Chapter 298 Call Me Ms. Russell
Early in the morning, Frederick was chillin' in his office, sippin' on some coffee and goin' through documents.
Cherie barged in, speaking in a low voice, "Mr. Hawkins, Melanie's agent has been here a bunch of times. Wants a word with you."
Frederick took another sip of his coffee. "Who's that?"
Cherie looked a bit taken aback, then reluctantly reminded him, "The actress, Melanie."
Frederick almost forgot. She had posted some drama on Facebook, and he had made sure to squash her. Now, no one dared to hire her for anything.
Frederick's tone turned icy. "I don't wanna see her! Don't bring me this crap again!"
Cherie nodded and went out to deliver the bad news.
The agent was super bummed and tried every trick in the book, but Frederick just wouldn't budge. It was clear he was seriously pissed.
Melanie was getting blacklisted, and her career was tanking.
Up in the top-floor conference room of Vertex Innovations Group, there was a new product meeting.
Someone eagerly suggested, "Ms. Russell, how about we get Melanie to endorse our new shower gel?"
The room went dead silent.
Jenna sat next to Charlotte, not daring to make a peep.
Surprisingly, Charlotte didn't blow up but asked calmly, "What's her usual rate?"
"$20 million."
Charlotte stood up. "Tell her to bring the quote to Vertex Innovations Group."
In the afternoon, Melanie showed up.
Charlotte met her in the company's gym.
Melanie had always been full of herself. She was young, rich, and famous, thinking she was way better off than Charlotte.
But when she saw Charlotte working out, her confidence took a hit!
Charlotte's figure was way better than she had imagined!
She was curvy, yet her waist was super slim, and her legs were long and straight. Any guy who had held them would never forget.
Melanie's voice tightened. "Mrs. Hawkins."
Charlotte heard but didn't respond.
Jenna leaned over. "Ms. Russell, Melanie is here."
Charlotte was sweating from her workout. She wiped herself with a towel and sat in the lounge area, motioning for Melanie to sit down.
"Call me Ms. Russell. I'm not Mrs. Hawkins anymore."
Melanie's agent quickly laid out the quote in front of Charlotte and hyped up Melanie's past awards, hinting that $20 million was non-negotiable.
Charlotte didn't even glance at the papers. She looked at Melanie and said casually, "Your physical condition isn't bad."
Melanie forced a smile.
She was close to Charlotte and could see her flawless skin. Coupled with her billion-dollar fortune, Melanie's arrogance started to fade.
Jenna brought over some coffee.
After sipping half a cup, Charlotte got straight to the point, "Our company needs a model for a shower gel commercial. I'm willing to see Melanie because she's cheap. The quote is outdated. I think no one in the industry dares to hire Melanie now, but if she takes my offer and works with Vertex Innovations Group, her situation will turn around immediately."
She hit the nail on the head.
Melanie's agent thought for a moment. "What price are you willing to offer?"
Charlotte said calmly, "$2 million."
Melanie's agent wasn't having it.
Charlotte picked up a magazine and flipped through it casually, her tone indifferent. "I'm not forcing you. Jenna, show them out!"
She was just looking for a bargain; otherwise, just looking at Melanie was enough to make her uncomfortable.
Melanie didn't get up. Her voice tightened. "I agree. $2 million it is."
This $2 million felt like a token gesture, but this job opportunity was crucial for her. She had seriously underestimated Charlotte.
Charlotte was ruthless!
Melanie felt super uncomfortable. After signing that brutal contract, she snapped, "Ms. Russell, don't you wanna know about my history with Mr. Hawkins?"
Charlotte glanced at the contract, totally unfazed. "I didn't ask before, and I don't need to ask now. If you ever write an autobiography and include it, I'll buy a copy."
Melanie felt a bit embarrassed.
After she left, Charlotte called the R&D manager, tossed the contract to him, and said calmly, "This shower gel will be called 'Crush.'"
The manager looked at the contract.
Signing Melanie for $2 million and naming the product "Crush"—this would definitely get under Melanie's skin.
Charlotte sat there, playing with her phone.
This new product was gonna be a hit, no doubt.
Just as Charlotte predicted, on the first day of the launch, "Crush" sold 12 million units across all major platforms, with sales skyrocketing.
Vertex Innovations Group's stock price hit the limit for three days straight.
Patrick personally called to praise Charlotte and said that if she wanted, he’d let her manage the Hawkins Group too. He'd take care of the kids.
Charlotte turned him down.
After hanging up, she soaked in her luxurious bathtub.
The tub was full of bubbles, and Charlotte smiled faintly while holding the shower gel.
After her bath, she slipped into a bathrobe.
It was pretty late, and she wanted to check on the kids before hitting the sack. But as soon as she stepped out of the bathroom, she saw someone in her bedroom.
Frederick was sitting on the soft bed, smoking a cigarette.
He was dressed in black, looking incredibly handsome.
The way he smoked was ridiculously seductive.
Charlotte had no intention of admiring him. She tightened her bathrobe and asked coldly, "Why are you in my bedroom? We're divorced. Do I need to remind you every day?"
Frederick looked at her and said lightly, "I came to see Lola and Kingsley."
Charlotte sat at the dressing table, combing her long hair. "Then you shouldn't be in my room. If you have something to say, let's talk in the living room."
Frederick stubbed out his cigarette.
He got straight to the point, "You clearly don't like Melanie. Why did you hire her as an endorser?"
Charlotte slowly combed her long hair and smiled. "Do you want me to tell the truth?"
Frederick's blue eyes were intense.
Charlotte started applying skincare products, her voice unhurried. "A lot effort was invested in this shower gel, but the scent is average, and the initial feedback wasn't great. Melanie came to me. She was cheap, a top-tier actress for $2 million, plus her scandal with you..."
Charlotte chuckled lightly. "Who wouldn't want to know which scent you like?"
After speaking, she sniffed her own neck.
Such a simple action, in Frederick's eyes, was full of temptation.
This woman was both infuriating and irresistible.
But he was deeply attracted to her.
Frederick got up and approached, placing his hands on either side of her body, leaning in close, his voice hoarse. "What if I say the scent I like is yours?"
Charlotte's face instantly turned cold. She said coldly, "Sorry, you won't get to smell it anymore."
Frederick looked at Charlotte. He really wanted to hold her, but he hesitated.
Charlotte talked with him for a long time and then brought up the main issue, "Where are my diary and voice recorder?"
"Do you want them? If you want them, let me stay here overnight. I won't do anything; I just want to be with you and the kids," Frederick said.
Charlotte pushed him away, trying to get him out, but the nanny's voice outside sounded a bit panicked. "Charlotte, it seems Kingsley has a fever."
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