Chapter 48 Sexual Harassment

Laura was fuming with frustration. She was trying to argue her case, while her father had already signed the settlement agreement on her behalf. She couldn't wait to pull out her phone, determined to get some answers from him.

"Dad!" Laura's voice was a mix of anger and urgency as she questioned him over the phone, "How could you forgive them? They treated me so badly..."

"Enough! From now on, you are not to provoke them again," Paxton Johnson cut her off sharply, "Especially Howard and Valerie."

"Why?" Laura bit her lip, feeling deeply wronged. She felt her father had no idea what she had gone through. She had never been slapped before in her life. She spoke again, "I was attacked, Dad, and you don't even care!"

"This is my final warning: Don't cause any more trouble for me!"

The call ended abruptly, leaving Laura feeling stifled. Spoiled since childhood, she was now seething with rage, unable to hold back a scream. She was determined to find out who this cripple was that had such influence over her father!

In her anger, she grabbed the nearest object, set to hurl it across the room. But just as she raised her hand, a police officer stopped her.

Laura glared at the officer, who stepped forward and calmly took the pen holder from her hand. "This isn't your home," he said evenly.

Laura's face darkened as she slammed the pen holder back onto the desk and stormed out.

Meanwhile...

After safely escorting Raina home, Valerie let out a long breath, still shaken. "Thank goodness it was just an act. If Grandma had really had a heart attack, I would have been scared to death."

"Grandma loves to pull these stunts. Don't worry."

Valerie nodded, then suddenly remembered something. She turned to the man beside her, curious. "You said it was Laura's father who signed the settlement agreement?"

"Yes."

"Laura got beaten up, and he agreed to settle? Why?" Valerie was full of questions.

The car fell silent. Joseph, who was driving, glanced at Howard through the rearview mirror.

Howard stiffened slightly but then tried to appear calm. "Because I have something on her father."

"Something on him?" Valerie's curiosity deepened. "How did you get something on her father?" The Johnson family held a significant position in the business world, much higher than the Smith Group. Wayne was working tirelessly to be able to stand up to Paxton. But Howard was just a business manager. How did he get leverage over Paxton?

Seeing Valerie's growing curiosity, Howard lowered his eyes to hide a flicker of unease. He chuckled softly, leaned back in his seat, and touched his lips with his finger, signaling for silence. "Well, let me keep a bit of mystery."

Valerie nodded, feeling a twinge of disappointment. She swallowed her remaining questions and turned to look out the window.

Before the workday was over, Valerie had Howard drop her back at the office. But she had barely settled in when someone called out, "Ms. Brown, Mr. Wright wants to see you."

Valerie frowned slightly, puzzled about what Jeremy could want. Since he was her boss, she had no choice but to head to his office.

Taking a deep breath, Valerie walked in and politely said, "Mr. Wright, what do you need from me?"

Jeremy looked up, his face breaking into a wide smile. He stood up, rubbing his hands together. "Valerie, you're here."

Valerie felt uneasy at his sudden change in demeanor. Her frown deepened as she watched him approach. Instinctively, she stepped aside. When she saw Jeremy close the door and pull down the blinds, a strong sense of foreboding washed over her, and alarm bells rang in her mind.

"Mr. Wright," Valerie quickly dodged Jeremy's outstretched hand and coldly questioned, "What do you mean by this? If you come any closer, I'll call for help."

"Go ahead, call for help if you dare." Jeremy's face twisted into a lecherous grin as he ogled her. "I never expected you to be such a tease."

Valerie was momentarily confused by his words and looked at him with a puzzled expression.

Jeremy continued disdainfully, "You are a mistress and get confronted by the legal wife. What are you pretending to be so high and mighty for? You might as well dump that guy and come with me." Jeremy pressed closer. "You're working so hard for money, right? Stick with me, and you'll live in comfort."

Valerie frowned, her voice icy. "I don't understand what you're talking about. But if you insist on approaching, I won't be polite!"

"Fine," Jeremy's grin widened. "I'd like to see how impolite you can be."

Valerie swiftly pulled out her phone. Before Jeremy could react, she quickly typed a message and held the screen up to him.

The screen displayed a message in the work group chat, stating that Jeremy was sexually harassing her in his office. Jeremy's face turned cold.

But Valerie wasn't done. "Let me go now, or I'll send this message. Not only to the work group but also to headquarters."

Jeremy squinted, his expression turning vicious. "Do you think you can defy me?"

"If I send this, everyone will see it. If you try anything, I'll call the police." With the added threat of involving the police, Jeremy's malicious intent was extinguished.

He stood there, hands on his hips, glaring at Valerie. She seized the opportunity to run out of the office.

Back at her desk, Valerie was still shaken by the encounter. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself and refocus on her work.

As the end of the workday approached, Valerie finished her work and was going to head home.

Just as she opened the office door, she saw Jeremy standing in the employee area, looking at her with ill intent.

Valerie averted her eyes, grabbed her bag, and was about to leave when Jeremy suddenly announced, "Tonight at seven, I'm treating everyone to dinner!"

Valerie was about to walk away when Jeremy called out to her.

"Ms. Brown, you're coming too."

Valerie wanted to refuse, but Jeremy quickly added, "This is your first team-building event since joining the company. Consider it a welcome party." With that, Valerie had no choice but to join the group heading to the dinner location Jeremy had arranged.