The moment Link finished speaking, it felt as if the air had been sucked out of the rehearsal room.
The first to explode was Quentin.
"What the hell are you talking about?!" He kicked over a chair and jabbed a finger at Link's face, roaring, "Replace Uma?! Are you out of your mind?! She is Mia Wallace! This role was born for her!"
Bender panicked too, lowering his voice but unable to hide the urgency. "Link ! We've already signed a letter of intent with Uma! If you really replace her, CAA will sue us into bankruptcy!"
Travolta and Jackson exchanged a look, their expressions complicated. They'd never seen anyone say something like this straight to an actor's face.
And the person at the center of it all—Uma Thurman—just stood there quietly.
The color drained from her face. Her lips pressed tightly together. Those beautiful eyes were filled with a cold, disbelieving shock.
"You…" She stared at the whiteboard, at the name that had just been erased. Even her voice was trembling. "You just… erased my name?"
Faced with everyone's anger and accusations, Link calmly set the eraser down.
He didn't look at Quentin. He didn't look at Bender. From start to finish, his gaze never left Uma Thurman's face.
"I'm not replacing you."
His voice was steady—but sharp enough that no one could dodge it.
"But if this movie can't move forward because of your agent, then this role will have to go to someone else."
He took a step forward.
"The problem isn't crew members quitting. The problem is that there's a rabid dog guarding our front door."
"And that dog came with you."
Uma's body trembled slightly.
She understood now—this wasn't about casting. This was a power play.
"So this is my problem?" she asked quietly.
"No." Link shook his head. "But it depends on your choice."
He spread his hands.
"Option one: you do nothing, and we replace you. Jennifer Connelly. Or anyone else."
"Option two," his voice took on a faintly seductive edge, "you deal with the rabid dog. You tell Ron that an actor's will matters more than an agent's arrogance."
"So tell us—this film's female lead… is it you, Uma Thurman, or is it the CAA standing behind you?"
"Miss Thurman, the answer is yours."
The rehearsal room fell completely silent.
Quentin's rage vanished, replaced by a stunned realization. Bender stared at Link like he was looking at the devil himself.
This was brutal.
Link never planned to go to war with CAA himself. He'd simply tossed the ball into Uma Thurman's hands.
Uma locked eyes with him for a full minute.
In the end, she said nothing.
She picked up her trench coat, turned around, and walked out of the rehearsal room without looking back.
Watching her trembling figure disappear, a trace of bitterness rose in Link's chest.
He didn't like treating women like chess pieces—but in Hollywood, even a moment of softness could be fatal.
—
One hour later. CAA headquarters. Ron Meyer's office.
"What did you just say?!" Ron stared at the returning Uma, almost convinced he'd misheard her.
"I said, Ron, you will immediately stop all pressure and retaliation against Pangu Pictures' crew," Uma said coldly. "Or you'll deal with the consequences."
Ron laughed in anger. "Consequences? Uma, have you been brainwashed by that f** kid? Do you have any idea who you're talking to? I made you who you are! Without me, you're nothing! I'm protecting you!"
"Protecting me?" Uma laughed too—but her smile was filled with disappointment and scorn. "No, Ron. You're protecting your fragile ego after being challenged by a newcomer."
She took a step forward, her presence dominating the room.
"As of today, I'm no longer your client. You've lost me."
Ron Meyer froze. He pointed at her, shaking with rage. "You… you're firing me? Do you know what that means? You'll be blacklisted by CAA! No one in Hollywood will ever hire you again!"
Uma turned, her hand on the doorknob. She paused for a moment.
"Oh, and one more thing," she said, glancing back with a mocking curl to her lips.
"If I lose Mia Wallace…"
"Pangu Pictures' next choice is Jennifer Connelly."
"Boom!"
Ron's face went deathly pale. Veins bulged on his forehead as he smashed the glass on his desk to pieces.
He knew it—if Jennifer from ICM blew up because of this role, he'd become a laughingstock across the entire industry.
"Fuck… that damn foreign kid…"
—
Pangu Pictures' office.
Link's phone rang.
It was Uma Thurman.
"The rabid dog's been locked in its cage," she said. Her voice was tired, but light. "Tomorrow, your team will get a call with their apology."
"Welcome back, Mia," Link said with a smile.
He hung up. The pale-blue interface appeared once again.
[Influence Index: 4000 (+1000)]
[Available Opportunities: 1 (Unlocked)]
[Explanation: An open gambit successfully broke the blockade imposed by a top-tier agency. Core team stability increased. Influence significantly improved.]
[Congratulations! Influence Index has exceeded 4000. 'Spotlight' feature upgraded! You may now actively spend 2000 Influence to scan and lock onto 'value gaps' in specific fields.]
Link studied the new message, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.
He picked up the phone and called Bender.
"Lawrence—get this news out there. Let everyone know our crisis is over."