She Was the Treasure All Along novel Chapter 963

"A partner just terminated our contract. It's a bit regrettable," Morris said mildly.

"Your assistant?" Yelena asked, a spark of amusement in her eyes. "It felt like her."

Morris shot her a cool look. "If you're just here to gossip about my private life, the door is right there. If you want to talk about music, take a seat."

"Music, obviously." Yelena sat down, carelessly pulling the silk scarf from her neck and tossing it over the arm of the sofa, leaving the hickeys in plain view. "You remember that score I need for *The Way Back*, right?"

Morris picked up his lukewarm black coffee, his brow twitching slightly. "I remember. Didn't you say the investors were hiring that Japanese maestro?"

"The deal fell through," Yelena said flatly. "His schedule is booked out for two years, and we can't wait. I need a replacement immediately. But the composers who can actually handle a project of this scale... you know how it is. It's the same five people. They're either insanely expensive or their work sounds like a factory assembly line."

Morris set his cup down. The ceramic clinked sharply against the wood.

"Are you asking me to do it?"

Yelena scoffed. "Please. If I hired you to write five tracks, it would bankrupt the entire production."

"So, what do you want?"

"Help me find someone," Yelena urged. "Someone who can capture the actual soul of the film. You've seen the rough cut, right? The vast deserts, the isolation... generic melodies can't carry that weight. It needs grit."

Morris was quiet for a moment.

"Have you ever listened to Helena's work?" he asked suddenly.

Yelena blinked. "Your assistant?"

"She won the Steinway competition," Morris stated calmly. "You know how prestigious that is. My sister was a guest judge that year. If she gave Helena top marks, her talent is undeniable."

Yelena's eyes slowly lit up. "Really? Then she could work."

"Let her audition, then."

A knock at the door interrupted them.

Helena walked in balancing two coffees—an Americano and a latte, hedging her bets since she didn't know Yelena's preference.

Her fingers lingered over the art. This was it. Her chance to prove herself, to reclaim the talent she had practically left to rot. This was her ticket to a new life.

"I can do it," she said, looking up.

Even if Yelena was Morris's girlfriend, or lover, or whatever—she was handing Helena a lifeline, and she wasn't going to let her wounded pride get in the way.

Yelena beamed. "I like that confidence."

"The address to your private studio is in the file. A sound engineer will drop by three times a week," Yelena added. "There is one catch, though. You have to submit a demo for the main theme before we start filming. The director needs it to cut the first teaser."

Helena took a deep breath. "I have a condition too. I want to be credited under my real name."

Yelena raised an eyebrow. In the film industry, billing rights were usually a brutal negotiation left for the lawyers. She glanced at Morris, then nodded.

"Deal."

Helena stood and gave a slight bow. "Thank you, Ms. Yates. I won't let you or Mr. Lonsdale down."