Chapter 163: Insulting My Fiancée?
Catherine said coolly, "Ms. Hughes, you really have no class. This is what being rude looks like. You weren't acting like this when you were hitting my people just now."
Esme covered her face, staring at Catherine in shock!
"You! How dare you hit me! Do Mom, Dad, and my brother know what you're really like? If Alexander knew you were so ill-mannered and crazy, he'd definitely dump you!"
"Really?" Catherine smiled slightly, a cold arc forming at the corner of her mouth, like a frosty moon on the horizon, sending chills through people's hearts.
Another slap landed, making both sides of Esme's face swell up!
Esme's face immediately puffed up.
Catherine admired it for a moment, with some regret.
"I really do prefer things more symmetrical. It's just that your left cheek has too much makeup on, affecting my judgment. Maybe I should give you another slap."
Hearing Catherine casually say she wanted to slap her again, Esme was scared to tears!
"Catherine, are you crazy? Don't hit me!"
After taking several solid slaps to the face, even her eyelids were swollen. She stammered for a long time without getting a word out.
A Bentley pulled up to the curb, and a tall, handsome young man stepped out. He wore an elegant vintage suit with exquisite cufflinks at his sleeves, gleaming brightly.
Esme's eyes lit up when she saw Alexander!
If Alexander knew what kind of woman Catherine was, he would definitely leave her.
She spoke sweetly, "Alexander, it really hurts."
Alexander didn't even glance at her. He walked straight to Catherine's side, took her hand, and gently rubbed it while speaking tenderly, "Why did you do it yourself? The makeup on her face is too thick—it's not good for your hand."
Esme froze.
She used only high-end cosmetics, and many of her face creams were custom-made. How did they become dirty things in Alexander's mouth?
He saw Catherine hitting someone, so why was he still so tolerant of her!
This couldn't be real!
"Alexander!"
Catherine glanced at Alexander coolly. "She hit my people, so she deserved a beating. Are you standing up for her?"
Alexander chuckled softly.
"I came straight here as soon as I heard you were at the gallery. As for her, since you find her an eyesore, just deal with her."
Hearing Alexander say he would deal with her, Esme shook like a leaf!
"You can't do this to me! I really like you, Alexander!"
Alexander waved his hand impatiently, and several bodyguards immediately appeared behind him, grabbing Esme to take her away.
Annie bowed and said, "Mr. Howard, the gallery across the street also belongs to Esme. I'm afraid she might come bother Catherine again in the future. From a professional standpoint, it will also affect Catherine's gallery business."
Alexander held Catherine's hand and said ruthlessly, "If it affects Catherine's mood and business, why keep it? Tear it down!"
Sarah immediately raised her hand. "Mr. Howard, actually there's no need to tear it down. Our gallery has been thinking about expanding recently."
Alexander glanced at her, then looked at Catherine with tender eyes.
"What do you think? How about the one across the street?"
"The location is pretty good."
Alexander looked at Annie. "Acquire it. Throw this embarrassment to Michael, and get me that gallery across the street for three million dollars."
Catherine looked up at him.
"Given the property prices on this street, Michael won't agree to transfer it for three million dollars."
Alexander smiled wickedly, his whole being radiating the commanding presence of a business empire owner.
"Offering three million is already giving him face. This idiot dared to show up in front of you—the Hughes family should compensate with some money."
Esme never expected Alexander would buy her gallery and give it to Catherine. She nearly went crazy!
This was the gallery she worked so hard to get!
Why should everything of hers be taken and given to Catherine!
Everything from the Windsor family too, and now even her gallery?
"This is mine! Catherine is just a bitch trying to take everything from me..."
Before she could finish, a shiny expensive leather shoe pressed against her face!
The spotless shoe ground into her face, knocking out several of her teeth, filling her mouth with the thick taste of blood!
The shoe's owner had a dark expression, his eyes cold enough to kill.
"If you can't speak properly, then don't speak. I didn't beat you before because you still had the Windsor name. Now that you have nothing to do with the Windsor family, if you still don't know how to behave, someone will teach you!"
Everyone around saw this scene and lowered their heads, pretending they saw nothing.
No one dared respond to Esme's increasingly weak cries for help.
Who would dare oppose Alexander?
If Alexander wanted, not just this street, but all of Imperia City would have to listen to him!
Alexander carefully wiped Catherine's hand with a handkerchief and instructed coolly, "Annie, I don't need to tell you what to do next, right?"
"Yes, I'll handle everything properly. Congratulations on Catherine's gallery opening today—may business boom!"
Whether it was the gallery across the street or today's events, everything would be handled perfectly.
The Hughes family and the Windsor family should both know what happened. Otherwise, if the Windsor family didn't know Alexander stood up for a woman, that would be such a loss!
With Esme being such an idiot, the Hughes family would just have to swallow this bitter pill!
Annie led several bodyguards to carry Esme away, and the media around were quite sensible, photographing what they should.
Are you kidding? Whether it was the Windsor family, the Howard family, or the Hughes family, these media outlets couldn't afford to offend any of them!
Alexander nodded with satisfaction and walked into the gallery with his arm around Catherine's waist.
"The one across the street will be yours too. Will it be too much work?"
"Doesn't matter."
To Catherine, one gallery or two made little difference.
Landon and Sarah stood at the gallery entrance, also excited!
"Congratulations on Catherine's gallery opening today!"
Although they knew the CEO of the Howard Group was Catherine's fiancé, they didn't know how their relationship was. After all, there were plenty of arranged marriages in wealthy families. Seeing them today, they realized Alexander treated Ms. Windsor like his most beloved!
Catherine glanced at Landon, her expression calm.
"I don't want today's incident to happen again."
"Yes."
Catherine shook her head.
"I'm not talking about being challenged—that's normal in this industry, nothing unusual. As the gallery manager, you're in charge when I'm not here. And Sarah, when you get hit, it's like I'm getting hit. If you don't even know to fight back, then don't work here anymore."
Landon and Sarah were excited!
Was Catherine blaming them for not fighting back in time?
Catherine continued, "Anyone who comes looking for trouble, no matter who they are, just hit them. If you hurt them badly, it's on me. But I don't need timid employees. If you can't even protect the gallery's dignity, just resign and go home. Do you understand?"
Landon and Sarah's eyes filled with tears of determination and gratitude.
Catherine was clearly standing up for them. Having such a good boss was amazing!
"Yes! We understand!"
Walking into the office and closing the door, Alexander turned and hugged Catherine, resting his head on her shoulder and nuzzling her neck.
It tickled a bit. Catherine wanted to dodge, but Alexander held the back of her neck, his hand against her skin, somewhat burning.
"Don't move. Let me hold you."
His voice sounded low and hoarse, probably from exhaustion from working overtime these past days. The moment he held Catherine, it all seemed to dissipate.
He admitted he craved this warmth!
Hearing the fatigue and longing in his voice, Catherine felt some sympathy and simply let him hold her. After all, he'd let go once he'd had enough.
She just didn't know whose heartbeat was intertwined with whose, exceptionally strong, seeming like attraction, or perhaps something else.