Chapter 168
Nathaniel’s expression darkened. “I can accelerate your company’s expansion.”
“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?
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.
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.