Redeeming the Unparalleled, One and Only You

Twyla's office, located on the eighth floor, boasted a floor-to-ceiling window that faced the dazzling sign of "SSNC Group." Just fifteen minutes prior, a fan she had dismissively sent away plummeted past that very window, leaving Twyla in utter shock. However what Twyla saw was more akin to a bird's shadow dropping from above the balcony. "Dropping" doesn't quite capture it; the acceleration due to gravity was alarmingly fast, and soon after, she heard the thud of a heavy object hitting the ground. That sound, a grim "thud," inexplicably made Twyla's heart jolt as if a string had suddenly snapped within her. She couldn't see the identity of the person who had jumped, yet a deep, unsettling certainty told her it was the fan she had reluctantly turned away earlier. The haunting echo of the impact resonated in her mind, magnified intensely, bringing with it an agonizing headache. “What's wrong with you?” Jasper Wang, seated beside her, noticed her distress and asked with concern. They were in a meeting with clients in the conference room. Just a second ago, Twyla, who had been speaking confidently, suddenly clasped her head, her eyes glazed, making it blatantly obvious that something was amiss. This was unprecedented, especially in front of their high-profile client - the Kuwait Royal Fund, a key player in their potential split from SSNC Group. They were the ultimate celebrity duo - Jasper Wang, a top-tier superstar since the age of 21, and his ace agent, Twyla. Their partnership was the talk of the town in the entertainment industry. The decision not to renew their contract with SSNC after the current term seemed a natural progression for them, especially given their preparations for flying solo in a month. Twyla signaled Jasper for a wrap-up and concluded the meeting with a few courteous remarks, politely ushering the investors out. After turning off the camera and microphone, Twyla hurried to the window to look down. Police cars and ambulances had already arrived, creating a scene of chaos. People were gesticulating wildly, though from Twyla's angle, the fallen body was obscured, but a pool of stark crimson blood was visible, sprayed outwards in a grisly pattern. Twyla’s heart raced more fiercely, her throat constricted by the intense beat. She gulped down a glass of ice water, trying to suppress the suffocating and nauseating sensations. Jasper stood by her, his face pale, his gaze fixated downwards at a 30-degree angle, observing the crowd below. “Do you know that person?” His voice was faint, almost ethereal. He knew that Twyla had just met a fan that morning, a fan affected by the Sky Fund investment loss. “I don’t know, but I feel like it’s her, the girl who came earlier," Twyla whispered, her voice trembling uncontrollably. Despite their bravado in the entertainment world, such a real-life tragedy left them shaking. Jasper’s eyes narrowed as he grasped Twyla's arm and whispered urgently,"What exactly happened with that charity fund? Is it like what’s being said online, that the team embezzled the funds and absconded?” “You’re hurting me,” Twyla said irritably, pulling away. "How would I know? We were just endorsing it for the client; the operations were handled by a professional team." “Twyla, this isn't Los Angeles; it's Shanghai! You have to understand something: if fans get hurt because of their trust in us, we are responsible," Jasper said, his eyes conveying a mix of determination and concern. "What exactly are you hiding?" "Don't be nervous. All we did was attend the launch event of the fund and help promote it. Everything that followed was out of our hands. Investments can fail, that's just how it is," Twyla tried to reassure him. Jasper looked at her incredulously, unable to comprehend her casual dismissal. "Twyla, are you out of your mind? The Sky Fund was supposed to be a charity, right? That's how it was advertised. If it wasn't for charity, I would never have promoted it." Before Twyla could respond, the conference room door burst open. Assistant June rushed in, her face etched with terror, panting as if she was having an asthma attack. "It's bad. Investors are gathering downstairs. The girl who came to see you jumped off the building," she gasped, her voice trembling. "She was only seventeen. She claimed that our endorsed fund swindled all her money for treatment, and her family is downstairs right now..." "Wait, who told you all this?" Twyla interrupted, her voice urgent and sharp. The situation was spiraling out of control, moving too fast for them to react or manage, reeking of a conspiracy to crush them. "Everyone is saying it. The girl posted her suicide note online before she jumped. It's all over the internet now, and SSNC’s stock price has already plummeted!!" June's features contorted with anxiety, almost unrecognizable in her distress. "Ridiculous! We were just spokespersons. Why isn't she going after the fund's shareholders? The team might have run away, but the shareholders are still there! " Twyla felt darkness closing in, her breaths short and panicky. Why didn't the fan seek justice properly? She came all this way to meet only her, and upon being denied compensation, she wrote a suicide note and jumped? It felt like a deliberate act to harm them. "Because she was a fan, she trusted us and invested in the fund, especially since she was a cancer patient. We can't detach ourselves from this!" June shrieked, her tone a mix of panic and disbelief. "Moreover, now that she's dead, jumping from our building, how can anyone believe it's not related to us?" "She's right," Jasper interjected solemnly. "We need to respond immediately, or we'll be blasted by the whole internet. Should I release a statement personally, expressing condolences for the deceased?" "No, wait, let me think. Timing and wording are crucial right now. One wrong move and it could make things worse," Twyla replied, her heart spasming with anxiety as she clutched at her chest, struggling to speak. Then, another loud bang, the door was thrust open again. This time, it was Nora, the administrative secretary, looking terrified, her forehead beaded with sweat. "Twyla, Jasper, the 'Big Boss' wants to see you on the 19th floor immediately," she stammered. "Big Boss" was their nickname for Allen Loo, the executive director of SSNC. "Also," Nora added shakily, extending her hand towards them, "Allen said, as usual, to leave your phones with me before the meeting." Twyla felt a numbing chill, the hairs on the back of her neck standing on end. How serious was this situation? Just moments ago, Twyla had turned her phone's sound back on, and it had been vibrating non-stop, flooded with notifications. It felt like the data influx was about to collapse the entire conference room. "Let's go." Jasper said, standing up. He was dressed all in black today, his silk shirt and suit pants accentuating his slender frame. Twyla looked up at him and was startled to see his eyes cold and icy, a stark contrast to his usual demeanor. Jasper's gaze shifted quickly as he held up his phone to Twyla. On the screen was a photo of Jasper with a young female fan. The girl was smiling sweetly, while Jasper maintained his usual cool demeanor, not a hint of a smile. Twyla felt confused. Jasper had stopped taking photos with fans long ago, as his pictures often fetched high prices on the market, leading to the cessation of this privilege - a decision they had explained in a special meeting, well-known among fans. "That was at the Sky Fund's fundraising event, remember? This girl was the first to buy into the fund," Jasper said through gritted teeth. "She wanted a picture, and you agreed." The realization dawned on Twyla - this girl was the same fan who had just jumped. The timing of this photo's emergence was highly sensitive, almost like a calculated move to manipulate fan sentiments. "The fund's default happened just now, and she was so quick to..." Twyla trailed off, unable to continue. Criticizing the deceased felt morally wrong, but the situation was undeniably suspicious. "She posted her suicide note online and mentioned both of you," Nora said, scrolling through her phone with a horrified expression. "Let's head upstairs," Jasper suggested, his voice detached. They entered the VIP elevator, heading to the 19th floor where the SSNC executives' offices were located. The atmosphere in the elevator was heavy with unspoken tension. Allen Loo, the infamous 'Overlord of Cool' at SSNC, lounged in his sprawling office, decked out in luxury. His chiseled features and piercing gray eyes were a blend of allure and intimidation. Known for his open preference for guys and a throwback vibe in his love life, Allen had a rep for collecting eye-candy like rare art. Even Twyla, who usually missed these vibes, could pick up on Allen's special soft spot for Jasper. For Allen, anyone not Jasper was just part of the background noise, tools in his grand money-making schemes. Twyla felt an instinctive chill around him, like her sixth sense was flashing neon warning signs. "I suppose you're fully aware of the events of today and yesterday before entering this room." Allen said, gesturing them to sit but offering no chance for explanation. He turned his laptop screen towards Twyla and Jasper, displaying SSNC's stock price, which had plummeted by 10%. "This has put a lot of pressure on me, forcing me to take action," Allen said, folding his arms across his chest, his eyelids drooping slightly. "So, I'll get straight to the point. Dear Twyla, it seems you have to resign, effective immediately. We don't have much time," he shrugged helplessly. "You know, between the two of you, I can only save one." The choice was obvious. Allen would never choose Twyla over Jasper. Twyla nodded in resignation, asking about the follow-up procedures. She felt she shouldn't face a punishment worse than losing her job. Allen confirmed that SSNC would initiate a repayment plan, covering the investors' principal amount first, and then seeking compensation from the fund's operators. "Once the repayment starts, the criminal lawsuits will stop," he said, looking at Twyla with feigned compassion. "That's the last thing I can do for you." Then, Allen pressed his intercom, summoning his secretary to bring a document to Twyla - a termination agreement. She quickly scanned it and signed her name without hesitation. "Wait a minute," Jasper interjected. "How long? I mean, how long does the resignation have to last? When can she come back?" Allen seemed taken aback for a moment, then smiled meaningfully at Twyla, "I'm afraid, for a long time, you two won't be able to work together." Twyla understood that distancing was necessary and typical of Allen's strategies, but it still pained her. Everything had happened so suddenly, leaving her no time to prepare. Although she could switch to behind-the-scenes work, if Jasper stayed with SSNC, Allen wouldn’t allow it. "Of course, if you don't renew your contract with SSNC by the end of this month, our partnership will end anyway, so none of this will matter," Allen said, his expression half-mocking. Twyla perceived this as a blatant threat, but she had no evidence, and Allen would never provide any. "That's all, Twyla, dear. I don't need you now. Please leave Jasper and me alone for a while," Allen said, relaxing back into his chair, his sharp gaze swiftly moving away from Twyla, as if she was no longer of any significance. Half an hour earlier. Allen stood in front of the vast glass façade of his office and dialed a number. The call was answered after just one ring. "Now it's your turn to step in, Adler." "Okay, I've been warming up for a month; it should be time to reap the rewards," Adler replied confidently. "I hope so. I want her out of Jasper's life forever, understand?" Allen's lips curved into a cold smile. "From the moment she leaves my office, she should be as good as dead, but just to be sure, you'll need to play out your part." Adler Dalton, a newcomer in the entertainment industry, possessed more than just a pretty, harmless face. He had skills that Allen admired, like understanding the industry and not hesitating to use special means to achieve his goals. His ambition was to replace Jasper as SSNC's top star. Allen's lips twisted into a sardonic smile. Many artists, male and female, had aspired to Jasper's position over the years, but none had succeeded. Jasper remained unchallenged at the top.But Allen was prepared to use them all, making them pawns on his chessboard against Jasper. Jasper had always been winning because Allen allowed it. But now, Jasper had backed him into a corner, and Allen couldn't afford to lose. At the heart of their conflict was Twyla. So, Allen decided to eliminate her. In the Sky Fund scandal, Twyla was legally blameless. But nobody was listening to legalities now - not the fans, not the investors. Dismissal and blacklisting were standard responses. To save Jasper and SSNC's stock price, this wasn't too extreme. However, Allen needed Adler to do more. After all, Allen's style was about destroying both body and spirit. He saw no reason to be lenient with Twyla.