Talented Maestro

Chapter 55: Always Respect the Camera

Over the past two days, Halle Berry had been basking in the spotlight like never before. The outpouring of sympathy, praise for her courage, and overwhelming media coverage gave her the illusion that she'd finally made it.

She had never dreamed of attracting this much attention, and at first, she hadn't dared to pull off a stunt like this. But a private promise from a Universal Pictures executive made her drop all hesitation—and take the gamble.

The situation was simple: she didn't pass the audition, an unremarkable event in Hollywood. Just as she was preparing to seek her next role elsewhere, Adam Goodman from Universal reached out.

In a town full of schemers, Halle Berry wasn't naive enough to trust Adam's words outright. But when Morgan Freeman, a respected peer and fellow Black actor, personally vouched for him, she finally agreed to meet the real mastermind behind it all—Ferran Goodman, a senior executive of the media giant.

If she had any reservations about Adam, those vanished the moment she sat across from Ferran. Compared to his son, Ferran's methods were ruthless and calculated. It was clear he didn't just want to damage Wayne Garfield—he wanted to destroy him.

The vendetta wasn't random. Wayne had once stood up to Ferran, even threatened him face to face. That moment had never left the executive's mind, and now he saw a perfect opportunity for revenge.

But Halle's high-flying delusion didn't last.

Just two days later, she received a sudden call from Ferran, summoning her to an exclusive club in West Hollywood. She arrived with a puzzled expression, and found herself sitting across from Ferran, Adam, and Morgan Freeman once again.

As soon as she took her seat, Adam stood up, his voice tense.

"Halle, when you went into Wayne Garfield's office… are you absolutely sure there was no one else there?"

"Of course not. It was just the two of us." She answered without hesitation. "If there was someone else, I wouldn't have gone to the press. I'm sure—just us. Why?"

"Then why the hell…" Ferran muttered under his breath. "Is he bluffing?"

Adam paced back and forth, visibly agitated, before turning to her again.

"Warner Bros. media is leaking word that Wayne has hard evidence proving his innocence."

Hearing that, Halle's first thought was that maybe someone had been secretly listening in. But she quickly dismissed the idea—she'd watched Wayne's assistant leave. The office had been empty. It had to be.

"Was there any hidden mic or recorder in his office?" Ferran asked, then immediately shook his head. "No, no, it doesn't make sense. He couldn't have predicted this. He wouldn't have prepped for something like this in advance."

"When's he planning to release this supposed evidence?" Halle asked nervously. If it were true, she was in real danger.

"In two days," Adam replied, his frustration mounting. "Think, Halle. Are you sure—absolutely sure—there's no way anything was recorded?"

"No. I'm sure. I swear there's no proof!" she insisted. But even as she spoke, doubt gnawed at her. If Warner Bros. dared to leak something like this, they must be holding a trump card.

She had gone all-in for this. She fired her old agent and, under Ferran's guidance, signed with a powerful new firm. Universal had promised her a major role in an upcoming blockbuster—and, even more valuable, instant fame.

Thanks to this scandal, her name had been plastered across the country. She had been portrayed as a brave, strong woman standing up to a predatory, racist director. The public loved it.

This was why people came to Hollywood: fame, fortune, and power. And in just two days, Halle Berry had gotten all three.

But if the narrative flipped now, she was finished.

Not only would her Hollywood career implode before it even started, but she'd be blacklisted from the modeling and fashion industries as well. And the most terrifying prospect of all—Wayne might sue her. She knew exactly how badly the rich could grind the poor into the dust, and she was at the bottom of the ladder.

"So what now?" she asked, fear finally cracking her expression. "Do we just… wait and see if he really has evidence?"

Her voice trembled.

If Wayne had even a sliver of proof, the entire game would turn on her—and there would be no escape.

Chapter 56: Play the Game Like a Director (Please Bookmark & Recommend)

Halle Berry knew all too well—if Warner Bros. did have hard evidence, these three men across from her wouldn't hesitate to throw her under the bus like she'd never existed. Now, she had only one option: save herself.

Morgan Freeman had remained silent throughout the entire conversation. His face, calm and unreadable, betrayed no emotion. Hollywood's paragon of gentlemanly grace and dignity finally looked up at Halle and spoke:

"Go home for now. I think they're bluffing. As long as you're sure no evidence exists, they're probably just stirring the pot to shift public focus elsewhere."

"Don't give any interviews these next two days," he added. "Keep your mouth shut and wait for us to contact you."

"Alright. I'll wait to hear from you," Halle said, picking up her handbag and hurrying out of the private club, concern etched across her face.

But the moment she got into her car, her mask dropped. She flung her purse into the back seat and screamed,

"Bastards! Every last one of them. Think you can cut me loose that easily? You want me to take the fall alone? I'll drag all of you down with me! Sons of b*tches!"

Her face twisted in fury, she slammed the key into the ignition and sped straight toward Burbank.

---

The golden sun of Los Angeles dipped gently below the horizon. In the glow of twilight, actors finishing their day's work rode quietly away from the studio.

Wayne wasn't in a rush to leave. He stayed behind, going over the shooting schedule. The past few days had been chaotic, and he could feel the crew's tension. No one was truly focused.

There wasn't much he could do—just get through these next two days. Once the damning footage was released, morale would bounce back. Everyone was still worried that the entire production might collapse. Until that fear subsided, nothing would run smoothly.

Knock knock.

"Boss, someone's here to see you."

Nina's voice came through the door. When she walked in, her expression was odd, and her tone even stranger.

"Now?" Wayne looked up from his storyboard sketches and raised a brow. "Let them in. You pack up—let's head home soon. Hela's contacted security; they should arrive today."

Nina stepped aside, and in walked the so-called Black Pearl herself.

"Excuse me, may I speak with Director Garfield alone?" Halle Berry asked politely, her eyes locking on Nina.

That familiar line almost made Nina burst out laughing. Oh, she knew exactly what was happening. Wayne's "fishing expedition" had already reeled in its first big catch.

"Go on, Nina. Don't worry. Close the door on your way out," Wayne said, catching on to what she was smiling about.

"Ms. Berry, what brings you here? I'm busy, so let's keep this quick."

He paused after speaking. That line—he'd said it once before. The irony made him chuckle to himself.

Halle looked at him, utterly certain now: he had something. There was no way Warner Bros. would back Wayne this aggressively without solid proof.

"Director Garfield, I came to apologize. I know I said some terrible things… things that hurt your reputation."

"Get to the point, Halle. I don't have time for apologies," he cut her off without hesitation.

"Alright," she exhaled. "I admit everything I told the media was false. Someone put me up to it."

Wayne showed no reaction. His expression remained calm, giving her nothing.

"Go on, Halle. Don't stop now."

"I want to know what evidence you or Warner actually have. I need to know before I tell you who's behind this."

Halle stared at him intently, still holding onto a sliver of hope. She wanted to know where exactly she'd slipped—if he really had the power to destroy her.

"Let me be clear: I'm not forcing you to say anything," Wayne said coolly. "You're free to leave at any time."

He didn't care what she said. Once the footage hit the media, she'd be the first to spill everything—out of fear, guilt, or pure self-preservation. He'd never overestimated the moral compass of people like her. Given the chance to reduce their own sentence, they'd rat out everyone.

And now it was clear: her handlers weren't sure what evidence he had, so they were already preparing to cut her loose. She'd be their fall girl. The only question was whether they'd succeed in keeping her quiet.

"Fine," she finally said, the desperation in her voice unmistakable. "It was Adam Goodman who contacted me. Ferran Goodman from Universal was behind it all. Morgan Freeman was involved too."

"So why come to me now? Looks like they're already prepping to throw you under the bus."

"What do you want from me, Director Garfield? What will it take for you to let me go?" she asked, searching his face for any trace of emotion.

Wayne couldn't help but chuckle.

"Let you go? After what you did—after nearly ruining my entire career with lies about racism and sexual misconduct? And you think there's a 'deal' on the table?"

Halle clenched her jaw. Desperation clung to her like perfume.

"What if I can fix this? I'll go public. I'll say they forced me, that I was threatened. I'll expose everything—even name them directly in front of the cameras."

"Still not enough," Wayne replied, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "But… I'll give you one shot."

He reached under the desk, pulled out a small cassette, and popped it into the player.

The screen flickered to life.

As the footage rolled, Halle's face drained of color. She hadn't even noticed she was being filmed. The chill that ran down her spine was unmistakable.

"See that?" Wayne said quietly, placing a mini DV camcorder on the table in front of her. "Take this. I want a clear, uncut recording of Ferran Goodman admitting what he did. I don't care if it's hidden in your bag or strapped to your bra—get it done."

Halle stared at the camera in silence.

This time, it was her turn to feel trapped.