Chapter 26 The Storm is Coming
Katherine wore the latest diamond necklace from the brand, and her smile was stunning.
As soon as the ad dropped, it blew up online.
Comments were everywhere, praising and adoring Katherine.
[Katherine's elegance is unreal! She's like a real-life princess!]
[This ad is so classy, it outshines Thalia's audition clip!]
[Jewelry endorsements should go to Katherine. Thalia just doesn't have it!]
Fans were going wild, and the brand's social media was flooded with Katherine's supporters, causing sales to skyrocket.
But despite all the positive comments, Katherine couldn't shake off a feeling of unease.
"Katherine, why is Thalia's name all over every viral video about you?"
In the mansion, Jessica was sprawled on the couch, frowning as she scrolled through the comments on her tablet.
"Is someone trying to stir up trouble?"
Katherine had the same thought.
Whether the comments were good or bad, Thalia's name kept popping up, making it seem like someone was trying to create drama.
Just as the ad's popularity peaked.
Thalia started a live stream.
She wore simple white loungewear, her eyes slightly red, sitting in front of the camera with a soft, hurt voice. "I've seen a lot of talk about the endorsement lately... I didn't want to say anything, but it's been weighing on me..."
She wiped the corner of her eye and forced a smile.
"The Miller's Family collaboration was initially agreed upon, and I worked hard to prepare for it, but in the end... it didn't work out."
She paused, her tone somber. "Maybe I'm just not good enough. After all, the senior's status and influence in the industry are beyond my reach."
Thalia, with her sweet looks and being the darling of Vossler Global Industries, had already become a sensation in the entertainment world despite being a newcomer.
Within ten minutes of her live stream, she had millions of viewers.
Her words caused an uproar in the live stream's comment section.
[Did the Miller's Family endorsement get snatched? Which senior? Isn't the new ad featuring Katherine?]
[No way, Katherine, as a senior, is bullying a newcomer?]
[Thalia is so pitiful, just starting out and already being suppressed?]
The comments were filled with accusations against Katherine, with some even bringing up old rumors.
Katherine sat on the couch, arms crossed, watching Thalia's performance on the tablet, her eyes cold.
Jessica quickly grabbed her phone, did some quick actions, and then looked at Twitter, shocked.
"Katherine, look, Twitter is blowing up too!"
Thalia's fans were furious, flooding Katherine's Twitter with comments.
[Senior privilege? Stealing resources from juniors, how shameless!]
[Using your fame to bully newcomers? Disgusting!]
Seeing the nasty comments, Katherine was stunned for a second, then let out a cold laugh.
"She's good at acting. Who's stealing from whom?"
Jessica nodded angrily, "Exactly! She stole your endorsement first, and now she's playing the victim! Shameless!"
Just then, Silas called.
"Katherine, did you see Thalia's live stream?"
Katherine responded softly, "I knew there were a lot of people stirring things up these past few days."
"Don't worry, the brand has already issued a statement, confirming that they chose to switch endorsers on their own, and it has nothing to do with you. But..."
Hearing Silas's hesitation, Katherine frowned slightly, "Silas, is there a problem?"
"Well, you know, Thalia is the darling of Vossler Global Industries. She hasn't even released any work yet, but she's already famous, thanks to her family's influence. Katherine, I'm worried she might use her family's power to suppress you."
Katherine remained silent.
Silas hesitated again, "Honestly, did you offend Thalia somehow? She's targeting you."
Taking a deep breath, Katherine leaned back on the couch, her gaze sharp as she looked at the tablet showing Thalia's tearful performance.
"Silas, handle the PR. I'll take care of the rest..."
"You have a plan? This situation is like a storm coming out of nowhere. Katherine, maybe you should ask your parents for help?" Silas suggested.
The mansion's living room was quiet except for Thalia's sobbing voice.
Jessica, hearing Silas's suggestion, couldn't help but scoff.
"Silas, you're overestimating Katherine's standing in the White family. Her parents won't help her, and even if they did, the White family can't compete with the Vossler family."
Jessica bluntly stated the harsh truth.
Katherine shot her a glare, while Jessica continued to munch on a piece of watermelon from the fruit platter.
Silas didn't say anything further, understanding the reality.
When Katherine first entered the industry, Lila Clark had caused a scene at the company, accusing Katherine of daydreaming about becoming a star, publicly berating Katherine repeatedly.
"Alright then." Silas sighed, "The company will try to handle it. Katherine, take advantage of the short break to rest. You'll be shooting another ad in a few days."
After hanging up, Thalia's voice in the live stream was particularly grating, as she continued to play the pitiful junior while chatting with viewers.
Soon, Katherine's phone rang again, and she saw it was Alexander.
For some reason, seeing Alexander's call made Katherine feel a bit nervous.
This had been the case for the past four years.
At some point, their interactions had taken on a subtle change.
Jessica reminded her to answer the call, snapping her out of her thoughts.
"Hello? Alexander..."
There was a brief pause on the other end, then a soft voice asked, "What are you doing?"
Katherine felt a bit flustered, realizing the ringtone had been going for over half a minute before she answered.
"Nothing..."
"You guys are too much. I'm glad you all like me. But please, don't slander anyone."
Thalia's coquettish voice from the live stream carried over the phone.
"Are you watching a live stream?"
Katherine's heart skipped a beat, and she thought, 'How did he know I'm watching a live stream? Is he watching it too?'
"Yeah." She responded softly, not wanting to elaborate.
"I've seen the online comments. Are you okay?"
His concern caught Katherine off guard.
Was he worried about her? "I'm fine." His concern warmed her heart, softening her tone.
Jessica watched her with a knowing smile.
"Do you need any help?" Alexander's lazy voice came through, making Katherine's heart race.
She held her phone tightly, then asked softly, "Did you help me get those endorsements back?"
She had been thinking about this for days, and the most likely scenario was that he had intervened.
Apart from the Black family, she couldn't think of anyone else who could stand up to the Vossler family for her.
After a long pause, his calm voice came through, "Yes."