Chapter 288 Oliver's gaze turned icy.
Charles watched as his boss’ expression grew darker and darker as he looked at his phone.
The air around them seemed to thicken with tension.
"Sir, these comments are baseless. Please don’t pay any attention to them,” Charles said, “You and Miss Susan were also misunderstood. It’s the same thing, isn’t it?”
Oliver looked up as he asked icily, “Is it really the same thing?”
Internally, Charles pondered, ‘Isn’t it the same?’
Naturally, he did not voice out his thoughts.
Oliver, discarding the pen he had been holding, instructed, "Contact the director immediately and ask how they arranged the teams!"
“Yes,” Charles replied respectfully as he thought to himself, ‘Do you want to know why a man was assigned to Natalie’s team?’
"Wait," Oliver interjected, "Offer a sponsorship of five million dollars. Don’t let the crew members suffer in the cold."
Charles thought to himself again, ‘You just don’t want Natalie to suffer in the cold.’
Given that it was winter, the chill was indeed piercing, especially during outdoor shoots. Natalie was dressed in a spring kimono today, but fortunately, the filming concluded swiftly, and she was able to seek warmth.
…
Upon receiving Oliver's call, the director's expression was one of sheer panic.
Charles's hints of displeasure were directed at the show's decision to place Jacob next to Natalie, suggesting that she should be placed in an all-female team. Charles also mentioned the five-million sponsorship.
The director, caught between joy and anxiety, wondered inwardly, ‘I thought Mr. Windsor had moved on to another woman?’
Since Natalie’s husband was sponsoring the show, the director decided to discuss the matter with Natalie first.
"Natalie, after giving it some thought, we believe it would be more appropriate for Zoey to join your team. Starting from the next episode, your team will exchange team members with Lily's team."
"Why?" Natalie asked, puzzled by the abrupt change.
"It’s in consideration of your husband. It’ll be bad if there’s a misunderstanding," the director hinted at Oliver's concerns with tact.
Natalie laughed. A hint of irony could be seen in her gaze as she said, “I think the current arrangement is fine. My team members work very well together today. Changing members at this juncture will only fuel rumors, and it might harm everyone involved…”
"Director!" someone called out.
It was Lucas. He crossed his arms and said expressionlessly, "My sister hasn’t engaged in any ambiguous relationships with other men, nor has she encouraged such attention. There’s no need for her to avoid such baseless suspicions. I’m sure my brother-in-law won’t have a problem with this."
Lucas's concern was for Natalie's treatment by the production team, and he knew this matter was surely Oliver’s doing. It was not difficult to figure out that Oliver did not want his sister to have contact with other men.
The director, caught in a dilemma and wary of potential complaints from the parties involved, felt increasingly cornered. He was also surprised that Lucas, who seemed very obedient in Natalie's presence, would be so difficult to deal with.
Caught in a dilemma, the director reached out to Charles.
…
After speaking to the director, Charles was also troubled. He told Oliver hesitantly, “Sir, Natalie doesn’t want to switch team members.”
Oliver's expression turned icy instantly.
Caught in the middle, Charles sensed the mounting pressure.
After a moment of silence, Oliver asked, "Is the program broadcast live?"
"Yes, and it’ll subsequently be compiled into an edited version," Charles confirmed.
"Arrange for the live broadcast to be displayed here," Oliver directed, pointing to a vacant spot on the left side of his desk.
After a brief pause, Charles said, "I’ve been informed that today’s filming is almost over."
"Are there any videos or updates online? Get them for me."
Charles hesitated for another two seconds before proceeding. "Sir, the netizens are discussing trivial matters and…”
"Are you implying that I shouldn’t look at them?” Oliver interjected, raising an eyebrow.
‘Yes. Not looking at them would put you in a better mood and make life easier for your subordinates…’
“Show them to me! I want to see everything!” Oliver’s expression grew even darker, thinking that Charles was hiding something.
Oliver looked at the content Charles gathered for him.
There were videos of Natalie and Jacob playing games, their interaction marked by playful banter, reflecting a harmonious relationship.
The most striking image was a screenshot of Jacob applying makeup for Natalie. Her eyes were closed and her head was tilted back, while Jacob's face was very close to hers!
Suddenly, a loud crash echoed through the room.
Various items were hurled to the floor in a fit of rage.
Eventually, Oliver smashed the iPad that displayed Natalie's photos. It hit the wall with a loud bang.
"Sir..."
Charles felt a chill run down his spine, uncertain of how to address the situation.
Taking a deep, measured breath, Oliver clenched his fists tightly, the veins on his hands prominently visible. After a brief moment, he managed to regain his composure. Then, as though nothing had happened, he said, “It’s time for dinner.”
However, one could still hear the anger and coldness beneath the calm.
“Yes, Sir.”
Charles quickly exited the office, sighing in relief. He also warned the others of Oliver’s bad mood.
…
Seated in his office chair, Oliver found his concentration waning.
The barrage of online comments and Natalie's steadfast refusal to switch members replayed in his mind.
He quickly checked Jacob’s information.
…
Meanwhile, the results from the three teams were being handed over.
Both the production crew and the viewers eagerly anticipated the release of Natalie's unflattering photos. Contrary to expectations, they were met with stunning imagery! The revelation left everyone in disbelief, pondering the feasibility of such results.
The horrendous makeup, bathed in the gentle light of the winter sun, appeared subdued.
Jane, through her exceptional photography skills, captured the perfect angles, enhancing Natalie's appearance with a kimono. Set against a backdrop of a bamboo forest, a subtle, ethereal charm was evoked.
If a single beautiful photograph could be dismissed as a fluke, what then of three? Full-body portraits, detailed close-ups—all portrayed Natalie in an incredibly flattering light!
Jacob could not help but laugh before he exclaimed in delight, “Weren’t all of you laughing at me earlier? Behold my work of art!”
However, it was evidently clear that it was all thanks to Jane's skills that the photos turned out stunning. It had nothing to do with Jacob at all.
Comments flooded in again, and they shared the same sentiment.
[Jane’s photography and editing skills are amazing…]
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