Chapter 2

Walton even turned around and started yelling at me, "Riley! How many times have I told you to act professionally in front of clients and never dress in such a shameless manner just to reach your performance targets?

"Are you so desperate for money that you'd toss your self-respect away for a single partnership? This is pathetic!"

It was ironic. He was the one who'd dropped hints that I should use my looks, and now, he was painting me as the shameless one.

I couldn't help but laugh at that. "Mr. Frazier, you're the one who told me to leave a few buttons undone and even implied that Ms. Cobb—"

"Shut up!"

Walton didn't give me the chance to finish. According to his plan, his next step was to escalate this impropriety between Mable and me, then use that to bargain the price down, while playing the righteous hero in front of our boss, Lynette Nash.

Too bad for him, he'd picked the wrong audience.

"Enough."

Mable let out a cold laugh as she abruptly stood up. "So, Mr. Frazier, do you think that covering someone up is considered inappropriate and harassment, or do you think I'm an idiot?

"If we're here to talk business, let's talk business. What's with the sleazy pimp act?"

"I'm here to vet a project, not to pick out eye candy at a nightclub. You're the one forcing your male employee to dress like this and toast, then you have the nerve to blame them for not having any self-respect."

She let out a cold, sharp laugh. "It looks like your company has serious management issues. I have no interest in partnering with a company that has such questionable standards.

"The partnership for next year is canceled."

I could tell that she was livid. She was pissed that they were treating me, her little brother, with such disrespect and even more furious at the fact that I was putting up with the toxic cesspool of the company.

…Well, I hadn't finished paying my rent, and I was in my twenties, so I didn't want to go running back to my family and ask for rent money.

"Ms. Cobb! T-This is all a misunderstanding!"

Lynette panicked and jumped to her feet. After all, losing a top-tier client like Mable would be a massive blow to the company.

The plan was supposed to be a power move to gain leverage over Mable, but this was a total backfire.

So, Lynette immediately turned on Walton and roared, "Walton! Ms. Cobb is known for her professionalism and gave Riley a jacket so he'd look presentable. Yet you pointed in her face and accused her of trying nasty stuff!

"Apologize to her right now!"

Walton froze, and a cold sweat broke out on his forehead. He bowed his head with exaggerated humility and acted like he was being mistreated and forced to sacrifice.

"My apologies, Ms. Nash and Ms. Cobb. I'll admit that I let my temper get the better of me just now, but I did it all out of concern for Riley!

"He's always had questionable intentions, looking for shortcuts and trying to use his looks to charm female clients. I was just afraid that he might hurt Ms. Cobb…

"Earlier today, I reminded him to dress up appropriately, but he insisted this was fashion and said it'd make you notice him more. I just didn't want things to get out of hand…"

As I listened to him twist the truth, I nearly laughed.

"Ms. Frazier, let's be honest for once. You shoved the shirt into my hands, told me to toast, and threatened me with my attendance bonus if I didn't comply. Now, how is it suddenly my choice?"

"Riley, be a man and take responsibility!"

Walton glared at me and feigned an utterly heartbroken look. "Everyone in the team knows you like flirting with wealthy women, but now, you're trying to dodge responsibility and shift the blame."