SUPREME STYLIST: RETURN OF THE HUMILIATED GENIUS

Chapter 0012: Power in plain coating

Mr. Henderson was hyperventilating, his face reddened with panic. He clutched the feet of the ordinary looking young man who had walked inside earlier, dismissed by the patrons in expensive outfits and humiliated by the arrogant receptionist.

The atmosphere had shifted. The tension clawed at the air, choking out the excitement. Everyone who had been watching in amusement earlier now stared at the young guy with a questioning looks.

Like who the heck is he?

Even Rowan didn't expect the situation to bend to his will drastically. Power tastes like victory.

He crouched slightly, holding Mr. Henderson on the shoulder to pull him up. His late mother had nurtured him to be kind, never to intentionally punish the innocent, and to forgive when necessary.

"Mr. Henderson," Rowan called gently. "Please stand. You shouldn't be the one apologizing when you're innocent."

Mr. Henderson shook his head frantically, sweat balls dancing off his face.

"No.no..Mr. Rowan..I know you're angry. She's just dumb. She's too shallow and lacked professional ethics. Please, forgive her. Please."

"I forgive her," Rowan simply said, an edge in his voice. Ms. Valeria's seethed at the side, her last shred of pride waiting to be crushed under the boot of a man she earlier looked down upon. "She's going to apologize on her knee for making a mockery of me."

Rowan was done allowing people to humiliate him and walk away like the world works that way. They need to have a taste of their own medicine, to feel the hurt of their own bite.

Mr. Henderson quickly snatched at the opportunity. He jumped on his feet, yelling at her. "Apologize to Mr. Rowan. Now!" He shot a threatening gaze.

Ms. Valeria fumed, willing to shield the remainder of her broken pride, but she was shaken inside. Her brother, the respected manager had collapsed at Rowan's feet like a School kid pleading to evade punishment from a strict professor.

She could have falsified the reality if she hadn't witnessed it with her own eyes. The sheer twist of the drama she ignited made her cheek burn in embarrassment. Seeing her own blood kneeling, her emotions burst. Tears streamed down her eyes.

For a second, Rowan's heart softened seeing her tears, he wanted everything to stop already, but memories leaped. Cruel. Brutal. He wondered if Charles ever felt guilty like this while humiliating him in front of everyone. Do Mr. Grant, the manager at the Elite department ever felt a sting of remorse for burning his life project?

At the intersection of thoughts, Rowan realized the world isn't kind to the soft hearted.

Consequence should follow every action. It'll be a lesson taught in a hard way that no innocent person deserved to be embarrassed just because they didn't match her own sense of profiling. Rowan's heart tightened.

Comments stirred, growing from whispers to audible, each one condemning the receptionist action now. The people who had been laughing with her earlier now turned their back.

And his brother isn't stupid or possessed. There must be something about the ordinary looking guy that made him run from his office as though he's gone berserk.

His gaze held hers like a laser ray, threatening to burn unanswered promises. Promises of vacation in Paris, trip to Maldive, and the pending surprise for her birthday.

Her remaining pride took an absolute hit. Her knee followed with a sharp crack against the marble. "Please, I am sorry please, Sir.... please forgive me. I never knew who you were."

Rowan took a step closer, staring down on her. The lobby suddenly became quiet.

"Don't think I hate you," He said calmly, "I just hope you learnt a lesson never to look down on people just because you're in a bigger position. Everyone deserves their worth without having to prove they deserve it."

Rowan held her gaze. Guilt settled deeply. The last shred of pride she was protecting had completely crumbled under Rowan's quick sermon. Her tears were genuine. Remorseful.

He turned to Mr. Henderson. "Retain her." He spoke with authority. The manager bobbed his head frantically. The lobby felt the swift change of power, silently astonished by the way things turned out. "I believe everyone deserves a second chance. Fire her instantly if something like this ever happens again. if she can't handle a simple job like this, she deserves something lesser. "

With that, Rowan turned.

"Take me to the best lounge here." He said, leaving the lobby humming with comments.