Chapter 7 Prenuptial Agreement
The moment Naomi stepped into Aurora's dressing room, a phone came flying straight at her face.
She dodged it with a swift reflex, the device shattering against the wall behind her.
"Why the hell am I being replaced? Have they lost their minds?" Aurora's voice crescendoed into a shriek. "I've been nominated for Best Actress two years running. If I don't deserve it, who does?"
She paced like a caged animal. "What can that woman do besides seducing men? How is she better than me?"
Aurora's rage echoed through the doorway, where several assistants huddled, none daring to enter the war zone.
Naomi turned to Lyra, one of Aurora's assistants. "What happened?"
"Hannah Nguyen just stole one of Aurora's endorsement deals," Lyra whispered, glancing nervously at the door, terrified Aurora might overhear.
The situation clicked into place for Naomi.
Aurora and Hannah had both been nominated for Best Actress two years running, but Hannah had won both times. Now she'd snatched an endorsement deal too. No wonder Aurora was livid.
But Hannah was known for her straightforward personality and professionalism. Looking at it objectively, whether by fame or capability, Naomi would have chosen Hannah too if she were the brand.
After all, Aurora had only secured her previous endorsements through Juan's connections.
Still, Aurora was now Naomi's client, which made this her problem to solve.
She drew a deep breath and knocked on the half-open door.Just then, a makeup bag sailed past her ear. Naomi tilted her head just in time to avoid being struck.
"Aurora, is all this rage really necessary?" Naomi stepped inside with a practiced smile, her voice calm and measured. "It's just one endorsement. Let's not lose our dignity over it."
"Who the hell do you think you are?" Aurora snarled, fingers wrapping around a glass tumbler. "You think being assigned as my manager gives you any authority over me?"
She raised her arm, ready to hurl the glass at Naomi.
"Mr. Cavendish personally assigned me," Naomi said, her voice cutting through the tension like ice. "So yes, I can manage you. As for who I am?" A cold smile played at her lips. "Mr. Cavendish seems to know exactly."
Though relatively new as a talent manager, Naomi understood the industry perfectly.
A manager's job was to secure work for their clients, and the client's job was to cooperate. Both made money that way. If she couldn't control Aurora, she might as well quit now.
Aurora was clearly Jonathan's test—a deliberate challenge thrown at Naomi. She had to solve this problem first. If Aurora became unmanageable or caused trouble, the entire agency would suffer.
At the mention of Jonathan, Aurora slowly lowered the glass, then slumped onto the sofa with theatrical indolence. "Naomi, is it? Do you know why Mr. Cavendish assigned you as my manager?"
Naomi remained silent, watching her with unwavering focus.
Aurora flipped her lustrous hair over one shoulder. "Obviously, he's worried about rumors spreading. That would displease him."
Naomi felt a jolt of surprise internally, but her face remained impassive. "What else?"
"What else?" Aurora's mouth twisted into a smirk. "Why do you think Mr. Cavendish acquired Starlight Media in the first place? Is there anyone besides me in this company who could possibly interest him?"
She spoke with the confidence of someone who knew her worth. After all, she was the agency's top earner, without question.
Naomi considered this, but something didn't add up.
Jonathan hardly needed the pittance that Starlight Media generated annually.
The agency's yearly revenue probably couldn't even buy one of his cufflinks.
The thought of his cufflinks darkened Naomi's expression. She still couldn't believe she'd been forced into marriage over her inability to replace one small piece of jewelry.
Mistaking Naomi's silence for intimidation, Aurora let out a contemptuous snort. "So you'd better watch yourself. Upset me, and Mr. Cavendish won't be pleased."
Naomi nodded, though irritation bubbled beneath her calm exterior.
Jonathan had forbidden her from getting too close to male clients, yet he'd acquired an entire company for his little mistress. She'd been foolish to think, even for a moment, that he'd bought the company for her—a one-night stand.
That was the billionaire's creed, wasn't it? Iron rules for everyone else. Infinite loopholes for themselves.
Aurora opened her mouth to continue, but a knock interrupted them. "Naomi, Mr. Cavendish wants to see you in his office."
Grateful for the escape, Naomi stood to leave.
"It must be about a new endorsement Mr. Cavendish secured for me," Aurora called out loudly, ensuring everyone in the hallway could hear. "Do your job well, and I'll make sure you're taken care of."
Other passing talent eyed her with envy.
Naomi sighed as she walked away. If she had a choice, she'd never represent someone as foolish as Aurora.
When she arrived at Jonathan's office, he pushed a stack of documents across the desk.
"Sign these."
Naomi glanced at the top page—a personnel reassignment form. She was now officially Aurora's manager and no longer responsible for her previous clients.
She'd intended to fight for her original roster, but seeing Jonathan's expression, she decided to pick her battles. She signed without argument.
But when she reached the final document, the words "Prenuptial Agreement" caught her eye.
"Mr. Cavendish, what is this?"
"Read it first," Jonathan said, watching her reaction intently.
The prenup was straightforward: Naomi couldn't divorce him until after William's death and funeral. Until then, she couldn't mention their marriage to anyone unrelated. After the divorce, she would receive a mansion and five hundred thousand dollars in cash.
That much?
Naomi's frown deepened.
From what she'd seen yesterday, William wouldn't last much longer. Even with a divorce, their marriage would be so brief that she couldn't claim a significant portion of Jonathan's wealth under normal circumstances.
Why would he offer so much?
Her gaze drifted unconsciously to the nearby trash can, remembering the contraceptive pills Jonathan had thrown away.
Was this… payment meant to come with a child?
That would make sense.
Seeing Naomi set down the agreement, Jonathan's voice turned cold. "The terms are extremely generous. Don't push your luck."
Noting his misunderstanding, Naomi didn't bother to explain. Instead, she asked, "How much time does your grandfather have left?"
Having worked as a caregiver, she was willing to help William through his final days with the end-of-life care techniques she'd learned from hospital staff.
Jonathan narrowed his eyes, his gaze growing increasingly frigid.
After a long silence, he finally spoke, "Without my permission, you don't meet my grandfather alone. For every month he lives longer than the doctors expect, I'll add another hundred thousand to your cut."
His voice hardened. "Try to squeeze more out of me, and you're just being greedy."
Jonathan picked up a pen, wrote the additional clause on the agreement, and tossed it back to her. "Sign it. And remember, do not visit my grandfather at the estate."
Meeting Jonathan's scrutinizing gaze, Naomi picked up the pen and signed her name.
She slid the prenup back across the desk. "I've changed the effective date to the day before our registration. Don't worry, I won't see your grandfather without permission. All you need to do is meet my parents today."
With that, she left his office.
If she weren't certain she'd lose in a physical confrontation, she would have gladly punched that arrogant man for underestimating her.