After Jason finished the mobilization meeting, he immediately convened a high-level executive meeting at Starlight Fashion Group's U.S. headquarters.
The General Manager, the Deputy General Manager, the Director of Operations, and several other senior executives were already seated. Olivia sat calmly beside Jason, tablet in hand.
The atmosphere was tense. A new owner usually meant restructuring. A new boss usually meant bloodletting. And this new boss had just single-handedly crushed a major client, CloudMode International, without hesitation—short-selling it into near collapse.
That alone told them everything they needed to know. This man was decisive, ruthless when necessary, and absolutely not someone who could be fooled.
Jason's gaze landed on Josh. "Josh, earlier you seemed hesitant, like you had something on your mind. Since everyone's here, explain the company's current situation."
Josh straightened and nodded. "Boss, from a financial perspective, your short position against CloudMode International was extremely successful. Not only did you secure substantial profits, but legally speaking, we can also pursue liquidated damages for reputational harm."
He hesitated for a fraction of a second before continuing. "But… we ultimately lost a major client. And more importantly, short-selling a luxury brand is… sensitive."
Josh took a breath. "At present, LUNEVA, along with several major European luxury groups, have jointly placed Starlight Fashion on an informal boycott list."
He began listing them. "LVMH, Dior, Coach, Bulgari, Dolce & Gabbana, Philipp Plein… We previously maintained small-scale collaborations with these brands. With proper negotiation, those relationships could have grown into long-term partnerships. But after this incident, they believe Starlight Fashion doesn't follow industry 'rules.' All cooperation has been suspended."
Josh's expression grew grim. "If this continues, we'll be isolated."
Jason listened without interruption. When Josh finished, Jason asked calmly, "So what do you propose?"
Josh replied carefully, choosing his words. "Since you profited significantly from the CloudMode short, my suggestion is to reinvest part of those funds. We could sponsor more fashion shows, reduce cooperation fees, or even offer complimentary services to European luxury brands for a period—demonstrate goodwill."
"Once they see our sincerity, their attitude should soften. The previous controlling shareholder built many relationships over the years; they won't completely shut the door." He paused, then added quietly, "Of course, it would help if you personally hosted a few dinners to smooth things over."
Jason raised a hand. Josh immediately stopped. The room fell silent.
It was obvious to everyone—Josh's mindset was fundamentally submissive toward the luxury Brands. From a traditional business standpoint, he wasn't wrong. But Jason Carter didn't even try to hide his disdain. He wasn't interested in bending over backward for approval.
Jason's objective was simple: extract loyalty, harvest favorability, and dominate vertically. If business worked—fine. If it didn't—bankruptcy was acceptable. A few hundred million dollars was not worth kneeling.
Jason said calmly, "Anyone else? Feel free to speak."
Josh frowned slightly, realizing his suggestion had been dismissed outright.
At that moment, a Deputy General Manager named Victor stood up. His long, narrow face stretched into an ingratiating smile. "Boss, with your level of capital and decisiveness, I don't think we need to worry about what foreign luxury brands think. They should be worried about what you think."
A few people nodded instinctively. Jason didn't respond. Victor was good at reading the room—but he was also empty. Pure flattery. Zero substance.
Jason leaned back in his chair, fingers resting lightly on the table, eyes scanning the room. "Anyone else?"
The meeting room remained quiet. Some executives avoided eye contact. Others hesitated, unsure whether speaking up would cost them their jobs.
Executives continued offering suggestions one after another. Some ideas were usable, others mediocre, but none of them touched the core of what Jason had in mind. Jason listened patiently. In truth, he already had a complete blueprint. This meeting was never about collecting advice—it was a test. A test to see whether anyone in the room shared his vision, or at least had the courage and capability to think beyond conventional boundaries.
Just as the discussion began to stagnate, a composed female voice cut through the room. A Deputy General Manager stood up, her posture straight, her tone steady.
"Boss, I think we're approaching this from the wrong direction."
The room fell silent.
"I don't think we need to fixate on European luxury brands at all," she continued. "It's true that they started earlier, have global recognition, and enormous capital. But precisely because of that, they've grown arrogant. Some of them aren't just arrogant—they're openly disrespectful."
She paused, then spoke bluntly. "Brands under major European conglomerates have repeatedly crossed cultural and ethical lines. From racial stereotypes, cultural mockery, and offensive product designs, to political slander and moral hypocrisy. Were these incidents due to cultural ignorance? No. They were deliberate. They came from arrogance."
The executives exchanged glances.
She continued, unflinching. "Since they're boycotting us anyway, why don't we take this opportunity to pivot? Instead of chasing foreign luxury brands that look down on us, why don't we cooperate with domestic high-end brands?"
"Yes, American-based luxury brands with Eastern roots—or emerging heritage brands—are still underdeveloped compared to European giants. But that's exactly why now is the best time. We can secure strong contracts, favorable terms, and long-term strategic control."
Silence. Then Jason Carter's eyes lit up. He didn't hide it.
"That doesn't sound like a spur-of-the-moment idea," Jason said, looking directly at her. "Do you have a plan?"
She nodded. "Not just a preliminary outline. I have a complete operational strategy. It's just that… it was never approved by Josh or the previous controlling shareholder."
With that, she stood, walked forward, and placed a thick proposal folder on the table. Jason took it. Olivia leaned over beside him.
As Jason flipped through the pages, his expression changed. Page by page. Section by section. The brighter his eyes became.
Finally, he closed the folder, looked up, and spoke words that detonated the room.
"From today onward, Claire is the General Manager of Starlight Fashion Group."
A stunned silence followed. Then the room erupted.
Josh's face turned pale. He opened his mouth to speak, but when he met Jason's cold gaze, no words came out.
"Everyone else may leave," Jason continued. "I need to discuss something privately with General Manager."
One by one, the executives filed out. Josh hesitated, clearly unwilling—but in the end, he had no choice. The conference room emptied.
Jason gestured for Claire to sit beside him. "Your thinking aligns perfectly with mine. I only saw the direction. Your plan fills in the entire road."
Olivia smiled and handed Claire a thin document. Claire skimmed it—and her eyes widened slightly. She looked up, genuinely impressed. She hadn't just found a boss. She'd found someone who saw the same future.
Jason continued calmly. "The domestic brands you selected have real potential. For example—CloudWeave, positioned as modern heritage women's fashion, blending traditional weaving techniques with contemporary design. Their seasonal collections reinterpret classical symbolism using smart textiles and modern fabrication."
"Then there's JadeArc, focusing on high-end accessories, revitalizing heritage materials and craftsmanship with modern structural design. And OmniRoot, a lifestyle brand integrating traditional materials into everyday luxury products."
He leaned back. "But your proposal is still too conservative."
Claire froze.
Jason smiled faintly. "I'm not planning to cooperate with them. I'm planning to acquire them. Their designs, quality, and future value are excellent. What they lack isn't talent—it's capital. Brands. Models. Media. We build everything ourselves. A vertically integrated luxury empire."
Jason's voice was calm, but every word carried weight. "When that day comes, I'll be the one boycotting thoes luxury goods."
Claire's pupils contracted. Only now did she truly understand—compared to this man, her ambition had been small. And she had never been more excited.
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