Chapter 732 Side Story: Efforts in Pursuing Her 14
Elspeth wasn''t wrong, and truth be told, Yelena could bring more substantial benefits to thepany.
However, Yelena clearly messed up. Should Hermione be the only one to face the consequences?
"Miss Lynwood, I don''t think you should handle it this way. This issue is Yelena''s fault, and she should
bear the consequences. Otherwise, how will you manage other employees in thepany in the
future?" Hermione spoke firmly, thinking she''d earn praise or approval from everyone. However, when
she turned around, people couldn''t even meet her gaze. It caught her off guard.
As such, Hermione swallowed her apprehension and turned her head to face Elspeth.
"You''re making a valid point, but I didn''t expect you to be so considerate about thepany''s
management. What''s going on? Do you want to run thepany for me?" Elspeth chuckled lightly. "Is
that what you''re getting at?"
That was a bit of a daring statement.
Hermione quickly shook her head to rify her intention. "Of course not. I''m not suggesting I take over
your role. I just wanted to remind you that this approach isn''t in line with thepany''s protocols.
Besides..."
Hermione''s mind seemed to click suddenly, and she continued, "If you want me to leave thepany,
remember we signed a contract. You''d have topensate me with a hefty breach-of-contract
payment..."
It was herst card to y.
Hermione was a moderately good-looking young star who had managed to gather a fanbase through
her efforts at thepany, but personally, she didn''t have any influential connections. She had once
entertained the idea of getting cozy with wealthy businessmen or finding someone to sponsor her, but
those activities were strictly prohibited at thepany.
Elspeth had made it clear that if a star got too close to someone without thepany''s approval, they''d
be terminated immediately. The contract was explicit about it. Hermione had even witnessed a girl
getting kicked out of thepany after she was caught in a tangled situation with a top-tier rich heir.
This effectively quashed Hermione''s notions.
Thus, she had to resort to the only leverage she had left—threatening Elspeth with a hefty breach-of-
contract fee to prevent her from easily terminating their agreement.
However, the so-called hefty breach-of-contract fee didn''t seem to bother Elspeth much.
"That''s correct. If I were to terminate your contract without proper cause, then I would have to
compensate you with ten times the breach-of-contract fee, which amounts to three hundred million,"
Elspeth stated matter-of-factly.
When Hermione heard this, her eyes lit up. Three hundred million would not be easy toe by, even
for Elspeth, right? Moreover, if Elspeth insisted on kicking her out of thepany, armed with three
hundred million, there wasn''t much she couldn''t achieve. No matter how she sliced it, it was a deal
where she''d gain without losing.
"Yeah, that''s right. Miss Lynwood, maybe you shouldn''t terminate my contract after all," Hermione
replied, deliberately donning an understanding expression while her heart danced with glee.
Elspeth tapped her chin as though suddenly recalling something. "From what I remember, there''s
another use in the contract, though. If the artist is at fault for the termination, they''re required to pay
me three hundred million instead."
The contract did indeed state that…
Hermione''s confidence wavered. She had been ready to argue that she hadn''t done anything wrong,
but when she met Elspeth''s subtle smile, a shiver ran down her spine.
She felt as if a bucket of cold water had doused her from head to toe. At that moment, she suddenly
realized that Elspeth might not be someone she could easily provoke. Suddenly, she felt that the
notions of going head-to-head with Yelena she had harbored were ludicrous.
Hermione understood Elspeth''s intentions. She swallowed nervously and managed an awkward smile.
"Miss Lynwood, I think this might all be a misunderstanding..."
From the look Elspeth had given her just moments ago, it was clear Elspeth wouldn''t let her off the
hook. Now, besides begging for mercy or ying dumb, Hermione had no idea what to do.
Elspeth asked with mock surprise, "A misunderstanding? Weren''t you saying something else just
now?"
"Frankly speaking, it''s all a misunderstanding. Yelena and I merely had a small disagreement, which
shouldn''t be considered bullying. Also, the cup breaking was purely an ident I caused…"
Since her current ount of events greatly contrasted with her previous statements, coupled with the
weight of the curious nces around her, Hermione felt awkward. Yet, if she didn''t shoulder all the
me now, she knew that she''d be the one in trouble.
She regretted her earlier brashness in offending Yelena without any consideration.
Even though she saw Hermione groveling pitifully, Elspeth showed no intention of letting up.
"Are you implying that this whole thing was just a misunderstanding, but you blew it out of proportion
and even falsely used Yelena?"
Hermione regretted what she said so much that she almost bit her tongue off. Why did I exin things
that way?
Her failed attempt that backfired caused her face to turn pale in an instant.
"That''s not what I meant either. I just want to say that between Yelena and me, there''s no..." Hermione
hurriedly walked over to Yelena, grabbed her hand, and pleaded, "I''m sorry, Yelena. I shouldn''t have
treated you that way. Can''t you forgive me?"
Suddenly being grabbed like that made Yelena feel a wave of repulsion that was hard to put into words.
She slowly pulled her hand out of Hermione''s grip, turned her head, and forced a smile. "Hermione, this
matter has nothing to do with me. I''m not the one punishing you, so you don''t need toe to me."
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In an instant, Hermione had be the abandoned one. Not a single person dared to stand up for her,
and those before her looked away too. Left with no other choice, Hermione could only kneel beside
Elspeth. "Miss Lynwood, I''m begging you—this is just a misunderstanding. Please spare me, okay?"
Elspeth lowered her head, looking at her with a smile. "Hermione, do you know that there are
surveince cameras all over thepany? Also, did you think that by using Laramae''sputer to
post that video online, I wouldn''t be able to figure out who did it?"
Laramae was Hermione''s close friend, and upon hearing this, her face instantly changed. She began
trembling with anger, her fury boundless.
Laramae marched forward, grabbing Hermione''s cor before giving the woman a resounding p.
"Hermione, I considered you my best friend, and I never thought you would use myputer for
something like this. So that''s why you borrowed myputer! You wanted to pin the me on me!"
The truth was out. Everyone understood just what kind of repulsive character Hermione truly was. She
was jealous of the top star and betrayed a friend—such a person didn''t deserve to stay in thepany!
Elspeth looked at her and delivered the final blow. "Starting today, thepany will officially terminate
its contract with Hermione Loquat, and due to her improper behavior, she owes thepany three
hundred million."
She added, "Refuse to pay, and we''ll see you in court."