Chapter 3

"This trash obviously wants to get close to the CEO. Bet he only got this security job by selling himself!"

"Mia gave the order. We have to make this ungrateful guard apologize!"

Leo still had some sense left and tried desperately to stop them. "This is illegal! Even if Mia's aunt really is the CEO, you can't treat someone like this!"

But nobody listened to him. He got shoved to the ground almost instantly.

I pulled out my phone to call security, but Mia snatched it out of my hand and smashed it on the floor.

"Trash, who were you calling? Some old woman to come save you? Too late for that. In this company, what I say goes. I'm the law here."

I couldn't stand her reckless behavior for one more second. She had a good education, sure, but her character was rotten. She needed to be fired and blacklisted immediately. And every intern who'd helped her today was never getting hired.

Before the rest of them could pile on, I kicked Mia hard in the stomach and yanked the door open. I'd planned to go find actual security to clear everyone out. But the next second, the interns dragged me right back into the room.

Mia clutched her stomach, her face twisted with rage. "You... you piece of trash! How dare you kick me! I'm going to end you today!"

With one look from her, several interns grabbed my arms, pinning me in place.

"Mia! This man just disrespected you! We need to teach him a lesson!"

"Honestly, we should just strip him and dump him on the street. That'll make him famous."

A few of the more educated guys crowded around her, looking worried.

"Mia, are you okay? Want me to take you to the hospital?"

Mia grabbed a fistful of my hair. "Maybe you need a little lesson before you understand you're in the wrong. A filthy man who sells himself for a living thinks he can lay a hand on me? You must be tired of living."

She gestured for the others to force me to my knees. "You'd better get down there and apologize properly. Strip off your clothes piece by piece and give us a good laugh. Otherwise, I'll have you killed and nobody will ever know."

My eyes went cold. The last time someone talked to me like that, it was my own brother and sister. These days, one of them can never set foot back in the country, while the other has been completely erased from the family registry. I had no problem letting Mia find out what that felt like.

Maybe something about the look on my face finally got through. The interns backing her up exchanged glances, and not one of them moved to force me down. Mia looked ready to do it herself.

But just then, the conference room door opened. Chloe White walked in, arms full of thick folders. The second she saw what was happening, her face went pale.

She shoved through the crowd and pulled me up. "What is going on here? Who gave you people the nerve to do this?"

None of the interns had ever met me, but they'd all seen Chloe before. Nobody said a word.

Mia misread the situation completely. She assumed Chloe was there for her and patted her on the shoulder.

"Chloe, at least you know how things work around here. Good to see you looking out for your future supervisor. Seriously, how did this company even hire a security guard like this? No manners at all. Get HR on the phone, I need to have a word with them..."

Before she could finish, Chloe had already helped me into a chair, her face tight with concern.

"Mr. Caldwell, are you alright? I'm calling the police right now."