

She couldn't say it. And how could she?

When Jace was the one that told her not to inform him, and only to arrange the meeting, somehow.

With no choice she just arranged the meeting saying a trending actor wants to meet him.

And that's why Francis didn't pay much attention to Jace, he was making Jace wait to know his place.

The silence stretched.

Francis's eyes bore into Elizabeth. She lowered her head, unable to meet them.

While the tension in the room thickened, Emma glared at Jace with a suspicious look, her lips parting to speak—

But Jace cut in. "Mr. Francis, please forgive her." He stepped closer to Elizabeth, his tone polite, his smile calm. "It's my fault for not informing her."

He stopped at her side, close enough to feel her tense. "Would you care to look over the proposal yourself?"

He leaned slightly, picking up the file from the glass table.

Francis narrowed his eyes. He didn't say anything, as if waiting for him to come and hand over the file.

But Jace didn't step forward. He only held the file in his hand, pointing it toward Francis with the same polite smile.

Seconds passed. Finally, Francis set down his pen. "Emma. Bring the file."

Emma nodded, heels clicking as she walked to Jace. Her glare didn't waver. She snatched the file from his hand with a sharp tug.

For a brief second, Jace's expression darkened. Then it vanished, his mask restored.

Emma placed the file on Francis's desk. He opened it, flipping through the pages. At first his pace was brisk, skimming. By the fourth page he slowed. By the tenth, he was reading line by line.

The room stayed silent except for the turning of pages.

When he reached the last one, his hand rose to his chin. He leaned back, lost in thought.

Half an hour passed.

Jace still stood by Elizabeth. At one point, bored, he shifted his stance, his shoulder brushing against hers.

She froze. Her eyes locked on the spot where his shoulder had touched. Her whole body trembled harder.

Jace glanced at her. 'Pathetic.'

Francis's voice broke the silence. "Jace Cromwell."

Jace turned his head, meeting his sharp gaze.

"Have L.V. Entertainment agreed to your proposal yet?"

Jace smiled. "They have. Ms. Juliana Everen has even agreed to play the female lead role. I'll be playing the male—"

Francis cut him off. "And the figure they settled on?"

Jace stiffened at being interrupted. Since gaining the system, no one had cut him off. But he forced his composure. "...They agreed to a hundred million. Matching that is all that's left."

Francis tapped his finger against the desk, eyes on the file again.

Jace's fingers twitched against his coat. 'This is taking too fucking long. I should end it now.'

He straightened. "Mr. Francis, how about I add fifty million from myself? Then you only need to add another fifty."

Francis's eyes narrowed, suspicion in his tone. "What are you scheming?"

Jace smiled politely. "There's nothing shady. You just need to…" He raised a single finger.

Francis's brow furrowed.

Jace finished smoothly. "Add one clause. That I'll receive double my total investment."

Francis's tone sharpened. "Total investment?"

"I don't have fifty million at hand," Jace admitted. "I can provide twenty million now, and the rest later. My… small company still needs funds."

For the first time since the meeting began, Francis smiled. "So. Where do I sign?"

Inside, Jace grinned. 'Finally. The fish is hooked.'

Once the documents were submitted and signed, Jace left with Elizabeth. Outside, Kyra joined them, trailing in silence.

An hour later, Francis handed the contract back to Emma. His voice was dull and heavy again. "Send this to the legal team. Have them check for unfair clauses."

Emma nodded. "Yes, sir." She hesitated, then lowered her voice. "Should I also investigate Jace?"

Francis didn't look up. "Do that. And also investigate his relationship with Elizabeth."

Emma pushed her glasses upward with one finger, a smirk tugging at her lips. "I'll have answers in four days."

Her thoughts lingered darkly. 'I can't let Elizabeth's pet boy succeed.'