Chapter 1280
No.1
Nathaniel gave a single, confirming nod. “Yes.”
The next morning, Isabella first completed a jewelry campaign shoot for Chanel before heading straight to Guci Tower.
Guci Tower occupied the most prestigious block in Westchester’s financial district. Rumors of the day’s shoot had drawn a massive crowd of fans, all gathered under the blazing sun. On the left side of the building, a boisterous swarm of supporters waved signs for Victoria Kensington. On the right, a quiet group of less than a hundred people waited patiently.
Isabella, after all, was a recent sensation. Her ‘Diamond Boss’ moniker sounded intimidating, not endearing. While she had gained admirers, few were devoted enough to stand in the heat for her.
As Isabella pulled up on her motorcycle, a sleek pink sports car arrived from the opposite direction. Its door swung open and Victoria emerged, elegant in a long mesh gown embroidered with delicate lisianthus blossoms.
The crowd erupted.
“Victoria! Victoria! Victoria!”
“The most beautiful supermodel! I love you! Can I get an autograph?”
“Victoria, sweetie, please, a photo!”
No.2
She was instantly swarmed, a radiant white swan at the center of a fervent flock.
Isabella simply parked her bike and dismounted. Her small cluster of supporters kept a respectful distance. Her aura was formidable, after all. She stood alone near the entrance, looking every bit the industry outsider.
“A nobody trying to compete with our Victoria? She’s just riding on her coattails.”
“I know, right? Has she even looked in a mirror? The audacity to shoot for Guci. Does she know how irrelevant she is?”
The jeers from the crowd were loud and clear, aimed at her solitary figure.
Victoria’s mouth twisted into a scowl. “Don’t speak about my sister that way. She has supporters too—just look.”
She gestured toward the far side of the venue, where a small cluster of about ten people lingered after the crowd had mostly dispersed. With over a thousand of Victoria’s fans still cheering loudly, Isabella’s group seemed pitifully small. As a newcomer to modeling, Isabella’s supporters seemed unsure how to show their enthusiasm, and many had already slipped away out of sheer awkwardness.
Victoria’s followers burst into mocking laughter.
“Ten people? That’s what she calls a fanbase? How embarrassing!”
No.3
“Didn’t she have eight million Twitter followers? Probably bought and paid for!”
“Exactly! She’s the Diamond Boss—she can afford fake followers!”
“What good is money if you’ve got no real talent?”
They stared at Isabella with open contempt, as if she were nothing but a circus act.
Just as Isabella pulled off her helmet, ready to respond—
“Isabella! Isabella! Isabella!”
A roar of voices cut through the air. Everyone turned to see a flood of people rushing toward her. Some sprinted, shouting as they ran.
“Isabella, I’m your biggest fan! What are you wearing today? I want to wear the exact same thing!”
“Isabella! I’m from Royal S Magazine—can I get a quick interview?”
No.4
“Look over here! I represent Tina Jewelry! Would you consider being our brand ambassador?”
“I don’t want to bother you, but could you please sign this? It’ll only take a second!”
A crowd of eager admirers swarmed around her, thrusting business cards and autograph books into her hands. Among them were celebrities, journalists, jewelry executives, singers, and even company owners—each one a recognizable name.
Were these high-profile individuals truly her fans? Had they canceled their appointments just to see her here?
Victoria’s face darkened with fury. Though she had many fans, Isabella’s supporters were influential figures. Even at the peak of her own career, Victoria had never attracted this level of elite attention. Important people usually sent assistants or subordinates in their place.
Victoria’s fans fell silent, recognizing famous faces in the crowd. They quickly pulled out their phones, scrambling to capture the moment.
How lucky to witness so many luminaries in one day!
The scene had flipped entirely. Now Isabella was the one surrounded, while Victoria stood ignored.
‘Did Maxwell arrange all this?’ Isabella wondered, scanning the crowd with a hint of suspicion.
No.5
She responded calmly. “Please reach out to my manager for any professional inquiries. As for autographs…”
She didn’t have a pen. But rejecting these enthusiastic admirers felt rude.
An idea struck her. She accepted the cards, then pulled a lipstick from her bag.
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
“That’s a Guerlain Golden Diamond Lipstick! It costs three hundred and fifty thousand dollars!”
“My god—I heard the case is made of 18-karat gold weighing a hundred and ten grams! Hand-set with a hundred ninety-nine diamonds!”
“She’s signing with a lipstick that expensive? She really is the Diamond Boss!”
“Sign my shirt, Isabella! Please!”
Even some of Victoria’s fans broke away, rushing toward Isabella, begging for a signature worth more than most cars.
No.6
Isabella Montgomery accepted every request without hesitation.
She took the cards with one hand while signing with the other.
Her movements were swift and confident.
That vibrant crimson signature glowed with undeniable brilliance, much like the woman herself.
Victoria Kensington dug her nails deep into her palms.
She never imagined Isabella would steal her spotlight like this.
Her own fans had abandoned her for this upstart.
The humiliation burned.
She had been the center of attention just moments ago.
No.7
What went wrong?
She forced a sweet, concerned smile and approached. "Isabella, we should go. The Gucci team is waiting for us."
"Please be quiet!" An impatient fan waiting for a signature shot her an annoyed glare for interrupting.
Who cared if she was a top supermodel? They preferred Isabella!
The crowd, though initially arranged by Nathaniel, had become genuine admirers.
These were people who usually avoided public scenes.
But since they were here, they wouldn't miss a chance for her autograph.
Victoria's face tightened into a stiff mask.
How dare these minor celebrities and singers speak to her like that?