At Edwin's words, people in the room were shocked. They were having a vital meeting about a project highly valued by the entire group. How could Edwin dismiss it casually like this?

However, no one dared to say anything against Edwin.

Thus, they stepped out of the conference room one after another.

A minute later, Edwin tapped his laptop several times, and then the footage of what was going on in Dragon Lake Conference Room appeared upon the big screen behind him.

Edwin turned to check and found the woman at first glance. Instantly, his cold expression stiffened slightly. It was Effie, indeed.

At the same time, people in the Dragon Lake Conference Room were talking about casting.

"Both candidates for the leading male and female roles are currently the most popular stars. We're thinking Kyle Watson, who once played a part in Dragon War, for the hero, and Celia Harris for the heroine, who was nominated the best actress of Golden Cow Awards last year!" The deputy director made a brief introduction.

Upon hearing Celia Harris's name, Effie involuntarily stiffened all over. Then, she tilted her head to look at the screen, and Celia's delicate, enchanting and aggressive face came into her view and sharply ached her heart.

"Miss Isabella, if you're fine with..."

"I don't think Celia Harris is a good option." Effie rejected the proposal before the speaker could finish his words. "She doesn't fit the personality I set up for the heroine in the story."

"How come?" The deputy director was somewhat confused. "Celia is pretty. Although her acting skills are not that outstanding, her aura is powerful enough. I think she will fully harness Nadia Jenkins, especially in the latter half of the story. Most of all, she is famous enough to draw public attention..."

"I insist!" Effie expressed her stand possessively, "She can't appear in my works, not even in those tiny roles!"

Effie's words instantly froze the air in the conference room.

Sensing something wrong, Katie hurried to take Effie's arm, saying, "Isla, do you have any prejudice against Celia? She is actually...not bad."

"Miss Isabella, we have already decided on this! We can replace candidates for other roles following your opinions, but not Celia. She has to be the heroine, and there is no room for negotiation!" The producer's expression was gloomy, and his tone became somewhat harsh.

Though Isabella's works were of high quality and her fame was on the rise, the producer would not give in as this was something related to the company's interests.

"Then our cooperation is over!" Effie looked at the man indifferently and said without hesitation, "I will take back the copyright of my novel and script!"

"You!" The producer looked at Effie in shock. He did not expect a seemingly fragile woman to be so tough. Yes, she once wrote two scripts that received warm responses from the audience. But so what? What made her so arrogant?

Katie hurried to stop Effie by saying, "Isla, calm down."

"If you don't like Celia so much, let's not use her then." Cliff broke the ice with a smile. "It's not a big deal. If you don't like this actress, we'll find someone else. We don't have to fall out with each other for a performer. What do you say, sis...I mean, Miss Isabella?"

At Cliff's words, people on the spot were all shocked as they had never seen President Cliff speak up for anyone. As a matter of fact, he always put the company's interests before anything else. Why the hell was he defending an outsider this time?

The producer looked at Cliff with some displeasure, reminding, "President Cliff, how will this do? Miss Harris... " After casting an annoyed glance at Effie, he continued, "She will join the crew with funds. Quite a lot, actually."

"So what?" Cliff looked at the producer disdainfully. "Does Star Entertainment lack that sum of money?"

"But..."

"That's final!" Cliff turned to Effie and flashed a bright smile on his initially gloomy face, continuing, "We'll employ whoever Miss Isabella's fine with!"

At President Cliff's unprincipled words, people in the room were all astonished.

"President Cliff, is this really an appropriate decision? Miss Harris is a friend of President Bennett. What if..."

"How come I have no idea about their friendship?" Cliff glared at the speaker, and his face became gloomy again. "You'll be held accountable for starting a rumor; you know that?"

"..."