Chapter 3

"What?" Martin and I shouted in unison.

Martin was an irreplaceable talent in the pharmaceutical industry. I had persuaded him for a long time to join the company and help me oversee things.

I never imagined he'd be so absurdly dismissed.

I coldly demanded, "Who gave her the authority?"

Dexter rolled his eyes in annoyance and shoved his phone into my hand. "Here, ask Ms. Spencer yourself."

The woman's voice on the other end of the line made my skin crawl. "Fire whoever you want, Dexter. I'm getting off. Remember to pick me up."

I clenched my fists and spoke through gritted teeth, "Ella Spencer, who gives you the right to fire Martin?"

There was a long silence.

The next moment, Ella's frantic curse rang out, "Who the hell are you? How dare you take Dexter's phone to question me? Are you crazy?"

With that, she hung up the phone.

I was so shocked I couldn't speak, and I was so angry I wanted to laugh.

It had only been two years, and Ella couldn't even recognize my voice.

Dexter snatched the phone out of my hands, grinning smugly. "You heard that? Ms. Spencer's orders. Sorry, Mr. Clarke—oh, I mean, Martin. You'd better get going."

Martin's chest heaved in frustration. He pointed at Dexter, yelling, "Don't think I don't know how you got your position, Dexter! You damn gigolo!"

Dexter had never been so blatantly humiliated. Without thinking, he swung his fist at Martin. "What the hell are you talking about? Ella and I are in love!"

I stepped in, grabbing his arm and sneering. "In love? Do you even know how many men Ella has actually been 'in love' with?"

Dexter was so furious that he couldn't get his words out. "Say that again!"

He glanced around and grabbed a vase from the reception desk to hurl it toward me. "Keep babbling, and I'll make sure you can't leave this building!"

At the critical moment, Martin yanked Dexter's arm and crushed it under his foot.

While Dexter screamed, I kicked him hard in the lower body.

The pain made his face go white. He collapsed to the floor, clutching himself. "Y-You bastard! Ah!"

I stepped on his calf and twisted my foot, grinning brightly. "Want to keep talking?"

Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through the back of my head. My vision blurred, and I instinctively touched the back of my head. My hand was covered in blood.

The security guard who had run off earlier returned with a whole group, surrounding us. They hurried to help Dexter, who was writhing in pain.

"Are you alright, Mr. Brooks? I've called for backup."

Seeing his savior, Dexter shouted, "Beat them up! Don't hold back!"

The security guard hesitated. "But that's Mr. Clarke…"

Clutching his lower body, Dexter snapped, "To hell with it! He's already fired! What's there to fear? I'll take the responsibility!"

The guards immediately understood and picked up iron rods, aiming them at my chest.

The first strike knocked me off balance, and the second slammed into me, making me bite down hard, tasting blood.

Martin was also surrounded. He shouted, "Have you no respect for the law? I'm calling the police!"

Dexter sneered. "Law? In this company, I am the law. Get them!"

Martin, too weak to protest, slumped, while I lay on the floor, unable to speak.

Suddenly, Dexter crouched down and began rummaging through my bag.

I instinctively tried to stop him. "Don't touch that!"

He pulled out a document, and his eyes lit up when he saw what it was. "A supplier partnership agreement? You really handed me a big gift, huh?"

As he said that, he tucked the document into his chest.

I tried to stop him, my eyes burning with fury. "That's mine!"

The agreement had been a gift from the company I was stationed at after they heard I was heading back to Eblana.

Dexter jabbed his finger at my chest and smirked. "What's yours is the company's. You're supposed to contribute to the company. Ella's been worried about supplier issues. You've really helped her out."

I spat at him. "I've been fired! Why should I contribute?"

Dexter froze for a second. Then, his anger flared. "The paperwork's not done, so you're still an employee, and this is mine!"

Seeing the smug grin on his face, I struggled with everything I had, only to be met with a sharp slap across my face.

"Stay still!"

At that moment, the sound of high heels echoed from the entrance. "What's with all the noise?"