NOVEL WEB Chapter 670: Not a billion dollars, but just fifteen million.
"I might have forgotten you, Aunt, but …" Arwen stared at the picture and smiled as if she remembered the lady in the image, "I promise I will soon remember it all."
Just as she made that promise, she heard her phone ring. And she pulled it up to check.
Mia's name was flashing on the screen.
"Yes, Mia," she answered the call, and waited for the girl to speak from the other end.
"Good morning, ma'am," Mia greeted before continuing, "I got a response from Dr. Allen's end."
Arwen briefly paused at those words. "And what did they say?"
"They … they responded that Dr. Allen would be returning next week."
"Next week?" Arwen was slightly taken aback. "But didn't you say that it would take time for him to return?"
"Even I am confused about it, Ma'am," Mia replied from the other end. "Last when I checked, Dr. Allen went abroad to attend a speacialized training which was said to last for two weeks or so. Maybe there's a change in his itinerary. He seems to be returning early."
Arwen thought for a moment before nodding. "Understood, Mia," she said, instructing further. "Since he is returning, get an appointment for me. Don't delay it."
"Noted, ma'am. I will do it." Mia responded.
Arwen hummed on the call before hanging up. As the call got disconnected, her gaze returned to look at the photo frame. She gave it a brief glance before looking around the room one last time. Then, taking the frame, she exited the room.
"Madam, was there anything you needed?"
Mr. Jones's voice came as she closed the door after her. She turned and then slowly shook her head.
"No, Mr. Jones, it's fine," she said before pulling up the photo frame to show him. "It's just this."
Mr. Jones looked at the picture. "It's the late lady's picture."
Arwen nodded. "Yes, I know. The picture has been restored beautifully. I recognized her at one look."
Mr. Jones looked up at her when he heard her say that. And, reading his eyes well, Arwen smiled and explained.
"Aiden looks a lot like her. It's not difficult to guess who she is to him."
Mr. Jones nodded, slightly disappointed. Just when Arwen said that she recognized the lady, he almost thought she remembered her from the past. "Sorry, Madam," he apologized before continuing, "You have asked me to bring this picture to your room. I —"
Before he could complete, Arwen shook her head. "It's alright, Mr. Jones. I understand you were hesitant about moving Aiden's things. It's fine, I will take it with me."
And with that, she didn't linger. Giving him a small smile, she walked past him and headed straight in the direction of her room.
Mr. Jones watched her. Although everything seemed the same on the surface, he still felt something was changing beneath —slowly and subtly.
***
Meanwhile, at the same time, at some fashion brand's office —
Olivia was trying to understand what had turned against her favour. Why suddenly the brand has decided to cancel the contract with Selene?
Even though it was not some internationally famous couture, it was a brand quite famous domestically and held good potential to grow even in the international market.
So, losing a chance to get associated with such a growing brand was still a loss.
"Olivia, will you tell me what's happening exactly?" Selene asked, barely able to control herself. She had no plans of coming and breaking her head today, but she had to when she heard Olivia say that the brand is trying to cancel their contract.
How dare they?
Did they think they hired just any model who they could cast away on their wish?
She was Selene … Selene Martin —the top model. Brands compete to sign her. How could a simple domestic brand like them dare to reject her?
"I don't know, Ms. Selene, what's happening, but they are saying that they can no longer cast you for their brands. They are adamant about cancelling the contract they signed with us." Olivia explained, lines of worry forming on her forehead.
"What does that mean?" Selene almost roared. "How could they do that? We signed a contract. Can they even afford to pay the penalty of breaching it?"
Olivia looked hesitant. She avoided looking at Selene. "The penalty is not a problem for them," she informed, and that made Selene's brows furrow.
"What do you mean?" she asked, clear confusion flickering in her gaze. "How could it not be a problem? They are not some big brand. A penalty of a billion dollars should be a problem for them."
That was always the clause of the contracts she signed. If there were and breach of contract, the brand would have to compensate her considerably.
She doesn't believe a domestic brand would be capable of paying so much. Especially when they could avoid it by keeping her —an internationally famous model —as their brand ambassador.
However, Olivia didn't hold the same confidence as her, for she knew the reality —the reality that Selene seemed to have forgotten —or, maybe, never paid attention to.
"They don't have to pay so much as a penalty. It's just fifteen million dollars for them." Olivia said, this time looking at Selene.
Selene failed to register the first time she heard it. "Wait, what?" Her face scrunched as though she couldn't believe it. "A mere fifteen million dollars? Are you crazy, or are you making me go crazy? I am a supermodel, not just any model they can hire with such low cost consequence."
Olivia felt her getting more and more difficult. It was already hard to take her attitude at the usual times, and right now she was feeling it was the hardest.
"Ms. Martin, I am not making stories here," she said, feeling her patience thinning. "I am just stating the terms of the contracts that we have signed with them. The penalty is not a billion dollars, but fifteen million. And they are ready to pay us that."