Smart Business

Across the atrium, 30 animators and production editors watched the phone in Jude's hand in dead silence.

Arthur Zhang's bluster faded as he took the device, his fingers unsteady against the casing.

"Hello? Mr. Mercer?" Zhang said, pressing the phone to his ear. "This is Arthur Zhang, Vice President of Partnerships at Luminary VFX... Yes, sir, I'm currently on the 14th floor of Voyager Animation reviewing their rendering terms—"

Zhang stopped.

Within 2 seconds, the color drained from his face.

His posture stiffened, his knuckles white around the handset as he listened to the voice on the other end.

"Yes, sir... Understood, Mr. Mercer. I understand completely."

The line clicked off.

Zhang lowered the phone, staring at Jude with quiet shock.

"Chairman Lawson," Zhang stammered, bowing his head in a hurry. "I'm so sorry. I had no idea you owned the company. I was way out of line."