Chapter 654 New Love and Old Flames
Emily Reed kept a constant vigil on the online activity surrounding Natalie, noting that the public's attention was fixated on gossip. She bought some internet support to strategically shift the focus, temporarily redirecting the conversation back to Natalie herself—
"The moment Natalie stepped onto the runway, she dazzled me!"
"I seriously questioned whether Natalie was ever injured. Does this look like someone recovering from a leg condition?"
"It's like a triumphant return fit for royalty!"
"Just wondering how those brands and studios that terminated their contracts with Natalie are feeling now."
Subsequently, people from various circles praised Natalie's professionalism, indicating she was back in the limelight.
Emily Reed called Natalie to the company.
Emily Reed had collected a heap of invitations, a myriad of brands and designer studios extending olive branches to Natalie, hoping to collaborate. Some opportunities were beyond what she could reach during her peak.
Emily Reed sorted some invitations to her left and the rest to her right, tapped the ones on the left, and said, "These are the ones I think look promising. I'm not too keen on the rest. Have a look and see if there's anything you like."
Natalie reviewed the invitations on the left, filtering for the ones she felt were suitable.
"Natalie, I've got an idea," Emily Reed suddenly remarked.
"Go ahead, Emily."
"How about going solo?" Emily Reed poured Natalie a glass of water. "You saw what happened with the summer camp event. Being tied to a contract means you're always at someone else's mercy, and I can't always protect you—even if I wanted to. Your comeback wasn't attributable to the company executives. A company like this isn't worth your full effort."
When Natalie had initially signed her contract, she was just starting out, not yet well-known, and the terms were quite standard. In terms of benefits, she was at a disadvantage.
"I've thought about it for a while. You've got a five-year deal with the company, but the penalty for breaking it isn't a big deal given your current earnings. You could set up your studio, be the boss, and then you'll never have to face restrictions—for example, when you want to help your friends Flora Lee and Jane."
If Emily Reed's previous arguments made sense to Natalie, this last suggestion truly captivated her.
Indeed, being under someone's control wasn't ideal.
"Emily, I would hate to leave you." Over the past year, Natalie and Emily Reed have enjoyed a successful partnership; they share the same values, are colleagues, and are friends.
Emily Reed cocked her head with a smile: "If Natalie still wants me as her agent, I'd be more than happy to come with you. I forgot to mention that my contract lets me break away unilaterally; plus, I'm not short on cash."
Not to mention Emily Reed's hefty salary and bonuses over the years, how could the Reeds' only daughter ever be short on cash?
They hit it off instantly, didn't waste a moment, and swiftly moved to dissolve their contract with the company.
Natalie was now a budding cash cow and marquee name with endless potential, and naturally, the company didn't want to let her go. But the company's unethical move of forcing her to attend that couple's summer camp at a low point in her career was already a sore point. Plus, Natalie was more than willing to pay the penalty for breaking the contract, and her attitude of just wanting to throw money at the problem and leave without discussion left the executives cornered.
After Natalie and Emily Reed left the building, the CEO immediately called in his trusted aides for a meeting to strategize against Natalie.
On one hand, they planned to reallocate Natalie's resources within the company to other models, effectively sidelining her. On the other, they began to plot how to make things so difficult for her that she would reconsider leaving.
Even if she did manage to terminate the contract, they intended to tie Natalie up in legal battles for the next six months—denying her the resources to appear at public events and doing their utmost to decrease her market value. If necessary, they would even resort to a smear campaign to tarnish her image, ensuring that she couldn't earn profits for anyone else or become a competitor after leaving the company.
Stepping out of the company's skyscraper, Natalie sighed in relief.
She was now certain of her decision to leave—given the dispersed ownership and complex executive politics, she couldn't count on not being undercut again.
Besides, being her boss was the ultimate freedom, no matter the circumstances.
Regarding not having the resources of a large company for her studio, Natalie's current popularity meant she didn't need any corporate backing.
Natalie returned to her apartment, and seeing the starry baby's breath placed in a vase on the dining table sparked an idea. She grabbed the ingredients she hadn't used the night before and continued cooking her planned dishes. Once done, she packed the meals in insulated containers.
Donning a baseball cap, Natalie headed out with her prepared lunch and called Jamie once she arrived at RK Group.
"What's up? You look like you're zoning out," said Charles to Jamie just as they were about to head to the company's café for lunch.
Jamie hung up the phone, "Mrs. Windsor has arrived with lunch for the boss. She asked if I could come down to collect it."
"That's awesome! Hurry up!" Charles exclaimed with delight.
Mrs. Windsor's gesture would undoubtedly put the boss in a great mood, and when the boss was happy, their work environment was sure to be pleasant.
"Wait!" Jamie had barely taken a step when she whirled around and called out to the office's biggest gossip, "Jennifer, go downstairs to pick up Mr. Windsor's lunch, will you? The delivery's in a silver Porsche."
Jennifer nodded, her curiosity piqued about which upscale service delivered meals in a Porsche.
It wasn't until she recognized the familiar license plate
that the truth hit her.
Wasn't that Mr. Windsor's car?
Jennifer had seen Oliver use that car just once, and it had made an impression on her. A surge of surprise washed over her. Could Mr. Windsor be seeing someone new?
"Hello, I'm here to pick up Mr. Windsor's lunch," Jennifer said politely, tapping gently on the car window.
As the window slid down, Jennifer was met with an extraordinarily beautiful face - a natural beauty that outshone any makeup.
"Miss Watson," Jennifer gasped, too shocked to compose herself.
She thought the boss had a new flame, but it appeared to be old.
Natalie, taken aback for a moment, recognized the face before her as someone from Oliver's secretary pool, someone trustworthy.
"Here you go," Natalie said, undisturbed by the mix-up and offering a smile as she handed over the food container. "Appreciate it!"
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