Chapter 34
"Everyone's really looking forward to it now. Once it's built, her position at the Smith Group will be even more solid. Where will there be any room for you then?"
Ainsley's eyes turned vicious: "I absolutely won't let her succeed!"
"I'll get someone to buy some venomous snakes and throw them right onto her site!" Ainsley said sinisterly. "Then I'll find some influencers and have them deliberately go 'encounter' the snakes, film it and post it online, saying the place has terrible conditions and no safety guarantees."
"Even if she clears out the snakes later, people will still be traumatized. Who would dare go to her resort then?"
Freya's eyes lit up: "That's a great idea! I know some influencers who make their living chasing clicks and followers. They'll definitely do it as long as we pay them."
"Money's not a problem!" Ainsley said immediately. "Contact them right now, the sooner the better. I want her project to completely fall apart right from the start!"
Freya quickly agreed and took out her phone to contact the influencers, feeling thrilled inside.
She didn't believe they still couldn't teach Ophelia a lesson this time.
Early the next morning, Ophelia had just arrived at the Smith Group when she got a panicked call from Della: "Ophelia, this is bad! A bunch of videos suddenly appeared online saying there are snakes at our resort site!"
Ophelia felt uneasy and quickly opened her phone. Sure enough, she saw several videos with skyrocketing views.
In the videos, several influencers encountered venomous snakes in the grass near the resort site, screaming in terror. The captions all said things like:
"Venomous snakes found at site, safety concerns raised."
"Who would dare go to a resort like this?"
The comment section already had plenty of people being misled: "There are actually snakes? That's too dangerous!"
"I was looking forward to it, but now I don't dare go. Safety first."
"Could it be that the environment is so bad it's attracting venomous snakes? Seems like this project isn't very good."
Ophelia's expression darkened. She didn't need to think to know this was Ainsley's doing.
She immediately sent William a message: "Ainsley had someone plant venomous snakes and hired influencers to film videos spreading rumors."
William replied instantly: "I already know. I've sent people to handle it. Don't panic, I'll have people clarify things."
Seeing the message, Ophelia relaxed a bit, but she was still very angry.
To stop her, Ainsley would stop at nothing.
She didn't just sit there waiting. She immediately posted a clarification, attaching videos of staff clearing the snakes and a certificate from the local wildlife management bureau.
The site itself was a natural ecological area where wild animals occasionally appeared. Comprehensive safety inspections and protective measures had already been implemented.
"Clarifying the online rumors: We've worked with relevant departments for comprehensive clearing and inspection. We'll install protective nets and warning signs going forward to ensure visitor safety."
"Natural environments inevitably have wild animals. We'll put safety first and welcome everyone's supervision."
Her clarification was clear and well-organized with solid evidence. Combined with her previously built reputation, it quickly turned public opinion around.
"I knew Ophelia was reliable. She'll definitely implement proper safety measures!"
"Those influencers obviously did it for attention. The snakes in the videos look like they were deliberately placed there."
"Support Ophelia! Looking forward to the resort opening. As long as safety measures are in place, there's no problem!"
Seeing Ophelia's clarification, Ainsley trembled with rage. She hadn't expected Ophelia to react so quickly and even produce evidence.
"It's useless!" She told Freya unwillingly. "Even if she clarified things this time, people will still have doubts. I'll find another chance to trip her up!"
Freya was also a bit panicked but still said stubbornly, "Right, we still have chances. Her project isn't built yet. There are plenty of ways to ruin it!"
On Ophelia's side, she had just finished handling public opinion when William called.
"The rumors have been suppressed," William's voice came through with a hint of reassurance. "I've had people strengthen security at the site. Ainsley won't get another chance."
"Thank you," Ophelia said softly, feeling warm inside.
Whenever she encountered trouble, William could always help her solve it right away.
"You don't need to be so polite with me," William paused. "Dinner together tonight? We can also discuss the follow-up safety protection plan."
Ophelia hesitated for a moment, then nodded: "Okay."
After hanging up, she looked at the project proposal on her desk, her expression becoming serious.
The more Ainsley obstructed her, the better she wanted to make this project, to show everyone that she wasn't so easily defeated.
That afternoon, Ophelia met with her team to refine the safety protection plan, installing protective nets around the resort, setting up warning signs in the hot spring area, lawn areas, and other locations, and specially hiring professional security teams and wildlife protection personnel.
After the meeting, Della couldn't help saying: "Ainsley is too much, using such vicious methods."
"You get used to it," Ophelia smiled faintly. "The more she wants me to lose, the more I want to win."
She knew clearly that Ainsley was now desperate. As long as she did the project well and didn't give Ainsley any openings, Ainsley would naturally run out of tricks.
After work, William's car was already waiting downstairs at the Smith Group.
Ophelia got in the car and saw him holding a document folder.
"This is a supplementary safety protection plan I had people prepare," William handed it to her. "It includes some protection case studies from high-end resorts you can reference."
Ophelia took the folder, feeling touched: "You've thought of everything."
"As I should," William started the car. "This is a project we're working on together. Naturally, I need to care about it."
The car drove through the evening streets, the sunset shining through the windows, warm and bright.
"Actually, you don't need to help me so much," Ophelia suddenly spoke. "I know you're worried about me, but I don't want to always rely on you."
William turned to look at her, his expression serious: "I'm not making you rely on me. I want to work with you to make this project successful."
"And," he paused, his voice softening, "I want to be good to you, not because of our partnership, but because I want to."
Ophelia's heart skipped a beat, her cheeks flushing slightly. She didn't dare look at him and could only pretend to look out the window.
The atmosphere in the car became intimate, with only the sound of the car moving.
At the restaurant, they found a window seat.
"Actually, Ainsley targeting you like this is just because she's jealous of you," William said while ordering. "She's been spoiled in the Smith family since childhood. She can't stand anyone being better than her or getting more attention than her."
Ophelia smiled: "I don't care what she thinks. I only care whether the project can be done well."
"I know," William looked at her seriously. "But you don't need to tough it out alone. I'm here."
Ophelia felt warm inside and nodded. "Thank you."