Chapter 10 James Lowther

• Simon's expression was extremely pandering, for he was small potatoes compared to James Lowther, even as the deputy director. There were many of them around but only one director—James, who called the shots at Brightvale TV and could fire Simon there and then during a meeting without batting an eye!
• James glanced at Aric and Elowen, who were sitting on the couch. He recognized Elowen as a top-performing reporter at the station. As for Aric...
• James furrowed his brow and stayed silent.
• Simon thought Aric was bothering James and quickly turned to his secretary. "Get the security guards to kick them to the curb and call the cops! An ex-employee bringing someone here to cause a ruckus? Do you really think I'm a pushover?"
• As the guards approached Aric, James suddenly ordered, "Stop."
• A slight smile flashed across Aric's eyes; he had thought James had forgotten about him.
• "Who are you?" James asked Aric, hands trembling behind him.
• Simon quickly tried to intervene. "Mr. Lowther, these two are nobodies. One was our reporter who was fired for her mistakes, while the other might be her boyfriend. I'll resolve this."
• The escalation of the Valenwood Group situation wouldn’t be good for him; the most ideal solution was to keep it down.
• "Out!" James pushed him aside and walked up to Aric.
• Elowen glanced at James and then at Aric, an unbelievable thought coming into her mind. Could it be that Mr. Lowther knows Aric?
• "M-Mr. Thornwood?" James was nearly in tears seeing Aric, not expecting to see him here.
• James had recognized Aric, the Emberfall Front commander, the instant he entered. James had led a team covering the Emberfall Front battle under Aric's command five years ago before becoming the Brightvale TV director, so how could James not recognize the commander and the Primarch of the Celestial Wardens of Aetheria? Although Aric seldom appeared in the news in recent years, his reputation at the Emberfall Front was widely known and echoed throughout the region.
• "How did you end up here?" James shook Aric's hands enthusiastically., stunning Simon's secretary, Allison, and even the security guards.
• Elowen tugged at Aric's sleeve. "D-Do you know Mr. Lowther?"
• Aric smiled, "Somewhat."
• James shook his head at once. "No, no. I'm honored that Mr. Thornwood still recalls me. How can I be daring enough to claim about being acquainted with him?"
• "Simon, what's happening?" James turned around and looked at Simon, who was completely befuddled.
• What on earth was happening?
• He had been ready to kick out a trivial reporter who brought an accomplice to stir up chaos as he was the Brightvale TV deputy director yet the director had abruptly showed up and informed Simon that even he could not risk provoking the person she brought along?
• All Simon knew was that he was done for.
• "Ah, Miss Starling, what I just said was in the heat of anger. We have a close connection, so you won’t hold it against me. It was all a disagreement Mr. Javert caused. Our relationship is great, yet I mistrusted Mr. Javert and let him interfere with it."
• Allison saw that the tides were turning and quickly went closer to Elowen, while Simon's secretary retreated somewhat. The secretary had merely finished a task and probably had not offended Elowen, right?
• Simon looked at the opportunistic people around him and gritted his teeth, veins popping up on his brow.
• "Mr. Lowther, Elowen is considering reporting on the Valenwood Group forced demolition! Can you ignore that even if you're well acquainted with him?" Simon made a final desperate attempt at clinging on to Valenwood Group, his last thread of hope.
• James spun around with a sneer. "Simon, I would never say anything even if Mr. Thornwood wishes to demolish this building now! Valenwood Group? You reported and dismissed Miss Starling because of such a paltry issue? Go home and do some self-reflection starting today, and come back when you have thought things through!"
• James' tone brooked no disagreement, confounding Simon utterly. Who was this youth on the couch that could make James ignore even Valenwood Group's reputation?
• "Mr. Lowther's right. I've always said that Valenwood Group is up to no good! Elowen, you possess excellent intuition. This video must be publicized, and the story must be published. I'll get in touch with the newspapers and try to get this as widely known as possible." Allison quickly tried to pander to Elowen after Simon's downfall.
• Elowen stared at her disdainfully and pushed her hand off. "Miss Teller, if there's nothing, could you please stop disturbing us?"
• Allison felt humiliated and had no choice but to retreat.
• After handling Simon, James turned around. "Elowen, I've heard about you for a while now. You're the wunderkind of Brightvale TV and came up top for six consecutive months in terms of performance. Simon's blunder nearly cost us an indispensable member of this company. You shall be responsible for the Valenwood Group investigation. I'll claim responsibility regardless of anything."
• James looked at Elowen, who felt an unfathomable excitement as she never expected James to back her up so completely and even fire Simon unhesitatingly.
• Aric smiled internally from the couch. James understood how things should be dealt with.
• "Mr. Thornwood, your thoughts on this solution?" James looked at Aric with a slight bow.
• Aric nodded. "It's good. If there's nothing else, release them for now. I have something to talk about with you."
• James asked Simon's secretary to take the security guards and Allison out. Simon hung his head like a defeated dog in his office, as he had toiled for half a lifetime to get to this point and couldn't understand why it had all turned to nothing instantly.
• His gaze remained on Aric and Elowen. He wanted to resist but had no backup as he was no longer the deputy director of Brightvale TV, not to mention someone even James spoke to respectfully was not a person he could offend.
• Simon turned and left the office.
• James' expression became serious. "Mr. Thornwood, inform me if you need anything. I won't poke my nose in needlessly! I know the rules after those years at the Emberfall Front. As for Miss Starling, I will take good care of her."