Being a popular model, Derek had garnered a substantial following on his social media, which inevitably brought forth many rivals. It was not impossible that someone would provoke the users and, in turn, attack Derek.
In light of this situation, Derek’s agent would most probably not allow him to visit Natalie.
And from the looks of it, he must have come here without his agent’s knowledge.
As Natalie weighed the advantages and disadvantages of the situation, Derek nonchalantly waved his hand and said,
“Don’t stress about it. I don’t care about those rumors.”
With genuine concern etched on her face, Natalie earnestly advised,
“Regardless, I don’t want you to be attacked by them. As a public figure, you should be mindful of your image. Since not many people have noticed that you’re away, you should go back now.”
Derek slouched onto the sofa and stubbornly refused,
“What’s wrong with me supporting my friend? Whoever dares to curse me shall face the consequences, as I will counter their curses with my own.”
Natalie could not help but be amused by his childish response.
“I’m just looking out for your best interests here. Besides, if you end up getting attacked by the public and your manager blames me for it, I won’t be able to bear the guilt.”
Derek crossed his arms, moved.
“I’ve been surrounded by negative news and subjected to various insults even before my debut. Fear does not reside within me.
Besides, even if I can’t do modeling anymore, I always have the option of returning home to take over the family business. Don’t worry about me, okay? I’ll handle everything on my own. And even if something worse happens, I won’t let my agent blame you.’
Natalie felt a warm surge in her heart, a testament to Derek’s relentless faith in her.
Her lips pressed together, forming a thin line before she expressed her gratitude,
“I appreciate this, Derek. Truly.”
A light chuckle escaped Derek’s lips as he cheekily retorted,
“Well, you’ve seen how kind lam, haven’t you? Fancy having me lend my superior business skills to your cause? Perhaps I could turn your studio’s fortunes around in no time!”
Yet, Natalie shook her head with a soft, solemn resolve.
“I wouldn’t want to drag you into this mess or stir up any unwarranted controversy. Let’s wait for the clouds to pass before discussing any form of partnership. It’d be in our best interest.”
His hopes visibly dashed, Derek voiced his disappointment,
“You never cease to push me away, dismissing my good intentions. You fail to recognize a good heart when you see one…”
His downcast demeanor, mirroring that of a puppy denied a treat, sparked laughter from Natalie.
“Alnght, don’t overthink it. I’m just looking out for you.”
Still, Derek was far from placated, his dissatisfaction apparent.
“Looking out for me? Who do you think you are, my mother? Clearly, you don’t understand the value of someone’s sincere intentions. I ditched work just to come here, offer my assistance, and you simply turned me down. That’s beyond frustrating!”
Despite
Derek’s grumbles, Natalie found her melancholy beginning to lift. She managed a smile and reassured him,
“Once the tempest calms, I promise I’ll rope you in immediately. How does that sound?”
With a dismissive toss of his hair, Derek retorted,
“Like I care!”
Right then, Gilda, who had been silent all this while, chimed in to calm the brewing storm,
“Derek, you’re too much of a public figure, and this incident has garnered far too much attention. It’s not the ideal time for you to join forces with Natalie.”
Irritated, Derek crossed his arms and shot back at his girlfriend,
“And who could possibly do a better job, if not me? You?”
Undaunted, Gilda tossed her hair back, her confidence unwavering as she asserted,
“Absolutely. I’m far better suited for this. I’ve got a background in modeling, genuine talent unclouded by needless hype, no sizeable fan base or negative publicity. Plus, my age and style align perfectly with Natalie’s aesthetic. I’m clearly a better choice than you!”
As her confident words hung in the air, she turned to Natalie, her eyes alight with a friendly sparkle.
“If you ever need a model for a collaboration, feel free to knock on my door. I guarantee won’t say no.”
Natalie’s eyes sparked with an eager glow at Gilda’s proposition. Gilda’s sense of style had always resonated with hers, in harmony with her own design ethos. In fact, Gilda was the one she initially thought of collaborating with. But the offer coming from Gilda herself was an unexpected turn. It was an opportunity of a lifetime, one she couldn’t let slip away.
No sooner had this thought crossed Natalie’s mind than she yearned to delve into collaboration details with Gilda. However, Derek, now feeling sidelined, registered his discontent.
“Are you doing this just to spite me, Gilda?”
Derek cut in, his voice rising towards his girlfriend.
Rolling her eyes, Gilda countered,
“Spite you? Really, Derek? Do you truly believe you’re a fitting candidate for Natalie’s designs? If you can convince me, I’l be your cheerleader in this venture with Natalie.”
“Ugh!”
A frustrated Derek failed to formulate a concrete argument to align his style with Natalie’s aesthetics. After a beat, he raised his head defiantly.
“This isn’t about you! And I won’t stand by and let you partner with Natalie without my approval!”
In response, Gilda stuck out her tongue, defiantly stating,
“Well, I’m going ahead with the collaboration. What will you do now?”
The color rose high on Derek’s chiseled features as he jabbed a finger toward Gilda, his voice filled with accusation.
“So that’s why you tagged along today! You were only using me to get closer to Natalie! Gilda, you’re craftier than I thought!”
With a complacent smile and a raised eyebrow, Gilda countered,
“Does it matter? I’ve drawn Natalie’s attention through my own abilities.”
That was the last straw for Derek. He lunged at Gilda, bellowing,
“I swear, I’ll fight you tooth and nail!”
Gilda’s response was a disdainful hort as she clenched her fists.
“Go ahead, try your luck. Let’s see who comes out worse for wear.”
Derek’s hand fell before it landed, his hand dropping to his side even as his eyes stayed narrowed. He clicked his tongue sitting back down on the sofa.
“A real gentleman doesn’t lay a hand on women. I’ll let you off this once, but don’t think there’ll be a next time,”
he hissed.
Gilda rolled her eyes at his childishness. Not bothering herself with him, she turned to Natalie with a smile and said,
“Ignore him. Where were we? Let’s continue talking about our plans.”
Natalie returned her smile and nodded. readily.
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As their discussion went on, her gaze would occasionally land on Derek, who quietly restrained his temper. A sense of relief came to her at the thought that someone had finally managed to tame this rough and childish demon.
Gilda was stern with her dealings with Derek, but she was able to equally display wit and humor in her professional conversations. Natalie found herself enjoying her company, and the two of them came into quick agreement about their terms.
“Then it’s settled.”
Natalie extended her hand with a bright smile.
“I look forward to the results of this partnership.”
Giselle shook her hand back and beamed,
“Likewise. Don’t worry. I won’t let you down.”
Derek, who had been quietly watching the entire time, spoke up, a hint of jealousy in his voice.
“What’s the big deal? I can do even better than you.”
At his words, Gilda’s head turned sharply, a cold look in her eyes as she glared at him. Derek’s heart skipped a beat, and his hand flew to cover his mouth.
Natalie couldn’t help but chuckle at their playful display.
After seeing them off, she had planned on going back to her office and doing some more work.
At this moment, Lexi ran over and said hurriedly,
“Boss, the people from W Marks have arrived. They’re waiting for you in the reception room.”
Upon hearing this news, Natalie walked eagerly to the room to meet them.