Chapter 414

Eloise raised her hand as if to knock him on the head, somewhat annoyed by Nathaniel's lack of intelligence.

"You're the company's legal representative," she said. "Your stance in this case is extremely important! You can't escape this issue, no matter what you do. If you support her, your morals will be questioned. If you cut ties with her, the public will see you as heartless, not fair and selfless."

"This" Nathaniel's expression turned grim. "No matter what I do, I'll look like the bad guy!"

"What else do you want?" Eloise's anger flared. "This is all your fault! This should have been handled discreetly. The more you say, the worse it gets. Stop going to bars and getting drunk! Do you want to further damage your reputation?"

"I—I'm sorry," Nathaniel mumbled, head bowed in shame. He knew she was right, and could only apologize.

"Make the public think you were hurt in this relationship," Eloise instructed. "Didn't you say Melanie had an affair with Frank? Find some internet trolls and leak that information online. Don't do it yourself. Crucially, say and do nothing about Melanie's affair. That way, the public will see you as a victim."

Nathaniel looked up in disbelief. "Ineed to announce that to the world?" His pride warred with his desire to avoid further embarrassment.

"Which is more important—your pride or your future?" Eloise rolled her eyes. She sometimes felt he hadn't inherited her intelligence. "People sympathize with the weak. By remaining silent about the affair, you'll appear as a victim, gaining public sympathy. Sometimes, sympathy is invaluable!"

"I understand! I know what to do!" Nathaniel finally grasped her strategy. "Mom, thank you. I wouldn't have known what to do without you! I thoughtyou wouldn't care about me"

"You're my son," she said, shaking her head. "I couldn't just stand by and watch you suffer. But beyond this crisis, you need to recruit more talented perfumers. My suggestions might solve this problem, but what about the future?"

"I tried, but couldn't find anyone suitable," Nathaniel admitted. He shared her concerns; finding qualified perfumers was difficult. Novices lacked skill, while experienced perfumers preferred larger companies.

"That's why I said you're really" Eloise trailed off, deciding it wasn't helpful. Sighing, she continued, "Don't aim too high. Forget top-tier perfumers. Recruit mid-tier ones with potential. Experience matters less than talent. Understand?"

"O—Okay!" Nathaniel wanted to argue, but her gaze silenced him. He couldn't afford to be picky. A competent team member would suffice.