Vanessa had expected Phoebe to be angry with her defiance, but instead, she seemed calm and even taunted her. It was clear that Phoebe didn’t care at all.
Feeling both angry and frustrated, Vanessa said, “Phoebe, QUEEN Entertainment is a company built by Theodore for me. Sooner or later, it will be in my hands. I advise you not to put in too much effort, or you’ll only end up hurting yourself.” Vanessa’s words had a double meaning, and Phoebe understood what she meant.
“Don’t worry, as long as I am in this position, I won’t slack off. I’ve taken note of your suggestion,” Phoebe replied.
“Hmph!” Vanessa sneered and picked up the endorsement contracts in front of her. She glanced at them briefly – one for a food product, one for sanitary napkins, and one for underwear – all brands she had never heard of. She threw the contracts in front of Phoebe and said, “Are these the endorsements you carefully selected, Miss Ziegler? Who are you insulting?”
Phoebe furrowed her brows and looked at Vanessa. “These three brands are well-known national brands. We conducted brand research, and their reputation is excellent. The endorsement fees are higher than other brands.”
“Only five million dollars for an endorsement fee? As the Queen of the Piano, I won’t accept anything less than ten million dollars,” Vanessa said as she stood up and prepared to leave.
Phoebe watched her walk away, and her gaze turned slightly sly. “Forgive me for speaking frankly, although you won the Chopin International Piano Competition, your fame in the country is not much stronger than a D-list celebrity. You can take off your mask and try walking down the commercial street to see how many people recognize you.”
Vanessa felt humiliated by Phoebe’s words. She turned around, walked to the office desk, and leaned on it with her hands. She looked down at Phoebe condescendingly.
“How is my popularity? Didn’t you see it at the airport that day?”
Phoebe’s fingers curled slightly and then stretched out. There seemed to be remnants of the pain from being trampled on that day.
“Seeing it doesn’t matter. The investors need to see it,” Phoebe replied.
Vanessa sneered and slammed the door as she left. Ten minutes later, Phoebe’s phone rang. Seeing the caller ID, her fingers curled slightly again before she answered in a professional tone.
“Mr. Reynolds.”
“You can come to my office.”
Phoebe hung up the phone, not wanting to see Theodore now or have any interaction with him. However, it was evident that she couldn’t refuse the boss’s summons. Taking the elevator upstairs, Phoebe arrived outside the CEO’s office, knocked on the door, and heard a cold “come in” from inside. She pushed the door open.
Looking around, she finally saw Vanessa and Theodore sitting close together on the couch, their posture overly intimate.
Phoebe walked over calmly, her gaze not landing on Theodore. “Mr. Reynolds, did you call for me?”
Theodore glanced at her and slightly raised his chin. “Have a seat and let’s talk.”
Phoebe sat on the couch opposite them, and Theodore began, “I heard that you picked a few endorsements for Vanessa?”
“Yes, Miss Fitzroy wasn’t satisfied.”
“Food, sanitary pads, and lingerie. Vanessa is a piano champion, an artist. Have you considered how these endorsements would affect her image?” Theodore questioned.
Phoebe pursed her lips. “These are the only three endorsements available, and many C-list celebrities are vying for them.”
Implied in her words was that the opportunities Vanessa found displeasing, were ones others can’t even get their hands on.
Theodore frowned. “Cancel them. While Vanessa is just starting in the entertainment industry, it’s crucial to shape her image. The endorsements for lingerie and sanitary pads are not suitable. Go negotiate some high-end endorsements for her.”