The tall glass building stood like a giant in the city center. Inside, the boardroom was already filled with loud voices, papers shuffling, and men in dark suits. The atmosphere was heavy.
Remian sat at the head of the long table, his sharp eyes scanning the restless crowd of shareholders. Normally, his cold stare was enough to silence them, but not today. Everyone was restless.
"Mr. Remian, within a single month, our company lost more than a billion! How can you sit so calm?" one shareholder shouted.
"Yes! We need answers. The public is losing trust. Our stocks are crashing," another added.
Remian leaned back in his chair. He looked calm, but inside, fire was burning. Money was never a problem for him—he could lose billions and earn it back. But what angered him was that someone inside, a black sheep, had betrayed him. He knew it. He could feel it. Still, he had no proof.
He clenched his fists under the table, forcing himself not to explode. Stay calm, Remian. Find the truth first, he told himself.
Then, suddenly, the door opened. His close friend, Lovian, walked in. He leaned down and whispered something into Remian's ear.
At that moment, Remian's calm mask shattered. His jaw tightened, and his eyes turned into flames. Without a word, he pushed his chair back with a loud screech and walked straight toward the Chief Executive, a man sitting near the middle of the table.
The Chief Executive froze. His face went pale, hands trembling, though he tried to act normal. But it was too late.
In a sudden move, Remian grabbed his shirt collar and pulled him up. Gasps echoed around the room. The man's eyes went wide as Remian's hand tightened around his neck.
"You…!" Remian hissed.
The man tried to speak, but Remian's grip was like iron. His breath got stuck, his face turned red, his eyes rolled slightly.
"Remian! What are you doing?" one of the shareholders shouted. "He is the pillar of our company!"
Remian let out a dry laugh, his voice cold and sharp. "Oh really? Pillar? I didn't know this pillar is made of mud."
He loosened his grip just enough for the man to gasp, then turned toward Lovian. With just a sharp glance, he gave a silent order.
Within seconds, the projector in the boardroom came alive. A video started playing on the big screen.
The lights dimmed. The hall fell into complete silence as the video ran. For three long minutes, every eye stayed glued to the shocking evidence on display. No one spoke. Not a single cough or whisper broke the heavy air.
When the video ended, the room was frozen in silence. The shareholders stared at the screen, then at the Chief Executive, then at Remian. Not one person dared to open their mouth.
Remian dropped the man back into his chair like a piece of trash. His lips curled into a half-smile. He didn't need to say anything more. The video had spoken louder than words.
Far away, in a quiet village, Juliana's world was different.
She sat on the wooden porch of her small house, enjoying the evening breeze. Her phone rang. It was Shilpa calling.
"Juliana! I have good news," Shilpa's excited voice came through. "I spoke to a famous movie director. He is very talented—he has introduced many new people in the industry. I showed him your photo. He likes your look. He is searching for a fresh heroine for his new movie, and he wants to meet you."
Juliana's heart skipped. "Really?" she asked, her voice a mix of shock and excitement.
"Yes! Really. This is your big chance. You must come to the city."
Juliana bit her lip. "But… my grandma. She is old and alone. Who will take care of her if I leave?"
Her heart ached. Grandma had raised her, loved her like no one else. Could she just leave her behind?
Juliana thought for a moment and then asked softly, "Maybe I can bring Grandma with me to the city? That way I can take care of her."
On the other end, Shilpa's smile stiffened. She thought fast. If Juliana brings her grandma, it will spoil everything. She will not be free to do what we want.
So Shilpa quickly replied, "No, no, Juliana. That won't work. The city is too fast, too crowded. Your grandma is old—how can she survive in the rush and noise? You must first settle here. Once you're ready, then think about bringing her."
Juliana sighed. Deep down, she knew Shilpa was right. Grandma loved the peaceful village life. The fresh air, the calm surroundings—this was her world. The city would break her.
"Okay, Shilpa. I'll speak to Grandma and then call you back," Juliana said quietly before cutting the call.
Back in the city, Richard wrapped his arm around Shilpa and smirked.
"So sweet, baby. She believed your words. Now we just need to prepare her mind. She looks innocent and beautiful, but we must change her style—her clothes, her hair, a little makeup. Slowly, we'll make her ready."
Shilpa giggled and leaned against him.
Richard's eyes darkened with boredom. "These days, I feel restless. We haven't shot anything exciting. Customers are asking for new faces. College girls are hiding their faces, covering their beauty. Customers complain. They want to see real expressions, real eyes. Only eyes can show desire, fear, excitement. But these girls… they cover everything. Soon, we must bring Juliana here."
"Yes, yes," Shilpa said quickly. "We'll bring her soon."
At that moment, Richard's phone buzzed. He answered. A customer's voice came through, sharp and demanding.
"We're tired of your usual videos. No more boring hotel rooms. We want something new—different places, different atmosphere. Give us something fresh, or we'll stop paying."
Richard frowned but forced a smile. "Alright. You'll get what you want."
After ending the call, Shilpa looked at him. "What did they ask?"
"They want new kinds of videos. Something unique. Something dangerous," Richard replied. He paused, then smirked. "Remember that college girl who came last time? Call her again. We'll use her. I'll arrange our male actor. This time, we'll give them something different."
Shilpa's eyes glittered. "Perfect."
They leaned closer, whispering, already planning their next move.
And far away, Juliana sat with her grandma, unaware that her name was now written into a dangerous game she didn't even know existed.