Chapter 578
No.1
[Get her face on every national LED screen. Now.]
Dominic's reply was immediate. [Most slots are booked solid for months...]
[Buy them out. Pay any cancellation fees.] Nathaniel ordered.
[On it, Boss.] Dominic sprang into action.
Nathaniel was pulling out all the stops for the woman he loved. As his right hand, Dominic would fight alongside him.
Yet Nathaniel still felt uneasy. The Blackwood Corporation invested heavily across industries, except entertainment. They backed profitable ventures without hesitation. While financially secure, Isabella had no agency support after refusing to sign elsewhere. She only had GoldenPhoenix Entertainment.
Her company, GoldenPhoenix, had just signed three new artists. Other departments were still in early development.
His gaze shifted to Isabella. "How's GoldenPhoenix holding up? Need any assistance?"
"Progress is steady. We secured three talents quickly. Other sectors are still developing," she replied casually. "Don't worry about it."
Nathaniel’s expression darkened. “I can accelerate your company’s expansion.”
No.2
“Hmm?” Isabella finally sensed something unusual. “Is there a problem?”
Why was he suddenly offering to speed up her company’s growth? He had never mentioned it before.
Nathaniel’s face grew stern, but just as he was about to speak, Isabella’s phone rang.
She answered immediately. “Isabella,” Julian’s tense voice came through, “what exactly happened? Why is the entire industry blacklisting you?”
Major brands had been competing to collaborate with her after last night’s events, but all offers vanished within hours.
Isabella frowned. “Blacklisted? Today? I haven’t done anything...” Her voice trailed off as she recalled the incident with Reginald and Genevieve. “Less than an hour? That’s impressively fast,” she murmured, genuinely surprised.
“So you did cause trouble. How did you manage to get the entire entertainment industry to boycott you in one day?” Julian asked, utterly confused.
Nathaniel’s intense gaze remained fixed on Isabella, his brow furrowed. He wanted answers too.
Isabella twirled a strand of her hair, offering a faint smile. “It was nothing serious,” she explained casually, “though I might have provoked a conflict between Reginald and Genevieve...”
Julian was speechless. Those two were notoriously difficult personalities. He remembered specifically warning Isabella about them, yet she deliberately stirred trouble between them?
No.3
Unbelievable.
“Lay low for now. I’ll handle damage control.” Julian ended the call abruptly.
Isabella set her phone aside and noticed Oliver watching her with an amused expression. She gently ruffled his hair. “My sweet Christopher, eat well and grow strong. If anyone bullies you, tolerate it twice but never a third time. Fight back exactly like Mommy does.”
“Okay!” Oliver nodded enthusiastically, already imagining himself standing up to villains just like his mother.
Isabella then turned her attention back to Nathaniel. “You were saying? You want to help GoldenPhoenix expand faster?”
Nathaniel saw no reason for subtlety and nodded firmly. “It’s the most efficient solution currently.”
“But Julian and Adrian are still conducting interviews. They’re building a dedicated team from scratch—people who share our vision, possess strong teamwork, and demonstrate loyalty. Only with the right foundation can we achieve sustainable growth, and that requires time,” Isabella countered.
Building a company was like constructing a building—the foundation determined its stability. They couldn’t afford to compromise on integrity for short-term gains.
Nathaniel had always viewed her as ambitious, but he was pleasantly surprised by her maturity during this crisis. “I agree. A successful company requires a solid team.
They can take their time selecting members, but leave the rest to me,” he assured.
No.4
With the Blackwood family’s influence, no one would dare boycott Isabella.
Even without formal intervention, public opinion would shift simply by featuring her image on their properties.
“No need to rush,” Isabella responded calmly. “This isn’t worth deploying excessive force. I have everything under control. Your intervention isn’t necessary.”
“Explain your plan.” Nathaniel’s piercing eyes studied her as if attempting to read her thoughts.
“Yes, Mommy! Tell us! Daddy will worry endlessly otherwise,” Oliver chimed in supportively, deciding to advocate for his father. He added earnestly, “When you were detained, Daddy couldn’t sleep at all!”
An inexplicable tension suddenly filled the room between Nathaniel and Isabella.
Isabella recalled promising Nathaniel everything was handled. Yet he’d been so concerned about her he couldn’t sleep!
She quickly broke eye contact, shifting the topic. “Everyone’s watching these two entertainment giants because they’re using their top stars as bargaining chips,” she explained. “What if we recruit their artists instead? Strip them of their leverage.”
“Recruit them?” Nathaniel’s brow arched.
“Yes. I know GoldenPhoenix is new, but we’re not short on funds. Any problem solvable with money isn’t a real problem.”
No.5
She finally met his gaze again. “Guess how many would flock to us if I announced a hundred percent endorsement fee for anyone who signs with us.”
“A full hundred?” His hand gently touched her forehead. “Isabella, you’d make nothing.”
“I’ve earned enough these past five years. Now I just want to have fun,” she stated plainly, without a hint of boastfulness.
After a thoughtful pause, Nathaniel finally yielded. “Fine,” he murmured. “If you lose everything, I’ll support you.”
His words sent a flush to her cheeks, her heart hammering against her ribs. She silently cursed her reaction. “Ah, Oliver’s done. Let’s head home. We can discuss the rest later.”
“Okay!” Oliver washed his hands before grabbing Isabella’s.
Outside the restaurant, Oliver looked up at her. “Will you come home with us, Mommy?” he pleaded. “I want to sleep with you.”
Isabella meant to refuse, to say she needed to return to her own place. But Nathaniel interjected, “His condition can relapse within ten days after an episode.”
Keeping Oliver happy was crucial to prevent his health from deteriorating.
Isabella had no choice but to agree. “Alright, Mommy will sleep with you.”
No.6
She knew her career would soon leave little time for him. Besides, staying at the Blackwood estate and sharing his bed each night seemed manageable. Nothing else would happen, right?
She mentally braced herself for an extended stay.
Seraphina Delacroix sat calmly in the chairman’s office of SilverPeak Entertainment.
Thrilled that Isabella was effectively blacklisted online, a smug smile touched her lips. She glanced at Genevieve. “Keep a tight watch on Isabella. Ensure she has no opportunities. Let her languish in obscurity for a while before we extend another offer.”
“What? Sign her? Miss Delacroix, she went too far. I refuse to represent her!” Genevieve protested.
Seraphina smirked. “Who said anything about getting her jobs or making her famous? We sign her to bury her. I guarantee she’ll be forgotten in under six months.”
Seraphina had a point. Why hadn’t she thought of that? ‘Hmph! Isabella will pay for stealing Nathaniel and my best artists!’ Genevieve straightened up, eyes gleaming with anticipation.
Isabella would be begging them for a contract by then.
Desperate and contract-bound, Isabella’s hands would be tied.
Even with vast wealth, she’d never see the spotlight again without resources or opportunities.
No.7
Just as they basked in their scheme, an assistant burst into the office, frantic. “Miss Delacroix, terrible news! Most of our artists are coming to terminate their contracts!”
“What? Why?!” Seraphina’s blood ran cold.
SilverPeak Entertainment dominated the industry. Where would their artists go if contracts were terminated?
The assistant trembled uncontrollably before drawing a sharp breath. "Isabella just tweeted... Miss Delacroix... You need to see this yourself..."