Chapter 41
Nathaniel wasn't kidding. He quickly posted a lawyer's letter on the company homepage, threatening legal action against Lily, demanding an apology, and seeking compensation for the company's financial losses. The letter wasn't limited to MN Inc.'s website; it also appeared on Twitter, Reddit, and other platforms. MN Inc. clearly intended to pursue this aggressively.
Given MN Inc.'s firm stance and Rebirth's complete silence, public opinion swiftly turned against Lily. Although the press conference had initially sown some doubt, MN Inc.'s statement quickly swayed public perception.
If Rebirth was innocent, why their silence? Why had Lily offered no evidence to support her claims?
Faced with MN Inc.'s accusations, Lily maintained a low profile, but responded by reposting the lawyer's letter with the defiant caption, "Bring it on." This understated yet contemptuous response went viral, even trending briefly. The perfume industry rarely trends; only new releases or celebrity endorsements typically garner such attention. However, this scandal propelled the news to the top of social media. Many online users claimed never to have witnessed such blatant plagiarism. Both sides vehemently denied wrongdoing, leaving the truth elusive.
In contrast to the online frenzy, Lily remained composed. On her way to the Rebirth office, she received a call from Olivia.
"Are you back from vacation?" Lily smiled faintly, but Olivia's voice was anxious. "I saw MN Inc.'s lawyer's letter. How are you holding up? Do you need me to testify?" Lily laughed, "No need. Don't worry about me. Even if I stay quiet, Nathaniel won't tolerate me remaining at the company anyway," Olivia replied, understanding the situation perfectly.
Olivia had fabricated a vacation to avoid the situation. She'd turned off her mobile phone, using a separate personal device instead. Upon returning and reactivating her phone, she found a deluge of messages urging her to return to work. One can only imagine the number of missed calls. Olivia easily guessed the reason for their urgency.
"It's not that I'm afraid of implicating myself, but I'm not needed right now," Lily explained. After a pause, she added, "Don't worry. If I need your help, I'll let you know."
Olivia could only nod, "Okay, then please take care."
Olivia admired and trusted Lily. Years of working alongside her had impressed Olivia with Lily's perfumery talent, but this was different. Nathaniel was the president; everyone obeyed him. Lily, spending years in the lab, rarely interacted with other staff, making her the only one who could definitively prove the perfumes' authorship.
To compound matters, MN Inc.'s theft of materials had severely limited Lily's access to witnesses and physical evidence. Olivia was mystified by Lily's confidence. Was it Rebirth's support?