Chapter 3: You're Not That Important

At seven o'clock in the evening, Juliet Shaw, dressed in the gown prepared by Herbert Leopold, arrived at the company's gala.

It was quite unexpected for Herbert Leopold to send someone to pick her up; it was unprecedented.

"Madam has arrived."

Herbert Leopold was in conversation with someone when his assistant, Alvin Boswell, whispered into his ear.

Herbert Leopold turned around, and their gazes met.

One gaze was cold with a hint of mockery, while the other was clear and equally indifferent, showing no fear as she met his eyes head-on.

Juliet Shaw detested the look in Herbert Leopold's eyes, as if he saw her as nothing more than a clown.

Her breath caught, and she suddenly felt nauseated by the situation. She turned and walked away.

Herbert Leopold's eyes flashed, and after a brief exchange with the person beside him, he quickly followed her.

His strong arm wrapped around her bare shoulders, appearing unusually intimate.

Juliet Shaw struggled, but Herbert Leopold only tightened his grip.

His chin rested on the top of her head. "Juliet Shaw, don't make a scene in public."

She looked up angrily. "Herbert Leopold, you're really disgusting."

He had sent for her, and now he was giving her a hard time. Now, he blamed her for not being considerate.

He was truly a master of psychological manipulation.

Herbert Leopold's face darkened, and using his physical advantage, he forcibly led Juliet Shaw to the VIP lounge.

Once inside, she immediately pulled away and headed for the door.

Herbert Leopold was annoyed by her actions. He impatiently grabbed her shoulders, ignoring her resistance, and pressed her against the door.

"Juliet Shaw, have you had enough?"

His tall frame overshadowed her, and her small body had no strength to resist him.

Herbert Leopold held her wrists, lifting them high above her head, as if teasing her.

"Have you gone mad, calling me a lunatic?"

"Aren't you? Let go, I'm uncomfortable."

Herbert Leopold lowered his head, and the sight of her chest came into view.

Seeing the playful smile in his eyes, Juliet Shaw felt a surge of resentment.

"Let go!" She twisted her body, but instead of freeing herself, it only added to the tension between them.

Herbert Leopold pinned her against the door, his warmth spreading from her ears.

"Juliet Shaw, I must say, your tactics are quite impressive."

He paused. "Compared to your usual forwardness, your refusal is much more attractive to me."

"..."

Men were indeed fickle. When she treated him sincerely, he thought she was insincere. Now, with her cold demeanor, he mistook it for playing hard to get.

Juliet Shaw sneered, thinking of a way to deal with the rascal—knee him where it hurt!

"Is that so? Then enjoy my rejection!"

The moment she raised her knee, both of them froze.

Juliet Shaw hadn't expected Herbert Leopold to react so quickly, and he hadn't expected her to be so ruthless.

They stared at each other, their eyes filled with anger.

"Mrs. Lu, Mr. Boswell and Mrs. Lu are in the lounge."

"Alright, thank you."

Outside, they heard the voice of Herbert Leopold's mother, Hua Zhi.

A flash of panic crossed Juliet Shaw's face, which Herbert Leopold caught.

"Still not letting go?"

"I thought you were fearless."

As Herbert Leopold spoke, he released her, but when he tried to leave, he found he couldn't.

Juliet Shaw's hair was caught on Herbert Leopold's suit button.

"Ouch..."

She gasped, looking at her tangled hair, and glared at Herbert Leopold again.

Herbert Leopold, unfazed, stepped back, pulling her hair even tighter.

Juliet Shaw clutched his suit with one hand and hit his arm with the other. "Don't move, it hurts!"

Hua Zhi pushed the door open and saw her son and daughter-in-law in a tussle.

Hua Zhi quickly covered her eyes, laughing. "Oh, oh, looks like I came at the wrong time. You two continue."

Hua Zhi left the room in just thirty seconds.

Ignoring everything else, Juliet Shaw bent down to untangle her hair.

Herbert Leopold, leaning against the wall, seemed to enjoy the scene, completely relaxed.

He looked at her with a lazy gaze. "Why bother? Just cut it off."

Juliet Shaw ignored him.

But no matter what, the hair wouldn't come loose.

"If you can't untangle it, just cut it. Juliet Shaw, do you think I can't see through your little tricks?"

Hearing this, Juliet Shaw felt a tightness in her chest.

She bit her lip, stubbornly silent, and continued to work on her hair.

"Juliet Shaw, these little tricks with your hair are boring. Why not just strip in front of me? That might interest me." Herbert Leopold's words were laced with sarcasm.

In his eyes, she was nothing but a cheap toy with no dignity or self-respect.

Finally, her hair came loose, and Juliet Shaw breathed a sigh of relief.

She looked up, a faint smile on her lips. "Herbert Leopold, if there were levels of scoundrels, you would definitely be at the top."

With that, she turned to leave.

Herbert Leopold's eyes darkened, and he grabbed her arm, pulling her back.

"Let go."

"You're hurting me."

Herbert Leopold looked at the red marks on her wrist, frowned, but didn't release her.

"Hmm, Juliet Shaw, your tricks of feigned reluctance won't work anymore. You were the one who initiated it."

"I initiated it? Herbert Leopold, you were the one who sent someone to pick me up." Juliet Shaw raised her voice.

"Wait, let's get this straight. I didn't send anyone to pick you up."

"What are you trying to pull?"

As soon as she finished, he gripped her jaw.

"You're not that important, understand?"