Chapter 4

Alex's POV

Early the next morning, I went straight to the HR department to submit my resignation.

The HR manager let out a disdainful laugh. "Since you have a KPI of 0, you can submit your resignation through the system and leave immediately. You won't even need to give a two-week notice or get Ms. Jensen to sign the acknowledgment form."

I nodded.

However, before I could even make it back to my desk, Connor intercepted me. He'd been punched in the face.

Grabbing my arm, he cried out, "Alex! What have you been doing with the guests you interview? Why did someone call me a filthy male escort after mistaking me for you?"

Before I could even process what he was saying, he gave me a hard shove that made me stumble. My injured ankle gave way, and I couldn't steady myself in time to keep my head from slamming into the glass door.

The impact made a dull thud.

When I turned around, I spotted the flash of triumphant amusement in Connor's eyes that vanished a second later.

No one came to help me up. No one asked if I was hurt. All I heard were the whispers.

"Goodness me. A bunch of people are causing a scene at the entrance. They're saying that Alex used his interviews as an excuse to sleep with rich women, and their claims sound quite believable!"

"Poor Connor got mistaken for him and was punched twice the moment he arrived at work! His face has already swollen up."

Leaning against the glass wall, I was in too much pain to speak. Still, I forced out a hoarse protest. "That's a lie! I... I didn't!"

Connor crouched down beside me. Instead of helping me up, he pretended to reason with me.

"You really shouldn't do this anymore, Alex. If you want to become a producer so badly, I'll help you. You can take the credit for all of my work. I'll give you anything you want, so please stop going down the wrong path, okay?"

He acted like he was saying these things for my own good, but in reality, he was publicly cementing my guilt for a crime I never committed.

At the same time, he was pressing down hard on my injured ankle with his foot.

My eyes widened. It felt as though a knife had been shoved down my throat. I couldn't even question him. I could only stare at him in stunned disbelief.

Connor gave me an apologetic look before suddenly letting out a scream and throwing himself backward.

That was when Sadie rushed over. She immediately helped the hurt-looking Connor to his feet, her expression icy as she glared at me.

I moved my lips. I wanted to tell her I hadn't done anything, that it was all a lie. But in the next second, someone charged forward and punched me in the face.

Several men's furious curses echoed all around.

"Who the fuck do you think you are, you little bastard? How dare you sleep with my wife!"

"I saw those sex toys you brought with you to seduce her! You're worse than a slutty whore! I'm gonna kill you!"

My face went numb with pain. Someone hauled me up by the hair. Blood trickled from the corner of my mouth, dripping with every punch.

"Serves him right! He couldn't hack it as a journalist, so he decided to become a gigolo!"

"He didn't manage to seduce Ms. Jensen, so he started targeting other rich women instead. He fucking disgusts me. I always wondered how he managed to secure those sponsorships. Guess he did it by getting naked!"

The mocking laughter, nasty curses, and the sound of the shutters all rang in my ears, threatening to destroy my eardrums.

I was held off the ground, still yanked by the hair. The pain made my entire body shake.

I couldn't escape. I couldn't even hide.

Sadie stood just three feet away, her brows tightly knitted. Anger and indecision flickered in her eyes. Just as she lifted a foot to come toward me, Connor stirred in her arms. He gave her a sorrowful look and grabbed her hand.

"Let Alex learn his lesson..."

Those words were all it took for her to pull her foot back. After giving me one last look, she tightened her grip and resolutely turned away, leaving with Connor.

She didn't see Connor flash me a faint smile, his expression gloating. He was silently signaling to me that he'd won.

Once the men saw Sadie disappear into the distance, one of them grabbed a dumbbell and raised it to smash it down on my head.

At that very moment, someone stormed through the entrance and shouted, "If you lay another finger on him, I'll make all of you pay for it with your lives!