Chapter 420
Nathaniel broke out in a cold sweat, staring intensely at his monitor. He never imagined Lily would have such a trick up her sleeve, nor did he expect Olivia to possess a record of the research data. "No! I can still turn this around!" he exclaimed.
He stumbled to his feet, remembering how he'd had Melanie rewrite the notes when they'd sued Lily. That could serve as evidence. After searching the entire room, he found the notebook buried in a drawer. He placed it on the table, preparing to photograph it, but froze. He'd forgotten something crucial: Lily had left him problems, too. Part of the record was incorrect. The mistakes weren't glaring, so Melanie had copied everything without correcting them; they were impossible to find in the voluminous books. If he published these notes, netizens might discover the errors, worsening the situation. novelEBOOK.COะผ
He hung up the phone, tousling his hair helplessly. His monitor displayed a deluge of new notifications and an overflowing inbox. He didn't need to read them; he knew they'd be reprimands and criticisms. His mind went blank, and he slumped back in his chair, staring at the ceiling.
It was ironic. These were just internet comments, easily dismissed by turning off his computer. Yet, the words felt like an invisible net, suffocating him. He understood the terrifying power of public opinion. He could try to capitalize on public sympathy to boost sales, but he risked facing even harsher criticism. The calls for returns and boycotts warned of a potentially disastrous outcome.
Taking a deep breath, he decided on a last attempt. He vaguely recalled Lily's short, innocent message, dismissing others' opinions. Those few words had been remarkably well-received, overshadowing the scandals; they even gained her new followers. He'd use a similar strategy.
Instead of blocking comments and messages, he retweeted Olivia's post, adding, "I did nothing wrong, and I'm not guilty of anything." He then called the customer support manager.
"Create a special helpline for product returns," he instructed. "Tell customers we'll accept returns only in purchase sequence. Slow the process, but accept some requests."
The manager was surprised. "Mr. Hall, there are numerous return requests. Some customers have already used the products; it's unfair."
"It doesn't matter. Follow my instructions. Tell customers this is the procedure and we'll try our best to meet their needs."
After giving the manager instructions, Nathaniel instructed public relations to release a similar statement. Once settled, he went to the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing at the horizon. The wind was strong, making him feel cold despite the glass separating him from the outside world.
It was a gambleโa gamble for public sympathy, hoping for a different outcome. 'Lily, I'm going to gamble with you this time!' he thought.