Chapter 669

Shortly after, Nathaniel entered Arianna's office. Seeing the two glasses on the table, he smiled.

"Did your little brother come to complain again?" he asked.

"If he doesn't show up one day, I'll think he's dead!" she retorted. After a pause, she added, "Or you are."

Nathaniel chuckled indifferently. "He's not likely to die. Your grandfather treasures him too much; he's practically surrounded by bodyguards. And my death is even less probable."

Arianna cut to the chase. "Haven't you heard the devil lives the longest? Enough. Let's get down to business. I've agreed to let Damian pursue his ideas and recruit top perfumers. He can do whatever he wants."

Nathaniel, sitting across from her, crossed his legs, lit a cigarette, and taunted, "Aren't you afraid Damian might discover a brilliant perfumer, create a sensation, and steal your spotlight?"

Arianna didn't stop him. "With you here, why worry? I told him we have a limited budget. Without unlimited funds, which top perfumer is easily hired? You know this better than I do. Damian wants a collaborative partner, and there are far more fake perfumers than real ones. Remember Frank? The supposed famous perfumer we later discovered…" She stopped, noticing Nathaniel's expression change.

"Anyway," Arianna continued, squinting at him, "I believe you can handle this. The higher Damian climbs, the harder he'll fall." She didn't consider her brother a serious threat, but maintained a façade of family harmony. Knowing her limits, Nathaniel dropped the subject. He took a drag of his cigarette, propping his hand on the table.

"You shouldn't worry about this," he said. "What about the Sapphine situation?"

"Shouldn't I ask your opinion?" Arianna turned her computer monitor to show him a report on the Lodge family. "Your ex-girlfriend is something else. She involved the police!"

"That's just like her," he sighed. He stared at the screen. "Once she decides to act, she's ruthless." He recalled Lily's relentless pursuit, her refusal to back down, even in court. Her meticulous planning had instilled a subconscious fear in him. The panic and disbelief he felt when he realized she wasn't under his control—that she might even crush him—were unforgettable. "I don't care about her style. What's your next move?"

Arianna drummed her fingers on the monitor. "I think Henry's power grab will fail. If he loses, our efforts will be wasted." They'd initially believed Henry would be an asset; they hadn't anticipated his betrayal, nor Lily's ability to turn the tables. Nathaniel was surprised to learn Lily had recorded his meeting with Henry. The filming was clandestine, and he'd remained unaware.