Chapter 415
Nathaniel acted swiftly, having his PR team release a statement the following day while simultaneously apologizing to the board of directors. He admitted his failure to supervise his team and explained how significantly greater losses would result if they didn't remove Melanie's two perfumes from the market. He also promised to launch a new product soon to compensate for current losses.
The board, unhappy with the situation, had no alternative course of action. Nathaniel's sincere apology, coupled with their reluctance to lose their investments, led them to accept his proposal, lacking a better plan. He felt he'd partially succeeded in securing their understanding and approval.
The PR team's quick apology to the public, issued before Melanie's affair became widely known, improved MN Inc.'s image. Ironically, this increased the popularity of the two discontinued perfumes, attracting new customers. Some netizens even attempted to resell them at exorbitant prices, considering them limited editions.
Nathaniel considered capitalizing on this renewed interest in the old products, but Eloise's earlier warning against restocking them—a move she believed would severely damage MN Inc.'s credibility—prevented him. He acknowledged the accuracy of her prediction, including the unforeseen public reaction.
He recognized the benefits of appearing vulnerable and garnering public sympathy, a strategy that unexpectedly yielded positive results. Many pitied him for being deceived. Some netizens even invoked Lily, commenting on his romantic misfortunes, portraying him as a victim of a relentless pursuer. This sympathy translated into increased perfume sales as consumers expressed their support.
Netizens posted photos of their purchases on social media, initiating a campaign to support Nathaniel. They pledged their continued support until he navigated this difficult period. This was entirely unexpected.
The resulting surge in sales of existing products, coupled with the loss of Melanie's perfumes, overwhelmed MN Inc.'s production capabilities, forcing overtime at their factories. Overjoyed, Nathaniel shared the good news with his mother.
"You're brilliant, Mom! I thought this was the end for the company, but your strategy saved it!"
However, one person remained unhappy. Lily, scrolling through Twitter on her iPad, grew increasingly angry at the netizens' inclusion of her in the narrative, both in MN Inc.'s statement and in the announcements surrounding Nathaniel and Melanie's breakup—a past relationship that hadn't involved her. Infuriated by the distortion of the truth, she tossed her tablet aside.
Alexander, having just finished a video conference, found Lily upset on the couch. After examining her tablet, he understood the source of her anger.
"His strategy was perfect this time," he observed objectively, acknowledging Nathaniel's skillful manipulation of public sympathy to achieve his business goals.