Chapter 112: Prelude to the Shura Field

Chapter 112: Chapter 112: Prelude to the Shura Field

In the conference room, the employees watched the aggressive Yvonne Warren, feeling even more uncertain.

OCHH was losing staff, its production lines were at a standstill, and it was already deep in debt. Now, someone from the Warren Group had shown up in person, clearly intending to drive them into the ground.

Everyone felt that Claire Kendall’s earlier declaration—"OCHH will not go bankrupt"—had already become an empty promise before it could even be put into action.

Yvonne Warren took two steps forward in her high heels, glancing at Ian Rhodes standing beside Claire Kendall with a knowing smile.

"Mr. Rhodes, why are you always getting mixed up with Claire Kendall?"

"Are you that smitten with a married woman that you’d even dare get involved in a mess like OCHH?"

Ian Rhodes’s lips tightened as he restrained his emotions and kept his composure.

"And all of you—" Yvonne Warren scoffed, crossing her arms and scanning the remaining employees. "Did you see Nati’s post on X and think she’s coming back to save OCHH?"

She raised her voice.

"Don’t get your hopes up. The Warren Group will sign that Nati who just made her comeback within three days."

She stared at Claire Kendall, her tone caustic.

"Once Nati joins the Warren Group, OCHH will be completely erased from the design world."

"Claire Kendall, you and Nati are worlds apart. You’re not even worthy to carry her shoes. So take my advice: get the hell out of OCHH and stop embarrassing yourself."

The atmosphere in the conference room hit rock bottom.

Even their ace, the elusive Nati, was going to be poached by the Warren Group.

The last shred of hope in their hearts was shattered.

Claire Kendall slowly raised her eyes, calm and unruffled. Her gaze was cool, and as it met Yvonne Warren’s, it was tinged with contempt.

Her voice was clear. "Don’t worry. Nati won’t be going to the Warren Group."

Yvonne Warren froze for a moment, as if she had just heard the biggest joke in the world.

"OCHH right now has no money and no one left. Its production lines are completely shut down, and most of its orders have been canceled, haven’t they? What makes you think Nati would ever come back?"

The employees’ expressions were desolate. ’That’s right,’ they thought, ’Nati isn’t an idiot.’

Claire Kendall took out her phone, casually pulled up the top trending post on X, and turned the screen for everyone to see.

She looked at Yvonne Warren, her voice calm. "Because I am Nati."

The profile ID read: Nati.

The smug arrogance on Yvonne Warren’s face froze, inch by inch. Her pupils contracted as she stared at the phone screen in utter disbelief.

’The designer who went viral, who remains unsurpassed in the fashion industry... how could it be Claire Kendall?’

’Impossible!’

’This is absolutely impossible!’

Yvonne Warren steadied herself and spat through gritted teeth, "Claire Kendall, do you think I’ll believe you just because you photoshopped some X profile page?"

She sneered. "I get it now. You’re afraid I’ll keep contacting Nati and poach her from OCHH, so you resorted to such a clumsy trick."

’Since Claire Kendall is willing to tell such a colossal lie, Nati herself definitely isn’t in this room.’

"Claire Kendall, I *will* find Nati! Just you wait!" Yvonne Warren left, her head held high in defiance.

Claire Kendall didn’t want to argue. She put her phone away; whether Yvonne Warren believed her or not was unimportant.

She had revealed her identity for the sake of the remaining OCHH employees.

The employees broke into murmurs, their faces etched with confusion.

Ian Rhodes spoke up at the perfect moment. "Everyone, I can vouch for this with the full backing of my company, Apex Wear. Ms. Kendall is, in fact, Nati, the lead designer of the Nova series."

Everyone shot to their feet, their eyes wide with a mixture of shock and elation.

"It’s really her! Our company’s ace designer, Nati!"

"So that office Ms. Joyce always kept empty... she was waiting for her?"

"I finally get why Ms. Joyce sent the original pieces from the Nova series to Moonstone! It’s because the owner of Moonstone is Nati herself!"

"We’re saved! We’re really going to be saved!"

The twenty-odd employees, whose morale had been shattered, were instantly united.

’As long as Nati is here,’ they thought, ’OCHH will definitely be okay.’

Claire Kendall gestured for everyone to calm down and take their seats.

She placed her hands on the conference table, her voice steady and assured.

"I know things have been difficult for everyone lately. I came back so we can overcome these challenges together."

"I’m already conceptualizing the designs for a new collection, and I expect to have them ready within two weeks. For now, I need everyone to work with me on the online pre-launch and to clear out all of OCHH’s unfinished back orders..."

Claire Kendall’s strategy was professional and clear, and the conference room erupted in thunderous applause.

Ian Rhodes watched her intently, his eyes filled with a fiery and profound admiration.

After the meeting, Ian Rhodes was the first to speak up. "My treat tonight—how about we all go out for some team building?"

"The next two months are going to be intense, so let’s also make this a welcome party for Nati!"

The employees all cheered in approval.

Seeing everyone’s high spirits, Claire Kendall found it hard to refuse. Their morale had just been lifted, and it was best to strike while the iron was hot.

She nodded in agreement.

Ian Rhodes said with a smile, "Great. In that case, Claire, I’ll make the reservation."

Claire Kendall took out her phone, opened her chat with Miles Warren, and started typing a message.

[Dr. Warren, there’s a company team-building event tonight, so I’ll be out with colleagues. Remember to eat and take your medicine.]

She finished typing but hadn’t sent the message yet.

Ian Rhodes glanced at her phone screen and moved closer.

"Claire, take a look at this data the client just sent over. Something seems very wrong, doesn’t it?"

Claire Kendall’s attention was immediately captured. She took the document and examined it closely, murmuring, "You’re right, there’s a problem. Here... and here..."

Ian Rhodes’s gaze drifted from the document to the phone in Claire Kendall’s hand, which had already auto-locked. His eyes darkened.