Chapter 399: Public Disturbance
The crowd swelled larger by the minute—easily over a hundred people now. Most were teenagers and young adults in their twenties, voices raised in agitation, their chants echoing off the glass façade of Obscura Fashion headquarters. They'd blockaded the main entrance entirely.
Security guards attempted to maintain order, but faced with this many emotionally charged fans, they were fighting a losing battle.
"Please remain calm! Disperse immediately!" The head of security barked through his megaphone.
"We want to see Emily! Make her come out and apologize!" A tall guy at the front of the pack shouted.
"That's right! Apologize!"
"Apologize!"
The chanting grew louder, wave after wave of unified fury.
Inside the building, employees pressed against the windows, watching the scene unfold with growing anxiety.
"What do we do? What if they storm the building?"
"Where's Ms. Johnson? Should we call the police?"
"Already did. They're not here yet..."
In the executive suite, Emily stood at the window, observing the mob below with clinical detachment.
Henry was sweating bullets. "Emily, what's the plan? Should you slip out the back entrance?"
"No need. They're here for me. If I run, it'll only make things worse."
"But—"
"Tell all employees to continue working as normal. No one goes downstairs. And have security lock down all entrances—no one gets in."
"Got it." Henry rushed off to relay the orders.
Emily picked up her phone and called Nora. "Nora, pull together all the footage from this morning's shoot. Include the full video of Daniel's performance."
"Ms. Johnson, what are you planning?" Nora asked.
A cold smile tugged at Emily's lips. "They want an explanation? I'll give them one. But it won't be an apology."
Downstairs, the fans' fervor was reaching a boiling point.
"Is Emily too chicken to face us?"
"Shameless woman! Bold enough to steal Evelyn's endorsement but won't come down and answer for it?"
"Let's shout louder! Make sure she hears us!"
Just as the situation threatened to spiral completely out of control, the massive LED screen in Obscura Fashion's ground-floor lobby flickered to life.
An elegant figure appeared on screen—Daniel.
He wore one of Obscura Fashion's latest tailored suits, seated at a grand piano, fingers dancing across the keys as a hauntingly beautiful melody poured through the speakers.
The crowd fell silent, if only for a moment.
The scene transitioned. Daniel stood before floor-to-ceiling windows, violin in hand, playing an impassioned concerto. Sunlight bathed him in golden light, sculpting his focused, refined profile.
Then Emily appeared in the frame.
She wore a sharp white suit, standing beside Daniel as they discussed something intently. He smiled and nodded; she studied the design sketches in her hands with unwavering focus.
The entire video contained no dialogue—only music and imagery.
But everyone watching could feel it: the professionalism, the dedication, the elegance.
When the video ended, a single line of text appeared on screen:
[Obscura Fashion. For those who truly understand refinement.]
Then the feed switched to a live broadcast.
Emily appeared center-screen. She sat in her office, framed by minimalist bookshelves and floor-to-ceiling windows. She wore a cream-colored suit, makeup flawless, expression composed.
"Good afternoon, everyone. I'm Emily, CEO of Obscura Fashion."
The fans outside froze. They hadn't expected her to address them this way.
"I understand that many of you came here today seeking answers. So I'm going to give you those answers right now."
She paused, her gaze steady and unflinching as she looked directly into the camera.
"First, regarding the change in brand ambassador. Obscura Fashion's partnership with Ms. Evelyn Thomas was initially based on mutual commercial considerations. However, the day before the shoot was scheduled, Ms. Thomas unilaterally requested to terminate her contract, citing health concerns. We respected Ms. Thomas's decision and immediately activated our contingency plan."
"We chose Mr. Daniel Scott as our new ambassador because his temperament, taste, and professional caliber align perfectly with Obscura Fashion's brand philosophy. I believe the video you just watched made that abundantly clear."
Her tone was calm yet commanding—no trace of defensiveness, yet every word crystal clear.
"Second, regarding the false narratives circulating online. Let me be clear: Obscura Fashion has never compromised, and will never compromise, on quality for anyone's connections or background. We chose Daniel because he deserves it."
"Finally, I'd like to say something to those of you who came here today."
Emily's gaze softened slightly, though her resolve remained unshaken.
"I understand your love and support for your idol—that's a beautiful sentiment. But true support isn't about blindly attacking others or expressing your demands through aggression. It's about respecting your idol's choices and trusting her professional judgment."
"Ms. Thomas is a talented artist, and I'm confident she'll continue to thrive. As for Obscura Fashion, we will continue upholding our brand values, providing the finest products and service to those who truly appreciate craftsmanship."
"Thank you."
The broadcast ended.
Silence blanketed the street below.
The fans exchanged uncertain glances, suddenly at a loss for words.
Emily hadn't attacked anyone. She'd even spoken positively about Evelyn. But she'd laid out the facts so clearly, so rationally, that there was no room for rebuttal.
And that video... Daniel's presence, his artistry—it was genuinely breathtaking.
That level of sophistication, that artistic gravitas—Evelyn simply didn't have it.
"Did we... misunderstand?" one girl whispered hesitantly.
"But Evelyn clearly said—"
"Emily kind of has a point though..."
The crowd began to waver.
Just then, sirens wailed in the distance. Several police cruisers pulled up to the curb.
Officers stepped out, immediately working to disperse the gathering.
"Everyone needs to leave in an orderly fashion. No loitering!"
Seeing the police, the fans didn't dare continue their protest. They began to scatter, slowly filtering away from the building.
Windsor Group Executive Suite
Charles closed the live stream on his monitor and leaned back in his chair, a complex mixture of emotions flickering in his eyes.
Pride. Admiration. And an ache he couldn't quite name.
His Emily had grown into someone who no longer needed his protection. Facing a crisis like this, she'd been calm, composed, brilliant—resolving the conflict with elegance and even giving her opponent an out.
She'd even... anticipated what he might do.
"Nathan." Charles's voice cut through the silence.
"Yes, Mr. Windsor." Nathan appeared immediately.
"About Evelyn—"
"Ms. Johnson reached out to me just now." Nathan spoke carefully. "She said... she hopes Windsor Group might give Evelyn a second chance."
Charles's eyebrows lifted. "She said that?"
Nathan nodded. "Ms. Johnson pointed out that while Evelyn made mistakes, she's young—probably just acted impulsively. And she has posted on social media urging her fans to stay calm. The tone was fairly sincere. Ms. Johnson believes there's no need to destroy her completely. She deserves another chance."