“Brandon… I… Oh… It’s too much…”
Natalie managed between gasps.
“The night is still young, my dear, just let go and enjoy it…”
Brandon whispered alluringly into her ear.
The following day, Vivi’s car accident once again dominated the trending news.
According to police reports, Vivi’s accident resulted from her consumption of illicit drugs, causing a sudden illness while driving. Consequently, she was unable to brake or swerve in time to avoid an obstacle, leading to the mishap. This twist in the narrative left the Internet users, who were initially seething with righteous indignation, utterly confused.
“I never imagined Vivi’s accident would be a consequence of her own physical condition, and not a malicious plot against her. We were wrong to target Natalie.”
‘Natalie is affluent and influential. She must have bribed the authorities to the actual facts!”
“But where did Vivi procure these drugs? The police owe us an explanation. For all we know, someone could’ve intentionally administered them to her!”
“Indeed! A thorough investigation of these illicit substances must be conducted immediately. Who knows how many people could be jeopardizing their lives with these hazardous drugs as we speak.”
As the public continued to question the circumstances, news of Star Entertainment’s influencers indulging in heavy illicit drug use surfaced. This revelation rapidly climbed the trending charts, igniting fervent online discussions.
Authorities promptly shut down Star Entertainment, instructing the firm to enforce rectifications and adhere to regulations before it could recommence operations.
Many influencers were stunned upon discovering the lethal potential of the drugs they had been consuming, and they demanded contract terminations and compensations.
Some influencers went as far as provoking their followers to assail Star Entertainment, hoping to extract additional compensations.
In her office, Suzanne stared at news of her company being mandated to make corrections and at the termination contracts of her employees. Blinded by rage, she swept everything off her desk onto the floor.
“Boss…”
The assistant recoiled in terror.
“Along with our top influencer Momo terminating her contract, several other firms also want to sever ties with us…
What should we do?”
“Termination?”
Suzanne scoffed.
“Fine! Anyone who wants to leave can take a hike. They’re nothing more than ingrates. I’ll bide my time to see who laughs last!”
The assistant hastily nodded and swiftly retreated from the office.
“Natalie White!
You’re responsible for my current predicament.”
Suzanne clenched her fists tightly; her eyes were brimming with malice, and her face contorted as if she were a demon straight out of hell.
“I won’t let you go scot-free! I’ll ensure you can’t escape my vengeance!”
Her words carried an ominous undertone. aE
“Ah-choo!”
Natalie sneezed just as she entered her studio.
“Odd, why did I sneeze?”
She didn’t give it much thought, proceeding into her office, contemplating her work for the day, when her gaze landed on an extravagant bouquet of red roses and a fancy fruit basket.
“Lexi, who sent these?”
Natalie frowned, instinctively picturing Clyde’s face, which induced a nauseating shudder that coursed through her.
Was he still persisting in pestering her?
Behind her, Lexi seemed perplexed, scratching the back of her head as she clarified,
“These were sent by a model named Derek. I initially declined them, but he insisted on delivering them personally.”
Natalie hadn’t expected it to be Derek. Her lips twitched as she inquired,
“Where is he now?”
Looking rather nervous, Lexi replied,
“He’s been waiting for you in the reception room.”
Natalie exhaled heavily and massaged her forehead.
“It’s not your fault. Derek’s tenacity is challenging to deal with, even for me. You’re not alone in this struggle. Now, you can get back to your tasks.”
In the reception room, Derek lounged leisurely on the sofa, exuding nonchalance and showing no signs of unfamiliarity with the place.
“Why hasn’t Natalie shown up yet?”
Derek grumbled lazily.
“I’ve been waiting for a good ten minutes.”
Natalie caught wind of his complaint as she swung the door open, causing her mouth to twitch in response.
“Is ten minutes such a long time? I never requested you to wait for me here. If waiting bothers you, feel free to leave anytime,”
Natalie shot back.
“At last, the esteemed designer graces us with her presence!”
Upon seeing Natalie enter the room, Derek made no effort to rise from his relaxed position on the sofa.
“A supermodel’s time is valuable, you know. I get paid by the minute for my catwalk appearances. Even a mere ten-minute wait amounts to a six-figure appearance fee!”
On the sidelines, Gilda had had enough of her boyfriend’s laid-back attitude. She gave Derek a nudge with her foot and warned him,
“Sit up straight, or you’ll regret it.”
“Fine. I’ll sit properly,”
Derek grumbled as he reluctantly adjusted his posture and assumed a more serious sitting position.
Natalie chuckled in disbelief, never imagining the day would come when Derek, the notorious troublemaker, would be tamed. She shook her head and teasingly asked,
“Shouldn’t you be working today? How come you have time to come here?”
Derek placed his hands on his hips and proudly said,
“I’m here to back you up!”
Amused, Natalie raised an eyebrow at him.
“Back me up? What do you mean?”
“Well, I just want to say that don’t worry about what others say. I believe in you no matter what happened and that I’ll always be on your side,”
Derek replied with a proud snort.
With a smile gracing her lips, Gilda explained further,
“Upon hearing about your predicament, he rushed back from abroad as he was worried you were struggling with the public backlash. He said himself he wanted to provide you with encouragement and support.”
With his chin raised high like a proud rooster, Derek declared,
“Don’t worry, Natalie. I’ll support you forever!”
Natalie was taken aback by his enthusiasm but, at the same time, moved.
“With your unwavering trust, I’m not scared even if those Internet users would eat me alive. But… does your agent know you’re here?”
The news of Vivi’s tragic death in a car accident had stirred up a whirlwind of attention on the Internet. Despite Brandon’s influential sway over the majority of public comments online and the police issuing official report, numerous conspiracy theorists continued to believe that Natalie was somehow involved in Vivi’s untimely demise.
Some even claimed that she exploited her family’s influence to manipulate the police and silence the public’s outcry.
Despite the abundance of evidence presented by the police, a faction of users stubbornly clung to their belief that Natalie was the culprit.
The incident dealt a severe blow to her reputation, leading to a significant decline in the studio’s orders and the loss of numerous previously scheduled clients.
Given that many of these clients were individuals of wealth and influence who placed utmost importance on the designers’ reputation, it comes as no surprise that they were hesitant to continue their collaborations with Natalie, especially after being caught up in a PR storm.
Natalie understood their motives but still could not help feeling disappointed.
Nobody wants to be suspected and abandoned, after all.
Amidst such trying circumstances, Derek’s visit and unwavering support provided Natalie with much- needed encouragement.
At the same time, it was very likely that someone harboring malicious intentions would seize upon Derek’s visit as a chance to fabricate a scandal.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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