Chapter 372 The Homecoming of Mrs. Windsor
"Miss Doris," Natalie began, her voice laced with a hint of derision. "if I were in your shoes, I would take the time to research the other party before making such accusations." She cast a disdainful glance at the gathering of scheming individuals. "Had you paused to investigate, rather than rushing to tarnish my reputation, you would have discovered that I am, in fact, a married woman. And if you had dug a little deeper, you would have found that the man Susan claims I 'stole' is actually my beloved husband."
The interruption of the runway director brought an end to the heated exchange. Drawn by the commotion, he reprimanded Natalie, Doris, and the other models who had been standing by as silent spectators. He turned his attention to Natalie, instructing her, "Change your shoes and join Eric on the stage."
Natalie nodded her acquiescence.
The model chosen for the finale typically wore the show's most significant dress and often shared the stage with the designer. Although Eric had previously advocated for her within the fashion industry, this was Natalie's first personal encounter with him.
At the age of fifty-eight, Eric was a man of distinct features and a gentle demeanor, his authority as an industry veteran evident in his bearing. He was widely regarded as a pioneer in the contemporary fashion world, his talent universally acknowledged and respected.
Eric began by expressing his gratitude. However, he soon shifted the conversation, revealing, "What brings me the greatest joy today is the recognition and love this finale dress has received. To be frank, this design is not my creation, but that of a student I recently took under my tutelage."
The revelation sent a ripple of surprise through the audience.
Eric was leveraging his influence to elevate his protegé.
No one had heard of any of Eric's students before!
"Her name is Wine," Eric continued, a note of pride creeping into his voice. "She is my most promising student. Few people know her, and regrettably, she couldn't be present today." He spoke of Wine with the fondness of a doting grandfather. "She's a beautiful and talented woman, but she's rather shy and prefers to avoid the limelight."
Natalie felt a jolt of recognition, thinking, ’Wine... it was her again.‘
During a previous competition, Wine had sponsored the dress Natalie had worn on the runway. The ensemble had been met with derision, dismissed as the work of an unknown designer. Only Natalie had recognized its brilliance, the dress not only fitting her like a glove but also reflecting her personal style.
Could this be... merely a coincidence?
Natalie's instincts suggested otherwise.
After exiting the stage, Natalie hastened to catch up with Eric.
"Mr. Eric, I'm Natalie. I wanted to express my gratitude for your support earlier," she said, her voice brimming with sincere appreciation.
Eric, a man in his fifties, flanked by his assistant and bodyguard, scrutinized Natalie. This was his first proper look at the model his cherished student had recommended.
In terms of both temperament and skill, she was truly exceptional.
"There's no need for formalities, Miss Windsor. Your talent speaks for itself," he replied.
He paused before adding, "As for earlier, you should thank Oliver. It was at his request."
'Oliver...? He had known all along...' Natalie thought.
She quickly regained her composure, took a deep breath, and voiced the question that had been plaguing her, "And what about tonight?"
Eric responded with an enigmatic smile, feigning ignorance despite understanding the implications of Natalie's seemingly unrelated question. "What do you mean?"
"Mr. Eric, you know exactly what I'm asking."
As Eric moved towards the exit, he left Natalie with a cryptic response, "Tonight, it was 'Wine'."
Having departed the scene, Eric promptly dialed his student's number. His voice was brimming with joy as he relayed the shower of praises that had been lavished upon the dress his student had designed that evening.
Within the span of a mere hour, the studio's phone had been ringing incessantly. A multitude of celebrities and socialites were clamoring to have the dress custom-made for themselves. The success was undeniable.
As their conversation neared its end, the topic shifted to the model. "Wine, your friend is quite astute. She knew it was your design straight away," Eric commented.
A woman's voice, soft and gentle in a way that was distinctly feminine, responded from the other line. A smile was audible in her tone. "She's always been sharp."
Before she could finish her sentence, a child's voice chimed in. "My mommy says Auntie Natalie is smart and pretty!"
Eric couldn't contain his laughter at the innocent interruption.
Despite his undeniable talent, Eric was equally renowned for his tempestuous temper. Many models and industry insiders had attempted to ingratiate themselves with him, only to fail miserably.
The sight of Natalie conversing with Eric sparked a wave of envy among the other models. How had this semi-new international model managed to strike up a rapport with Eric so effortlessly?
The show's director finally grasped the gravity of the situation. Wine's dress had nearly been ruined due to the petty scheming of the models. Recalling Eric's significant, meaningful gaze before his departure, the director knew this incident couldn't be brushed under the rug.
Doris came to the realization that this incident wouldn't be dismissed as lightly as similar ones in the past, too.
Such instances of design theft had occurred before in the industry, but they were usually dismissed as minor infractions.
"Don't give me that look. While I don't condone Natalie's behavior, I wouldn't jeopardize the show. You know that, right?" Doris said, referring to the director by his industry nickname.
Despite understanding the severity of the situation, Doris was adamant in her denial. "I know Natalie suspects me because I'm close with Susan, and Susan and Natalie are rivals. But who used what tactics in this matter is still unclear. It could be Natalie falsely accusing others. Unless you present evidence, I won't accept any blame. I'll have my lawyer handle this."
Doris was determined to brazen it out, confident in the lack of concrete evidence against her.
Just as the situation was reaching a stalemate, a knock echoed through the room. Oliver stood at the entrance, hands casually tucked into his pockets.
Charles, who had followed him in, was engaged in a discussion with the person in charge, seemingly negotiating something.
Natalie noticed for the first time that Oliver was donning a navy blue suit that day, a departure from his usual black or iron gray attire. The color made him appear significantly younger.
Oliver exuded an extraordinary aura and a commanding presence. Regardless of where he stood, he was always the center of attention. His identity as the president of the RK Group was known to few, but his opulence was evident in his attire-head-to-toe haute couture, and a customized Patek Philippe watch on his wrist, its price starting in the eight figures. He was also accompanied by a retinue of high-ranking executives from luxury conglomerates.
The room was filled with a collective gasp as the unexpected guests made their entrance.
Oliver extended his hand towards Natalie and beckoned, "Mrs. Windsor, it's time to go home."
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