Not everyone knows that before Powerful Executive (PE) built his reputation behind the scenes, he was a skilled actor and a scion of one of society’s prominent families. In other words, PE was the rich kid everyone wanted to befriend. However, because the elite circles could be quite discriminating, many of the other kids kept their distance.
More than his privileged upbringing, though, the entertainment industry’s call proved too strong for PE to ignore. His mother was the life of every party, and PE realized he had to make a name for himself away from her shadow. He eventually earned the industry’s respect behind the cameras, even if his rare appearances in front of them were always memorable.
Fast forward several years, when it was time to usher in a new generation of talents, and PE knew exactly what he was looking for. From virtually nothing, he molded unknown hopefuls into capable stars. Many in the industry acknowledge that they owe their current status to the opportunities PE gave them. But as circumstances beyond his control changed, PE had to find a new home, even as retirement became a possibility.
A new home welcomed PE and made sure retirement was not in the cards. He introduced his signature brand of talent management, and the new network embraced it. Sadly, the partnership was short-lived, but not before PE left his mark. Once again, retirement had to wait.
PE eventually found another home where he worked his magic once more. Armed with a similar formula, he helped shape another batch of aspiring stars. Industry insiders hoped PE had finally found the place where he would stay until retirement.
But were they wrong?
The grapevine is now buzzing with speculation that PE has once again left his latest home. Will PE finally retire, or will he continue with his quest? That is, to continue working his magic on aspiring talents until the very end.
“To begin is the most important part of any quest and by far the most courageous.” — Plato
The argument
Many believed the surprising breakup between Network Hunk (NH) and Brainy Beauty (BB) was amicable. After they went their separate ways, there was little drama. Neither camp made a fuss, and NH appeared to accept that he had lost BB. They had seemed to share a solid relationship, and many thought they were headed for forever.
The reality, however, was that BB had bigger dreams for herself and her family. She knew her beauty could open doors, but she also understood that good looks would eventually fade. Her intelligence, meanwhile, gave her confidence that she could build a future beyond her physical assets. NH, on the other hand, despite belonging to a major network, was not in a position to enjoy steady work. Luck seemed to favor him only for a time, and increasing competition gradually narrowed his opportunities.
Eventually, both may have realized that love alone was not enough. BB appeared determined to pursue ambitions that went beyond a showbiz career. As opportunities in the entertainment industry became more limited, she knew she had to make difficult decisions.
During one of their heated arguments, a neighbor allegedly overheard the couple fighting over finances. According to the story, NH blurted out that he was prepared to return to his old life of allowing a benefactor to support him financially if that was what it took to address their money problems. Supposedly, the remark was meant to guilt-trip BB.
Did that statement validate the rumor that circulated at the height of NH's career—that he once had a benefactor who provided for his material needs? The speculation eventually died down as his relationship with BB gained traction.
Today, BB is happily pursuing her dreams without NH.
“Like crying wolf, if you keep looking for sympathy as a justification for your actions, you will someday be left standing alone when you really need help.” ― Criss Jami