Chapter 352 This Was Just the Beginning
Lydia Coleman, the reigning queen of pop culture, was captured at the airport upon her return to the country.
The media buzzed as Lydia, who had been vacationing abroad, returned just in time for the Clio Charity Night.
Tapping into the trendy searches, numerous videos showed fans greeting Lydia at the airport, which was packed not just with fans but also with a slew of media outlets.
Previously, Eugene had orchestrated a PR move to elevate Violeta by pushing her into the spotlight, overshadowing Lydia as the Apex's new Top Gun. Lydia's team had yet to respond to this manoeuver.
As the hottest newcomer, Violeta had recently been involved in a scandal involving late-night escapades, further fuelling media interest. They eagerly swarmed Lydia at the airport, bombarding her with questions about Violeta. "Lydia, is there a reason you left Apex?"
"What do you think of Apex's new signee, Violeta?"
"Some say Violeta is the next Top Gun after you. Do you think she deserves it?"
"Lydia, please answer!"
The media followed Lydia from the airport, cameras flashing. Lydia, dressed in high-end luxury attire and carrying a six-figure bag, had two assistants fending off the media microphones. As she was about to get into her car, she removed her sunglasses, her beautiful eyes sweeping over the cameras. "Violeta? Sorry, I don't know who that is."
"Wow!"
Her words were arrogant. For Lydia, a reigning star, to claim not to know Violeta, the rising star, was astonishing. However, it was plausible since Lydia had been abroad and might not have followed domestic entertainment news.
Still, saying it so blatantly in front of the media was a slap in Violeta's face.
The video quickly went viral, topping the trendy searches.
Comments were flooded with cheers and welcome messages for Lydia's return. Previously, Lydia's fans had argued with Violeta's fans on Facebook but had mostly lost since Violeta was currently more popular. Now, with Lydia back, her fans felt empowered. Soon, topics mocking Violeta soared to the top five in trendy searches.
Eugene watched the video, fuming, and slammed his phone on the table.
Bang!
Aster frowned, "Mr. Scott, what does this mean? Is she pretending not to know, or does she not know?"
Eugene, who had managed Lydia for years, knew her best. Lydia was an expert at appearing innocent while doing things that provoked others.
"She's declaring war on us!"
Violeta watched the video calmly and put down her phone.
Eugene turned to Violeta, "Beauty, what's your take?"
Violeta responded, "Mr. Scott, you know her better than I do. What do you think we should do?"
Eugene's eyes narrowed.
Lydia had betrayed him, taking the team with her, leaving Eugene powerless and ridiculed by Aiden. He had always publicly wished Lydia well, but he never forgot the betrayal.
Lydia had been his first artist, and
they had started from scratch together, supporting each other. Eugene had always put Lydia's. interests first, elevating her to the top. He had never wronged her, yet she chose to backstab him.
In a place where fame and fortune were paramount, genuine friendship was rare. Eugene had thought Lydia was a true friend and ally, but he realised he had been naive. Lydia had merely used him as a stepping stone.
This betrayal was something Eugene would never forgive.
"Beauty, since she claims not to know you, we'll make a stunning entrance at the Clio Charity Night red carpet and show her exactly who you are."
...
Lydia's return was undoubtedly to attend the Co Charity Night. Given her status, she would undoubtedly choose a high-end haute couture dress Meanwhile, Violeta's dress from SEVITL's autumn collection was a global debut.
In terms of status and level, Violeta was already at the top.
Eugene foresaw that Violeta would be the most dazzling presence at the Clio Charity Night.
Would this setup ensure that Lydia would remember Violeta? This was just the beginning.
Eugene had once propelled a domestic star to the top; now he could do it again, perhaps even taking Violeta internationally with her talent and work.
...
On the way back to the company, Lydia sat in the car, texting her boyfriend on WhatsApp. Her two assistants discussed the trendy search events on Facebook.