Janet’s delicate face contorted in pain, and Charles felt like slapping himself. What had he just done?
"Don’t be afraid, I’ll take you to the hospital!" Hearing her cry out, his heart clenched tightly. Her pain was like a thousand tis worse than any wound he could suffer.
He grabbed his suit jacket and draped it over Janet, then scooped her up into his arms and rushed toward the elevator.
"Get out of the way!" Usually calm and composed in front of employees, Charles shocked everyone by roaring across the lobby. It was the first ti anyone had seen the usually icy boss lose his temper. But when they saw Janet cradled in his arms, all of them were stunned into silence.
"Move aside!" Charles barked impatiently at soone blocking his way, but when he looked up and saw Derrick’s cold, winter-like face, so of his anger softened.
"What do you think you’re doing?" Derrick’s sudden appearance at Black Rock Co. surprised everyone. The noisy lobby quickly cleared out, sensing the tension between the two n.
"Dad, Janet fell. I’m taking her to the hospital!" Charles didn’t expect Derrick to show up now, but he didn’t care about objections. His only focus was easing Janet’s pain.
A sharp pang in her lower abdon almost stole Janet’s breath. Beads of sweat ford on her forehead. Hearing Derrick’s voice made her realize how this situation with Charles might look—and how easily it could be misunderstood.
"Is she really that fragile?" Derrick’s eyes blazed with anger as he took in their still-close posture. Anyone could tell from Janet’s disheveled clothes and Charles’s jacket around her shoulders what kind of scene had just occurred.
"Put down!" Feeling Derrick’s sharp gaze, Janet slid off Charles’s arms, clutching his shoulder for support. She looked up timidly and whispered, "Dad!"
"Everyone, get in the elevator!" Derrick barked loudly and strode toward the elevator without looking back.
Charles ignored him and tried to pick Janet up again, but she pushed him away. "I’m fine now. It doesn’t hurt anymore. Dad seems to be misunderstanding sothing. Let’s just go!"
"No way. You were screaming in pain just now. I’m taking you to the hospital!" Charles was determined. To him, Janet had already beco more important than Derrick.
"Stop embarrassing . Please, I’m begging you!" Janet threw his jacket back at him and tightened the ripped clothes over her body, looking at Charles with pleading eyes.
Her tears stabbed at his heart like needles, causing unbearable pain—but he couldn’t refuse her request.
One hand still pressed gently over the fading ache in her abdon, Janet followed Derrick into the elevator. Charles watched her stubborn figure and felt a fresh wave of frustration.
"Go back to your office. I’m going to see Dad." Janet had just stepped out of the elevator when Charles grabbed her arm from behind. His grip was no longer rough, but Janet instinctively took a step back, saying nothing, and walked straight to her desk.
Charles sighed, casually draping his jacket—still warm from Janet’s body temperature—over his hand, then headed toward the VIP conference room.
The conference room was a ss. Docunts and a tablet Charles had thrown were scattered everywhere. Janet knelt to pick up the scattered papers, pressing her hand lightly against her abdon where a dull pain lingered. She stood up and went to the pantry to pour herself a cup of hot water. After drinking it down, she finally felt so warmth return to her cold body.
anwhile, as Charles entered the conference room, Derrick’s sharp slap landed on his cheek. His face reddened slightly, but he didn’t flinch. Instead, he licked his bloodied lips calmly and took a seat at the head of the table.
"Do you even realize what you’re doing? That woman is your brother Philip’s wife!" Derrick said coldly. He had long suspected Charles and August had designs on Philip’s wife, but he never thought his most reliable son would betray him like this.
"Dad, have you seen us in bed together?" Charles sneered. Derrick had never struck him before. He wasn’t sure if his anger was over Janet or Philip. Charles didn’t dodge the slap because he felt ashad of what he had done to Janet, but he didn’t regret it either. He cared for her deeply, but had inadvertently hurt her.
"What are you implying?" Derrick’s anger flared. He had always been proud of Charles, admiring his talent and trusting him to run Black Rock.
"I’ll take that slap. Just don’t trouble Janet anymore. There’s nothing between us." Charles t his father’s gaze, steady and calm.
Now wasn’t the ti. Before Philip and Janet officially divorced, Charles couldn’t let Derrick hurt her. If Derrick knew Charles’s true feelings for Janet, the barriers between them would be far greater than just family ties.
"If there’s really nothing, then send her back to Philip. She doesn’t belong here." Derrick looked disdainfully out the window, and his words tightened the tension inside Charles like a drawn bowstring.
"So, Dad, do you think I’m fit to be the boss?" Charles slamd the table and stood, his aura no less imposing than Derrick’s. A company without strong leadership was an empty shell. Though Charles had stayed behind the scenes all these years, under his control, Black Rock had reached a new height. With August now in the company, Charles wasn’t going anywhere.
"Are you threatening ?" Derrick’s anger surged. What kind of spell had this woman cast on Charles to make him defend her like this?
"I’m just asking you to be fair. Janet has done nothing wrong. She doesn’t need to leave. At least in my eyes, she’s an indispensable secretary." Charles stepped back, offering Derrick a way out. Derrick couldn’t argue further—but the scene he had just witnessed had already taken root in his mind, and he felt powerless.
Janet had originally expected Derrick to say sothing to her, but when he ca out, he only gave her a aningful glance and then left without a word.
Her tense emotions imdiately relaxed, but when she saw the comforting look Charles gave her, she turned away in irritation without acknowledging him.
"Is your stomach still hurting?" Charles wrapped his arms around her waist from behind. The sudden gesture startled Janet. When his palm touched her waist, a strange sensation flickered between their eyes. Once she collected her thoughts, she brusquely pried his hand away, creating so distance between them. Her tone grew sowhat distant, "Thanks for your concern, boss. It doesn’t hurt anymore!"
It was just a fall; Janet didn’t take it to heart.
"Janet..." Charles looked hurt by her guarded gaze. He stepped forward, but Janet took a step back. Frustrated, he reached out his hand, but it hovered mid-air without touching her skin. His eyes were filled with deep helplessness, and finally, it all boiled down to a brief, three-word apology: "I’m sorry."
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