"If you're going to put it that way, Ms. Bennett, then you're really hurting the relationship between us. You have to understand that even if our business deal doesn't work out, we can still be friends, can't we?" Victor said with a smug expression plastered across his face."There's no chance of that happening, because I think being friends with someone like you would be the greatest humiliation I could ever endure!" Claire could no longer contain the fury burning inside her chest.Victor looked utterly indifferent as he replied, "Since you're saying that, then I feel the same way. Don't worry. My company will never cooperate with a small-time operation like yours anyway. I look down on bottom-feeders like you people.""You..." Claire trembled with rage, her entire body shaking. Her fists clenched so tightly her knuckles turned white. Victor had gone too far. He was insulting her relentlessly, piling humiliation upon humiliation. She wanted nothing more than to

"Impossible. This is absolutely impossible!" Marcus could barely believe what he was witnessing. In just three short minutes, more than twenty men had been taken down. The sheer efficiency of it was terrifying."A bunch of trash," Andrew said flatly, his tone carrying nothing but disdain.Marcus's eyes locked onto Andrew, studying him with the intensity one might reserve for Death himself. At this moment, he understood with chilling clarity that the young man standing before him was no ordinary person. No one possessed skills like that without serious training."Who are you?" Marcus demanded, his voice taut with tension."I already told you. I'm just a cook," Andrew replied, his expression utterly calm."That's impossible. Absolutely impossible!" Marcus knew better. A cook didn't move like that, didn't fight like that. Whoever this man was, he was anything but ordinary.Based on the combat skills Andrew had just displayed, he had to be speci

"What I mean is, when I was asleep, did you peek at any of my..." Claire's face flushed as she spoke, her cheeks taking on a rosy hue that made her discomfort obvious."Look, I need to set the record straight here," Andrew protested, raising both hands defensively. "I'm a gentleman through and through. I don't do sneaky, underhanded things like that. Forget peeking, I didn't even touch you. Not once.""I just..."A knock sounded at the door before Claire could finish her thought, and Nora pushed through it. She'd been worried sick ever since Claire left for last night's negotiation, and the anxiety had driven her here first thing this morning to check on the outcome. Claire recounted everything that had happened, holding nothing back."Are you serious? People like that actually exist?" Nora exploded, her voice sharp with indignation. "This is a blatant insult! They're mocking us!""You're right," Claire said, her brow furrowing. "But here's what I

At this moment, hearing those words, Claire immediately flared with anger. "Julian, you've disappointed me beyond belief. I never imagined you thought so little of me, that you'd see me as that kind of woman! Do you really think that I..."The sudden outburst left Julian completely stunned. He knew Claire well enough to understand she wasn't someone who acted carelessly or impulsively. Seeing her anger rising like a storm, panic seized him. "Claire, that's not what I meant at all! Don't misunderstand me. It's just that this whole situation is really...""Save your explanations. What's there to explain?" Andrew cut in, his voice loud and decisive. "Your words just now made it crystal clear. You obviously think Ms. Bennett is some kind of loose woman who'd throw herself at anyone!"Julian's body trembled with rage, his hands clenching into fists. He wanted nothing more than to strangle this insufferable bastard. If it wasn't for this guy's interference, he never w

Julian fell into thought almost immediately. Why couldn't Damon and several others handle a single Andrew? Could this guy actually be formidable? His brow furrowed as he studied the group before him. "The lot of you couldn't take down one person? Is this guy really that capable?" Julian asked, disbelief coloring every word.Damon clutched his swelling face, refusing to meet Julian's eyes. "He's not as tough as you think. I just got distracted for a second, that's all. Otherwise, how could he have possibly landed a hit on me? I would've had him on his knees begging for mercy, beaten to a pulp." His voice carried the desperate edge of someone trying to salvage his pride, even as pain throbbed through his jaw."Exactly right," one of the others chimed in quickly, eager to redirect blame. "There's no way that guy is actually our match. But he attacked us on your turf, Julian. That's a direct insult to you, not taking you seriously at all." None of them wanted to admit the