Chapter 283: ... you are mistaken.
James Polson’s brows furrowed when he heard that. But even so ... he maintained his composure and smiled.
"Mr Samson, what are you saying?" His gaze swept across the other investors while the same polite smile remained on his face. "This is an important matter. How could I possibly joke about it?"
"I’m being very serious here. The contract has been drafted keeping everyone’s interests in mind. You definitely won’t be disappointed."
Old Samson let out a mocking laugh.
"We won’t be disappointed? Hahaha ..." He leaned back, his eyes filled with ridicule. "I think we’ve already been disappointed enough by the way you and Director Rhodes have been treating us."
The crease between James’s brows deepened.
Outwardly, he remained calm, but he knew exactly what the man was referring to —and what kind of trouble he was trying to stir.
"Mr. Samson, we’re—"
"That’s enough."
Old Samson slammed the file onto the table with a loud bang, his face twisting with anger.
"I’ve heard enough of your explanations. I’ve listened to you and Camden Rhodes for far too long. Now ..." His voice hardened. "... it’s your turn to listen to us."
Turning toward the investors who supported him, he declared, "Remove that girl from the cast immediately. She will not be playing the female lead."
"Choose anyone else —even from a non-acting background, and we’ll accept it. Just not her."
The few investors who had come together with Old Samson for one final try also nodded in agreement.
"Yes, Producer Polson," one of them said. "Replace her. We simply can’t accept her. We’re going to be the major investors in this project, so you should at least give us that much face."
"Exactly!" another one chimed in. "Find someone better for the lead role. If you and Director Rhodes truly appreciate her talent that much, then give her a supporting role instead. Don’t risk the entire production by casting her as the female lead."
"The audience won’t accept her. Even though several years have passed since that incident, it would only take a few taps to dig up her entire scandal again."
"We simply can not afford to take such a huge risk."
One after another, they voiced their concerned opinions.
It was the same old reasoning, merely wrapped in different words.
James listened to every single one of them. And somehow, compared to before, their arguments now only irritated him.
Previously, he had still been willing to consider their concerns.
But now —
With the Warrens standing behind the project, he no longer felt the need to indulge their inflated egos.
Pinching the bridge of his nose, he silently tried to suppress the frustration building inside him.
Seeing him staying silent like that only fueled Samson’s anger further.
Slamming his palm onto the table again, he stood up.
"I won’t even accept her in a supporting role anymore." His voice echoed through the meeting room. "If you still refuse to remove her, we’ll withdraw every bit of our investment. Then let me see how Camden Rhodes continues being arrogant and insists on casting her."
James’s brows knitted together. Looking straight at him, he said firmly, "Mr. Samson, the one being arrogant isn’t Rhodes. It’s you. Don’t cross the line."
Camden Rhodes wasn’t just the film’s director, he was also James’s longtime friend. There was no way James would allow Samson or anyone to insult him so openly in front of him.
Samson merely scoffed, his expression full of contempt. "So what if I cross?" he sneered. "We have every right to."
Other remaining investors exchanged uncertain glances among themselves.
Unlike Samson ... they weren’t nearly as confident.
After all, Camden Rhodes’s reputation alone was enough to guarantee them a stupendous returns on their investment.
None of them had ever truly planned to abandon this project halfway through.
"Old Samson, don’t talk like that," one investor tried to mediate. "Polson and Rhodes aren’t our enemies. We’ve worked together many times before. As long as we express our concerns properly, they’ll understand."
He glanced towards Polson and added with a understanding, kind smile, "They’ll naturally consider everyone’s interests."
"Heh!" Samson scoffed again. "They don’t need to understand anymore. We’ve already given them plenty of time. Now all they need to do is listen to us and do exactly what we’ve asked."
"Otherwise ..." He deliberately paused. "They can forget about our investment."
The atmosphere immediately became tense.
Everyone felt getting trapped in an awkward position.
"This ..."
"What should we do now?? Old Samson isn’t leaving us any room to compromise."
"What if Producer Polson refuses to entertain his attitude like this? Can we really afford to lose such a profitable opportunity?"
They whispered among themselves, unable to decide.
They wanted profits.
But they didn’t want to take risks.
Adelyn Grace’s audition had genuinely impressed them. However, the scandal from her past still posed too great a threat in their eyes.
None of them was willing to gamble their money on her.
"I think Polson and Rhodes will eventually have to accept Samson’s demand," one investor said confidently. "Just as we can’t afford to lose this opportunity, they can’t afford to lose our investment either."
Soon, however, someone else voiced another possibility.
"But Director Rhodes hasn’t backed down all this time. He’s extremely stubborn. What if he doesn’t accept ouer condition and rejects us again?"
"If he does, then the project will simply go on hiatus." Another investor shrugged. "Either way, we won’t be the ones losing entirely. It’s better if we all support Samson. With all of us standing together, the pressure will be even greater. They’ll have no choice but to agree."
The group pondered for a moment before finally nodding in unison.
After all ...
Every one of them firmly believed they alone held the power to make—or break—this project.
Without their investment ...
This film simply couldn’t be made.
And since they considered themselves that important, it was only natural for them to act the same.
Finally, another investor cleared his throat before speaking.
"Producer Polson, we don’t intend to pressure you, but ..." He glanced toward Samson before continuing. "... we believe Mr. Samson is thinking in everyone’s best interests."
"Agree to remove Adelyn Grace from the cast, and we’ll continue supporting this project. Otherwise ..." He paused briefly.
"... we’ll stand with Mr. Samson, and we can’t guarantee our investment anymore."
James looked at every one of them.
His expression remained calm —yet it carried an unmistakable look of someone whose patience had finally run out.
"Are you certain about it?" he asked.
His question only confused everyone.
To them, it sounded like one final attempt to persuade them before giving up.
Only Samson snorted dismissively.
"Stop pretending to be arrogant." He looked at James with open disdain. "Just agree."
"Otherwise ... everyone here knows that, aside from us, no one would be foolish enough to invest in this doomed project you’re trying to make."
"Samson, you—"
James was about to speak when a calm voice came from outside the meeting room.
"If that’s what you believe ..."
"... then you’re greatly mistaken, Mr. Samson."