Chapter 27
With the SlimEase capsule about to launch, there was a mountain of work waiting for Skylar.
She had no intention of wasting her time on trash. She blocked David’s number and threw herself back into her work.
After clinical trials involving thousands of participants, they had gathered a wealth of data.
The results were clear, the SlimEase capsule helped people lose weight painlessly, with no side effects.
Skylar scheduled a press conference, bringing the R&D team up on stage with her.
Following the usual protocol, she presented their findings. Then it was time for questions.
Hands shot up across the room. She casually pointed at a girl with a high ponytail. “What’s your question?”
“Ms. Lambert, you claim your company’s Slim Ease capsule provides painless weight loss with no rebound. Isn’t that exaggerated advertising?” The reporter looked sweet and delicate, but her question was anything but soft.
Skylar remained calm, not the slightest trace of panic on her face. “All of our claims are backed by clinical trials. There is no exaggeration.”
0
Another male reporter stood up. “Ms. Lambert, the current beauty standard idolizes being pale, young, and skinny. Girls go to dangerous extremes to lose weight. What’s your take on this warped aesthetic?”
It was a loaded question. One misstep, and she’d fall right in.
“I think beauty comes in many forms,” Skylar said. “Some people are naturally thin–that’s just how it is. But whether to be thin or not should be a personal choice.”
The reporter fired back immediately, “Really? So even when girls harm themselves to get skinny, you think that’s normal?”
Skylar paused, then spoke slowly. “I don’t judge anyone’s aesthetic. Everyone has the right to pursue the look they want.”
That was a clear rebuttal to the reporter’s claim of “warped aesthetics.”
She glanced at him and continued, “There are many forms of beauty, If someone wants to slim down without harming themselves, that’s their choice. But if it’s like you described–hurting themselves to get there–I understand, but I don’t support it.”
“I hope all girls can break free from societal pressure. You need to know, you are already beautiful.”
“The reason we developed the Slim Ease capsule was to help people whose health is at risk because of obesity, or who are bullied because of it.”
“Others can buy it too, of course–but extreme thinness is dangerous as well. So I hope people think it through carefully before buying our product.”
As the press conference wrapped up, Skylar left first, leaving Sophie to handle the reporters.
Sophie kept the crowd calm, patiently answered the remaining questions, and even arranged a meal for the press.
Most reporters wrote their articles at the table and sent them straight back to their editors. If there were no issues, they got published o
Once the SlimEase capsule went on sale, it caused a frenzy. The official website crashed almost immediately.
Seeing the overwhelmed programmers, Skylar told them to step aside and fixed the bug herself.
bot.
Soon, the site was back to normal — and could handle even more traffic without freezing. The programmers stared in shock. “Ms. Lambert… you know
how to code?”
“A little,” she replied, eyes still on the sales dashboard.
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Chapter 27
The programmer gulped. A little? She’s being modest. He had thought she was just a pretty face. But she could make medicine and write code? She was incredible and it made him feel useless.
–
Determined, the programmer vowed to work harder so Ms. Lambert’d never see him as dead weight.
The first batch of 10,000 pills sold out instantly. Skylar ordered them to close the store and focus on fulfilling the orders.
The factory worked around the clock. Rushing but careful, they shipped everything on time.
Once people started receiving the product, they only needed one pill to feel real effects.
They rushed to post their experiences online–reviews, before–and–after photos, even videos.
All of this brought more buzz and attention, completely free.
Some curious onlookers began hovering over the “buy” button, while others stayed skeptical. A few dismissed the success as nothing more than smart marketing.
Regardless, the Slim Ease capsule was famous. Elianna had heard multiple people talking about it already.
When she learned it promised painless, rebound–free weight loss, she was tempted. Then she found out it was Skylar’s product–and instantly lost all
interest.
Seeing how successful it had become, she was green with envy. “Skylar is nothing! She doesn’t know anything! How could she have created this?”
‘This stuff must be toxic. I’m just waiting for her to screw up,‘ she told herself. And when Skylar did, Elianna would be there to laugh.
The thought sparked an idea in her head. “Skylar, you won’t be smiling for long.” She stared at a photo from a news article, a sinister smile spreading
across her face.
The product was now selling at a stable rate of 100 pills a day–a cap set to ensure quality and keep up with raw material supplies.
Everything was going great–until someone posted a message online that flipped the narrative overnight.
[Scam alert! Don’t buy the SlimEase capsule – it’s a complete fraud!]
The girl said she’d been mocked for her weight every day and felt hopeless. So she gave the pill a try. After taking it, she had stomach cramps, constant bathroom runs, and ended up in the ER.
The doctor told her she’d ingested something full of bacteria, which caused the reaction. She blamed the SlimEase capsule.
Soon, more people joined the chorus, posting their own hospital visits and complaints
Doubt spread like wildfire. Orders were canceled en masse. The sales department’s phones rang off the hook.
When Skylar found out, she acted fast–assembling a crisis team and launching a PR investigation.
[Phidon: We will give everyone a proper explanation. Please stay calm.]
The PR team tried contacting the girl who made the original post. She refused all communication and insisted it was their fault, apology and compensation.
nding a public
Skylar felt in her gut that something was off. The pills weren’t the problem–it had to be people. And people didn’t just pop out of nowhere. Someone was behind this.
Skylar had a good idea who was the person. But first, she needed to resolve this mess–then she could settle the score.
With Sophie by her side, she went straight to the hospital where the “victim” was staying. Unbeknownst to them, the girl was lounging in bed, watching dramas and munching on snacks.
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Skylar whispered to Sophie, “Record this.”
