The group of friends gathered around Doha’s table, where Zeno had laid out his brand proposals. The papers were scattered across the surface, revealing a number of brands eager for Zeno to become their ambassador.
Maxie, perched comfortably on Eli’s lap, peeked her head over to join the discussion.
“Vivi Button?” Eli exclaimed, seizing one of the proposals. “Sewn by angels. Priced for the elites. Don’t their models strut down the runways at all the major fashion weeks?”
Minji nodded eagerly, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “Yes! This would be a great deal for you, Zeno. Landing a luxury brand for your first endorsement is going to be a game changer.”
Zeno shook his head. “Didn’t they recently get caught in a scandal over their ‘hand-stitched in France’ labels? I heard those were actually sewn in a factory in South Asia,” he pointed out.
Minji chuckled, her voice teasing yet sincere. “None of it has actually been proven, though.”
“It’s true,” Zeno muttered, recalling his days as a model. Vivi Button wasn’t considered luxury among its competitors because of its blatant lies in manufacturing. It was only a matter of time before the truth surfaced.
“What about ‘Baleyina?'” Doha suggested.
Zeno shook his head. “They’re selling $950 bracelets that look like rolls of tape,” he deadpanned.
Doha pursed his lips, at a loss for a counterargument.
Minji’s cheeks flushed a shade deeper as she leaned forward, sliding her own suggestion across the table.
“Underlure?” Eli asked, raising an eyebrow. “Is this just an excuse for you to see Zeno in his underwear?”
Minji’s face turned crimson. “No!” she hurriedly protested, shaking her head. “This brand is relatively new, but it’s already positioning itself as a serious competitor to Kalvin. I’ve heard they’re looking into signing with Phoenix, so just think of the exposure!”
“Phoenix?” Zeno muttered, remembering the familiar actor.
“Nope,” he replied decisively. He had no intention of showcasing his bulge to the public—after all, he might unintentionally cause a few deaths because of it.
“You don’t seem to like anything!” Doha exclaimed. “What are you really looking for, anyway?”
“Something relatable,” Zeno replied softly, his gaze dropping to the assortment of proposals before him.
Eli frowned, tilting his head in confusion. “What exactly do you mean by that?”
Zeno sighed and lowered the folders, locking eyes with his friends. “You’ve already mentioned it—I’m new to this industry. I don’t have many projects to my name yet, and people connect with my characters because they find them relatable.”
“I don’t want to dive headfirst into high-end luxury brands, especially not ones with controversial histories. I’d rather choose something that resonates with the people who already appreciate my work.”
Silence fell over the group, each friend momentarily taken aback by Zeno’s perspective. Minji, in particular, found him exceptionally impressive. She couldn’t help but admire how rare it was to encounter such a grounded mentality in a world often obsessed with glamour.
Just then, something caught Zeno’s eye. While the others continued to debate which brand would suit him best, he noticed the logo perched at the top of one proposal. “Mirae Axis?” he murmured.
The others stopped mid-discussion.
“Where have I heard that before?”
Minji leaned over to inspect the proposal, her brow furrowing. “Mirae Axis wants you too? That’s quite surprising. They typically don’t rely on celebrities to endorse their products. Their meal kits already have a solid following among the general public.”
“Ah,” Zeno murmured, finally remembering where he’d encountered their logo. They were known for their convenient meal kits designed for people with hectic schedules.
“You’re not seriously considering it, are you?” Doha asked, a nervous chuckle escaping his lips. “There are local clothing brands in here that you could explore!”
However, Zeno was already engrossed in reading through the terms and conditions. The compensation was quite enticing, especially for a major company like Mirae Axis, but there was something more he found intriguing.
“Oh goodness, we’ve lost him,” Eli muttered, a look of despair crossing his features. “He’s definitely considering it.”
Doha attempted to snap him out of his thoughts. He placed his hands firmly on both of Zeno’s shoulders. “Zeno, this is not like you. You would be far better off representing this cap brand than representing easy-to-cook cold noodles!”
“Who said anything about modeling for noodles?” Zeno asked, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
“What even is the product?” Doha inquired, already dreading the answer that was sure to follow.
Zeno turned the proposal around to show them.
“Dog food,” he stated.
The room fell silent, the only sound breaking the stillness being Maxie’s yelp.
“Dog… food?” Minji echoed, disbelief heard in her voice. “How on earth are you going to model for dog food?”
Zeno shrugged indifferently. “Well, Maxie seems to like it. This brand is actually quite pricey for dog food since it has numerous health benefits. It even says here that I can have an unlimited supply of their product until I die.”
“Zeno, you could buy dog food without any trouble,” Eli interjected.
However, he sighed heavily as he caught sight of the determined look on Zeno’s face. “Nothing we say will change your mind, will it?”
“Nope,” Zeno replied. “I’m working with Mirae Axis.”
***
“What?” Bobby exclaimed over the phone. “You chose the dog food advertisement?”
“I shouldn’t have put that in there,” he added as a whisper.
“Yes,” Zeno replied without hesitation like he had not just selected the most outrageous option available among all the brand deals. “You respect my decision, right?”
Bobby went silent for a few moments before letting out a tired sigh. “Yes,” he finally muttered, knowing he couldn’t argue much against it since Mirae Axis had offered a very lucrative price.
It seemed they quite like Zeno.
“But can I ask why?” the CEO pressed, hoping Zeno’s reasoning would offer some reassurance.
“Because I can get free dog food,” Zeno answered matter-of-factly, provoking Bobby to purse his lips in frustration.
“That’s it?”
Zeno paused for a brief moment, then provided a cryptic response.
“It’s a brand that everybody knows,” he explained. “Most celebrities shy away from these types of projects, thinking it would tarnish their prestige. However, this is as prestigious as it gets. It serves as excellent promotion for ‘The Forsaken Prince,’ especially among the general public.”
“Aside from that,” Zeno continued. “Mirae Axis… doesn’t it ring a bell?”
Bobby furrowed his brow. “Hmm? It’s the brand of instant rice my wife uses. It’s affordable and reliable.”
Zeno chuckled softly. “Trust me, Bobby. This decision is for the greater good of the company.”
“I must be too dumb to understand this,” Bobby replied.
“The moment you opened the new office, you also opened our company up to new enemies,” Zeno said. “And believe me, they are closer than you might think.”
“Still too dumb,” Bobby muttered.
“Just trust me,” Zeno sighed. “We need Mirae Axis on our side.”