Too Late, Mr. Billionaire: You Can't Afford Me by Thedora Birnir

Chapter 116

116 Dismissal From The Position

Blanche’s smile disappeared in an instant, replaced by a sharp, simmering anger.

“Ever since I took charge of this studio, no one has dared to break our rules. Yet here you are, the first to take on outside work without permission!”

“Ms Nicolson.”

Hadley’s face lost all color, but she had to explain herself.

“I did take an outside job, but it was before 1 became part of the troupe. I already had a contract with that production team and…”

“And what of it?” Blanche snapped.

Hadley’s words carried no weight.

Blanche had a reputation for being strict. She never made exceptions once the rules were broken.

“You were still working on that outside project while you were here with us, weren’t you?”

Hadley parted her lips, but nothing came out. It was the truth, and there was no way to refute it.

“How reckless!”

Blanche shut her eyes. Frustration and disappointment flickered across her face.

Rules were rules.

“No matter how much regret weighed on her, she couldn’t allow Hadley to stay.

Blanche lifted a hand, her voice sharp and unwavering. “Change out of your practice clothes and leave. Now.” Hadley’s head snapped up, her eyes already glistening with tears. “Ms. Nicolson, I…”

“There’s nothing more to say.” Blanche lifted a hand, silencing her. “I brought you in, but once you chose to break the rules yourself, I had no way to protect you. If I did, how could I expect to lead this troupe?”

She let out a slow sigh and gave Hadley a hard look. “What a waste! You’re the one throwing away your own future.”

After a pause, something unreadable flickered across her face. “But maybe this isn’t the worst outcome. With your talent, you might be better off in entertainment. I’m sure you’ll do well there.”

“No, Ms. Nicolson…”

Hadley shook her head, her voice steady. Acting had never been her dream.

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Chapter 116 Dismissal From The Position

“Hadley, just leave.”

Blanche’s tone was final. “With Eric backing you, you’ll have no trouble finding success in the industry. Leaving this place isn’t the end of the world.”

“Go now. Don’t make this harder than it needs to

no turning back.

could only blame herself for handling everything

she wasn’t sure she

“Ms. Nicolson.”

down on her as Hadley lowered

“Just go.”

away, refusing to look at

if the entire world had caved in around her.

a few days, she was supposed to take center stage as the lead dancer. She hadn’t even had

was over.

Everything was gone.

made her way back to the locker room, she felt the

dancers huddled together, eyes darting between their

to hide it.

phone vibrated. Her breath caught

studio’s group chat, Blanche had made an

Pearson, our prospective lead dancer, was caught working as a stand–in for a production crew without authorization. This has been confirmed. Effective

as tears

around her phone, her jaw locking.

voice cut through

Looks like our star recruit just got kicked

“Enough,” someone muttered.

should I?” Alita smirked, clearly enjoying herself. “Working behind Lightning’s back? That takes nerve! Oh, and Hadley, aren’t you supposed to be talented? Didn’t someone

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Dismissal From The Position

mean

anymore.

casually

bent them for you once, but do

before turning

isn’t going to

Hadley couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling

her side job with the film

if she uncovered the truth, what difference would it make? This time, she had no one to

sinking into the quiet weight of

evening, her

as ever. “Hadley, I’m outside the

her tone flat with

“You already left?

had been working. In just a few

“Yeah,” she muttered.

“Listen, if that’s all, I’m hanging

waiting for a reply, she

at his phone,

almost defeated. That wasn’t

think twice, he turned