Chapter 41: Have Nathaniel Apologize to Me with the Cancellation Fee

Chapter 41: Chapter 41: Have Nathaniel Apologize to Me with the Cancellation Fee

"What kind of misunderstanding?"

Estelle Lockwood’s tone was unreadable. "A misunderstanding that you, Mr. Sloan, used your body to climb the ranks and win the partnership with Star, of course. After all, we are the number one perfume company. Countless people are begging to work with me."

Nathaniel Sloan was not annoyed. His face remained calm. "That’s fine. To safely deliver my business partner to the company, I don’t mind being misunderstood."

Estelle was momentarily speechless.

Seeing that he was about to start the car again, she instinctively pressed her hand against his. "That won’t do."

She spoke faintly, "President Sloan probably doesn’t know that the people I brought today are all industry elites. If these elites misunderstand you, President Sloan, your scandals will spread throughout the entire perfumery industry. Since President Sloan is so considerate of me, I have to repay the favor, don’t I?"

With that, Estelle unceremoniously opened the car door and swiftly hopped out.

Nathaniel gazed at her. Only after she had walked quite a distance did he chuckle. "Then I will wait for Miss Lockwood at the company."

Estelle breathed a sigh of relief, wondering if Nathaniel had lost his mind today.

A few minutes later, she arrived at the Evernight International building on foot. The receptionist asked her to take a seat in the lobby for a moment, saying that Assistant Luke White would be right down to receive her. Estelle had no objections. She sat on the sofa and read a book.

"Mrs. Sloan, President Sloan has a partnership meeting today. He really doesn’t have time..."

"A partnership? What partnership is so important that he doesn’t even have time to have a meal with his own mother?!"

A furious female voice rang out. Estelle furrowed her brows. Sure enough, it was Laura Jennings.

The assistant accompanying Laura had so many complaints they didn’t even know where to begin, but since this woman was Nathaniel’s biological mother, they could only try to placate her.

"Mrs. Sloan, why don’t you rest in the company for a while? Once the meeting is over, I’ll accompany you to see President Sloan."

"It’ll be hours before the meeting ends! How is that acceptable? Are you expecting Noelle and me to just wait for him?!"

Laura’s voice was shrill. Suddenly catching sight of something, she became instantly enraged and marched toward Estelle. "What are you doing here?!"

Ever since Estelle had exposed Laura for wearing knock-offs at Imperial Crest, Laura had harbored a deep grudge against her. On top of that, Noelle had accidentally let it slip multiple times that the reason Christian disliked her was all because of this woman’s meddling. With new and old grudges fueling her rage, Laura exploded. She lunged forward, reaching out to grab Estelle’s clothes. "Since when can any random nobody enter our Evernight International building?!"

Estelle took a sip of her coffee, not even batting an eyelid.

Afraid that Laura would cause another scene, the assistant hurriedly explained, "Mrs. Sloan, this is President Lockwood from Star. She is the person in charge of this partnership."

They thought that with this explanation, Laura would prioritize the big picture and put aside her personal grievances. Unexpectedly, she grew even more infuriated. "You’re the business partner? Nathaniel refused to eat with Noelle because of you?

"Yara Lockwood, I’m warning you. If you have any sense of shame left, stop pestering Nathaniel! He’s not someone the likes of you can ever reach!"

Estelle finally reacted, casting a lukewarm sideways glance. "If you’re delusional, go get treated. Is your son some rare prize that every woman in the world is dying to have?"

Trembling with anger, Laura thought of the things Noelle had said and let out a direct roar. "And you still claim you aren’t intentionally approaching Nathaniel! You insisted on treating Christian, and now you’re doing everything you can to partner with Evernight. What are you trying to do? You keep throwing yourself at Nathaniel time and time again! If Noelle can’t deal with you, do you think I can’t? Someone, throw her out!"

As her words fell, the entire lobby plunged into a dead silence. For a full minute, no one spoke, and no one moved.

Laura’s face paled bit by bit, as if her authority had been openly mocked. She gritted her teeth. "I told you to throw her out! Did you not hear me?!"

A few assistants looked troubled, but they still made no move.

"Ms. Jennings," Estelle smiled faintly. "I seem to recall that Evernight International was founded single-handedly by Nathaniel. The Sloan family didn’t provide him with any resources. So, throwing your weight around here under the guise of being Nathaniel’s mother is useless."

Laura nearly choked on her own breath.

Estelle sneered, "Also, Ms. Jennings said that I’m seducing Nathaniel...

"First of all, Nathaniel personally welcomed me at the airport and begged me with a high salary to become Christian’s private doctor. Second, my original intended partner was the Kingston Group. It was only after Nathaniel lowered his posture and negotiated with me multiple times that I chose Evernight.

"According to your logic, Ms. Jennings, could it be that Nathaniel is the one intentionally seducing me?"

Unsuppressed laughter rang out across the company lobby.

Laura was half-dead from anger. Pointing a trembling finger at Estelle, she stammered, "Y-you actually..."

She seethed, wondering if this Yara Lockwood had no shame. How did she have the nerve to say that Nathaniel was seducing her? What kind of nobody was she, and why would Nathaniel ever be interested in her? Only an innocent and kindhearted girl like Noelle deserved to stand by Nathaniel’s side!

Thinking of Noelle Lockwood, Laura was instantly filled with a bursting sense of righteous indignation. She raised her voice, "I don’t care about your partnership! In short, stay away from my son! If you hadn’t deliberately seduced him, would Nathaniel even work with you?

"Miss Lockwood, you’re new here, so you probably don’t understand. In Crestfall, crushing you is as easy as crushing an ant for the Sloan family!"

Sometimes, Estelle found it strange. Neither Old Mr. Sloan nor Chairman Sloan were stupid, so why would they accept such an idiotic woman into the Sloan family? Moreover, with a brain like Laura’s, could she really have given birth to a son with Nathaniel’s freakishly high IQ?

Besides, back in the day, Laura was actually the mistress who climbed her way up, and Nathaniel was an ’illegitimate child’. It was just that now Laura was firmly seated as Mrs. Sloan, and Nathaniel wielded immense power in Crestfall, so no one dared to mention it.

She smiled cryptically. "Do you mean that the partnership is canceled, Ms. Jennings? That’s not impossible, but canceling the partnership means Evernight International will have to pay a penalty for breach of contract. Will you be paying that sum on Nathaniel’s behalf?"

Ignorant and arrogant as ever, Laura scoffed, "As long as you get lost, that little bit of money means nothing to Nathaniel!"

Estelle nodded and casually dropped a line to the assistant standing nearby. "Since Mrs. Sloan isn’t willing to partner with us, let’s cancel it. Tell Nathaniel to bring the penalty fee and apologize to me."

With that, she actually turned to leave.

The assistant froze for two seconds, then hastily stepped forward to stop her, but in the next second, a husky male voice rang out—

"President Lockwood, wait."

Estelle raised an eyebrow and looked back.

Nathaniel stepped out of the elevator, flanked by a group of directors. His tone was perfectly calm. "The meeting is about to begin. Where is President Lockwood going?"

Estelle shrugged her shoulders. "Your mother said the partnership is canceled, so I’m rushing over to the Kingston Group."

The directors’ faces all changed. Nathaniel’s gaze darkened. "It’s not canceled. Head upstairs and prepare for the meeting."

Laura never expected this. She had successfully driven this woman away, yet Nathaniel personally made her stay! Her heart was filled with indignation. With a face full of hostility, she shrieked, "No, I don’t agree to this partnership! Nathaniel, I will not allow this woman to stay by your side!"

Nathaniel’s eyes darkened slightly.