Chapter 267: Clean Up After Yourself

[Chapter 267: Clean Up After Yourself]

"You dare hit me? Asshole, you dare to spank me?!"

In the small stall, Nicole Kidman gritted her teeth, her face flushed as she glared at him.

"You asked for it," Link said, washing his hands at the sink before turning to the woman in the stall. "I'm leaving. You can take care of yourself."

"Don't go, stop!"

Nicole pushed against the wall, trying to get up, but stumbled back down. With a crimson face, she spat, "You spank me and just walk away like that?"

"Sorry! I might have been a bit rough, accidentally hurting you. If you need to go to the hospital, just call, and I can help get you there."

"I don't need your phony sympathy."

Nicole was furious, but her anger was framed by a certain allure, making her expression come off as more seductive than threatening. With a cold smirk, she said, "Link, everyone says you're a smart guy and hard to deal with. But from where I stand, you're not that smart. When I mentioned paparazzi outside, it was meant to scare you and see how you'd react. Unfortunately, you didn't perform very well."

"Oh, really?"

"Hmph, don't play coy. I didn't have a way to deal with you before, but now I do."

She pointed to the wrinkles in her skirt. "Right here -- all of this is the mess you left behind. If I call the cops, can you guess what will happen next? Jail time? Bankruptcy? Scandal?"

"None of that will happen!"

"None? Are you kidding me?" Nicole was fuming, catching her breath in frustration. "Don't you know Michael Ovitz, Tom Cruise, and the seven major studios are all out to get you? If I tell them what you've done, they would jump at the chance to send you to prison, using their connections in the legal system. Do you really think your money will save you from facing the law?"

"I can't escape it, but I know you won't call the cops."

"Why's that?"

"If this gets out, it won't benefit either of us. Plus, you hold the cards right now and can leverage me anytime you want. So, being smart, you should know what choice to make," Link chuckled.

"I don't care! I just want to see you get what you deserve for hurting me."

"Enough of this, I've got to go."

"Stop!"

With great effort, Nicole managed to stand. "Link, if you agree to go out with me, I'll forgive you for what you did. Otherwise, I'll call the cops right now and have them come get you. Do you believe me?"

"Do you really have to make this so embarrassing?" Link frowned at her.

"You insulted me, and now you have to deal with the consequences. If you don't want to face them, then you must accept the punishment. You're smart enough to understand that," Nicole replied with a wry smile.

"I only gave you a little smack to teach you a lesson. Are you really trying to use this to threaten me?"

"Hmph, what if I am? It's just us here. If this goes to court, I can say you assaulted me. Which do you think the media and public will believe: me, the victim, or you, the playboy?"

Nicole smirked proudly.

Link shook his head as he pulled out a voice recorder from his pocket.

["Link, am I ugly? Do you hate me?"]

["No, you're beautiful."]

["Then why didn't you come out when I asked you?"]

["Nicole, you're married. This isn't proper."]

["But I love you, I really love you."]

"You recorded that?! You bastard!" Nicole glared at him, flustered and infuriated.

"There are too many women in Hollywood like you. I had to be careful," Link said, waving the recorder.

Nicole thought back to their earlier exchange, her cheeks heating as she approached Link, fury in her eyes. "Asshole! Give it to me!"

Link pocketed the recorder and grabbed her arm, pushing her against the sink. The faucet suddenly turned on, brilliant water gushing out and splattering everywhere.

...

In the hallway, Cindy Crawford had lit two cigarettes, rejecting advances from three men, still waiting patiently for Nicole to come down. She glanced up at the second floor, intending to check on her, but paused upon hearing voices, one of them sounding like Link.

Without thinking, she stopped and listened.

Link casually walked down the hallway, and from a distance, he spotted Cindy standing by the window smoking.

"Hey, Cindy."

Cindy looked back at him, sniffing slightly. "Is Nicole still upstairs?"

"She'll need a bit longer to come down."

Link stood by the window, watching the street and the couples kissing near the shop fronts, along with a black man running with a bag and the distant wails of police sirens, as if he were watching a movie.

"What's your relationship with Nicole?" Cindy asked curiously.

"Friends!"

"Just friends is all?"

Cindy sniffed again.

Link chuckled, looking down at her alluring face. "Victoria's Secret is looking for brand ambassadors. Interested in giving it a shot?"

"What do you mean?"

"I'm an investor with Victoria's Secret. If you're interested, just give me a call." He handed her a business card.

Cindy glanced at the card, widening her eyes. "You want to buy me off like this?"

"I see your potential. Plus, you're a beautiful woman too."

Link smiled and walked away.

...

Cindy watched his retreating figure, her mind racing.

Victoria's Secret was a well-known lingerie brand in America, established in 1977 and was currently owned by Limited Brands, with over 260 stores and a valuation exceeding 800 million dollars. The competition for endorsement contracts was fierce, making survival in the modeling industry increasingly difficult for older models seeking to land a deal.

Cindy had little chance of obtaining an endorsement contract at her age. But now Link was telling her she could.

Cindy had to seriously consider whether to accept Link's offer.

As she stored the card away, she made her way upstairs to see what Nicole was up to. After a few steps, she heard a clattering sound and spotted Nicole coming down, leaning on the railing, limping with a wet skirt, and her black stockings nowhere to be found.

"Nicole, what happened?"

Cindy hurried forward to support her, catching a familiar scent.

"I'm fine."

Nicole brushed the damp hair from her face. "The sink in the restroom broke, and I slipped and hurt my leg."

"Is it serious? Should we go to the hospital?"

"No, it's just a minor injury. A little ointment will fix it."

"Alright, I'll help you back."

Cindy helped Nicole out of the hallway, trying to keep her discreet.

...

Nicole strategically draped her arm over Cindy's shoulder, pretending to be drunk, enduring the unusual pain while they slowly walked outside. As they passed the booth area, she spotted Link laughing and mingling with Madonna, infuriated and biting her lip, feeling a wave of anger.

"What's wrong?"

Cindy asked.

"The water in the restroom was spilled by Link! He hurt me, I won't let him get away with it!" Nicole said, seething with rage.

Cindy nodded in agreement.

*****

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