Chapter 115: **Chapter 115: Codename**
"What assurance?"
Luca asked in confusion.
"They've been watching Raul for a long time and have crucial evidence," Kate said softly.
Shortly after the car accident, people from the club contacted her, saying they had key evidence and could help settle the matter. However, they wouldn't help for free. They wanted to use this incident as a breakthrough to expose discrimination against women in the fashion industry, give women a voice, and hoped Kate would cooperate.
Luca shook his head, "Although the Betty Club sounds powerful, it's actually just a loose organization. You shouldn't trust them too much."
"You're right. The reason I agreed to their request was to see how powerful the club really is. I've heard before that the Betty Reading Club is strong, but if it's just superficially impressive, it's not worth wasting my time on," Kate said with a light smile.
"It's still too risky," Luca remarked. This approach was like picking chestnuts out of the fire; it could either enhance her reputation or damage it, potentially affecting endorsement deals.
"Kate, the municipal police are here, along with people from the court," Ms. Nina said, frowning as she walked in.
"The court?" Kate raised an eyebrow. "They sure came quickly."
Luca and Kate, along with a few others, headed to the hotel's third-floor reception room.
"Hello, Ms. Kelly. Our municipal police department received a report indicating there were serious errors in the Barme car accident. We need your cooperation for the investigation," said Maximo, the lead police officer from before, his voice even more stern this time.
"Ms. Kelly, we have received a complaint accusing you of dangerous driving that caused Mr. Raul Barme's severe injury. After review, the local court has decided to prosecute this case, and the trial will begin in three days. We hope you will appear in court to defend yourself," said a court official in uniform, handing out a summons.
"So soon?" Ms. Nina frowned as she took the summons. Kate's lawyer was not in place yet, so they would have to hire one temporarily.
Luca shook his head, thinking to himself that the world over, corrupt people are the same.
"Kate, when are they coming? You won't be deceived, right?" Lima asked worriedly.
Kate frowned slightly. She had considered that this matter might escalate, but the other side moved too quickly. It had only been three days since the car accident, and the case was already in the prosecution stage, catching her off guard.
"Ha ha, Kate, are you regretting it now?"
While everyone was frowning, a man slowly emerged from the nearby coffee table. He had a long, thin face and green eyes. It was Mr. Hubert Barme.
"Regret what?" Kate asked calmly.
"Ha ha, Kate, are you still pretending to be calm at this moment? I told you, you're just a model. Without the support of an agency, how much influence do you have? None at all. You're just a model. Ha ha, are you regretting it now?" Hubert Barme said arrogantly, taking out a document. "If you regret it, I'll give you another chance. Sign this, and I'll forgive your previous offense and the mistakes you made regarding Raul."
Kate glanced at the contract. There were eight clauses, one of which was a $100,000 endorsement of Barme's wine for five years. During the endorsement period, she was obligated to participate in wine brand promotions. The rest were even more shameless.
"Interesting contract," Kate couldn't help but smile. "Mr. Barme, if I had agreed to handle this matter quietly last time, would you have troubled me afterward?"
Hubert Barme widened his eyes, greedily looking at Kate as he laughed, "I'm a French gentleman; how could I lie? However, I can't speak for others. After all, Raul carries the Barme name. Even if he's a scoundrel, he's still a Barme scoundrel. Taking a small model away at a party and almost getting killed for it is hardly worth it."
"So, you had this contract ready a long time ago?" Kate pointed to the contract and asked.
Hubert shrugged, "Don't ask so many questions. Just sign it. Otherwise, you'll face endless litigation, from the Bordeaux local court to the Paris high court, and then to the international court. We will keep appealing until you go bankrupt and can't afford a lawyer."
"Bankrupt?" Luca raised an eyebrow, smiling. "Does the Barme family have a lot of money?"
"Who are you?" Hubert asked unhappily.
"Luca Kelly," Luca replied with a faint smile. "I heard that your family's total assets are just over 100 million francs, which makes you barely wealthy in Bordeaux. But in America, in New York, what is that worth?
I have a question for you. Which deity gave you the courage to belittle a world-renowned bestselling author like this? Do you know that just the royalties from the 'Twilight' series can reach at least $50 million? The rights to 'Twilight' are valued at $100 million. New Line and Summit were willing to offer $20 million plus a 20% share of the merchandise profits, which is more than all of your Barme family's assets combined, and Kate didn't even glance at it.
I sincerely ask you this: do you, a country bumpkin, understand what it means to be a world-renowned bestselling author?"
Pfft~
Kate, Lima, and Miranda couldn't help but laugh behind him.
"Merde!"
Hubert Barme had been listening seriously, but was dumbfounded by the phrase "country bumpkin."
"No manners!"
Luca waved his hand. "Now I understand why your son turned out to be such a disgusting creature—because he has an even more disgusting father. Oh, poor Raul, being born a Barme is truly his misfortune."
"Your name is Luca, right? I heard you're a model too," Hubert asked through gritted teeth.
"So what? I endorse Armani's jeans series and CK underwear. Do you want to find someone to take away my endorsements?"
Hubert frowned. Armani and CK are American brands, and he only has connections in the French fashion industry. He has no influence in the U.S.
He snorted, turned to Kate, and asked, "Kate, do you really not plan to reconcile?"
"Is this your sincerity?" Kate pointed at the contract.
In fact, now that things had escalated, she somewhat regretted agreeing to the club women's proposal. This matter was too risky. If it got out of hand, it would not only affect her interests but also Luca's future.
If Hubert agreed to suppress the public opinion now and not seek revenge afterward, while also compensating Miranda, she would be willing to pack up and return to New York.
"Ha ha ha~"
Hearing her soften, Hubert Barme couldn't help but laugh a few times. "Kate, this is my sincerity. I'll give you three days to consider. Once it's in court, it'll be too late for regrets."
"Really? Another trick to destroy evidence?!"
Suddenly, four people came down the corridor, two women and two men. Leading them was a woman in her thirties, dressed in a champagne-colored suit with a metallic frame glasses, exuding a sharp aura.
"Who are you?" Hubert Barme asked, displeased.
"Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Delia Cobell, and I'm Ms. Kate Kelly's lawyer. These are my assistants," the woman said politely, bowing slightly.
"Delia Cobell? Are you Delia Cobell, the senior lawyer from The Third Reich?" the court staff exclaimed in surprise.
The woman ignored him and handed a business card to Kate. "I'm a partner at The Third Reich law firm and an associate professor at the University of Paris Law School. My specialties include human rights, international law, extradition, and criminal cases. Kate, would you like to hire me as your defense lawyer?"
Kate frowned at the card and asked softly, "Are you also from the club?"
"Yes!"
"What's your codename in the group?"
"Can I not say?"
"How can I trust you if you don't say?" Kate asked suspiciously.
The woman hesitated and then said softly, "Little Cherry."
Luca twitched his mouth and turned his head away.
The woman glanced at him and then asked Kate, "Now do you believe me?"
Kate shrugged, "Like they said in the group, is it free?"
"Of course, it's in the authorization letter."
"Alright!"
Kate nodded and signed the authorization letter.
The woman put away the authorization letter and looked at the court summons. "Completing the review work within three days makes you the most efficient in the world."
The court staff's face changed slightly. "The evidence chain for this car accident is complete, so the review work isn't complicated."
She shook her head and glanced at Hubert. "Raul has already woken up, right? This time, I definitely won't let him or you get away with it."
Hubert frowned and sneered, "I knew this was not simple. So, it was you guys causing trouble behind the scenes."
"For justice!"
"Heh heh, alright, alright, Ms. Justice. Last time, they lost, and now it's your turn, right? I'll tell you, you'll lose this time as well!"
"Really? Then see you in court!"
(End of the chapter)
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