Chapter 4 - THE CAMPAIGN
Maison Petit was not a fake company.
That made everything worse.
It was a real luxury brand.
High-end baby furniture.
Clothing.
Nursery products.
European expansion.
They wanted a celebrity-family campaign for the American market.
Victoria had built a public following before marrying Marcus.
She came from money, fashion, philanthropy, society pages.
Marriage to Marcus made her more valuable.
Leo made her marketable.
A perfect family.
The brand offered:
$1.1 million upfront,
$900,000 production fee pool,
performance bonuses,
international extension rights,
and equity options in Maison Petit USA.
Potential value:
more than $3 million.
Victoria said:
“It was for Leo.”
Marcus laughed once.
“No. It was about you.”
“It builds his future.”
“He already has a future.”
“You don’t understand branding.”
Marcus stared.
“I understand my son’s face being sold without my permission.”
Victoria crossed her arms.
“He’s my son too.”
Rachel asked:
“Where is the money?”
Victoria looked away.
Upfront payment:
$400,000 already wired.
Recipient:
VHC Media LLC.
Owner:
Victoria Hale Carter.
Separate company.
Not a joint family account.
Marcus stared.
“You took four hundred thousand dollars?”
“For campaign development.”
“Did you spend it?”
“Some.”
“How much?”
Victoria refused.
Rachel wrote something down.
Marcus’s face hardened.
Elena watched from the corner.
This was not simply a bad advertisement.
May you like
Victoria had constructed a private business around Leo’s identity.
And Elena had found it.
