Chapter 57: The Contract

A tense silence blanketed the opulent office. Mariana, perched on the plush armchair, scrutinized the CEO with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension. He met her gaze for some seconds before eventually letting out a soft chuckle. "Forgive my behaviour, Miss Silva," the CEO finally spoke, his voice surprisingly genial. "Mr. Quam's...enthusiasm tends to paint a slightly different picture than reality." He relaxed his back a bit. "Perhaps I should introduce myself properly. I am Santi. Santiago, CEO of Spark Entertainment." Mariana's initial surprise morphed into a cautious nod. "Mr. Santi," she acknowledged, "pleasure to meet you." Santi leaned back in his chair, his gaze lingering on her for a beat too long. "The pleasure is mine, Miss Silva," he murmured, then quickly cleared his throat. "Though perhaps 'unexpected' would be a more accurate term. Mr. Quam neglected to mention your...ethereal presence." He muttered the last part under his breath, but the word "ethereal" caught Mari