Chapter 24 Alexander Beats Up Lucas
The black car smoothly drove out of Bright Heal Hospital's premises.
"What you saw just now, she's not my girlfriend."
Catherine remained silent.
"She's my secretary."
Catherine was still silent.
What did it have to do with her anyway?
As one of the three major organizations on the dark web, it was perfectly normal for Alexander to have several secretaries at Shadow Syndicate. Besides, that secretary looked like a highly capable woman who was probably quite good at her job.
"That's nice."
Alexander continued to explain: "Women's outstanding abilities and strengths in the workplace are irreplaceable, so I've hired quite a few female employees."
Catherine nodded, "I agree. Charles's company also has many female employees. He says no one falls in love with their boss in a work situation—character and work ability always matter more than gender."
Alexander chuckled softly, "Charles and I think alike."
"Male employees can fall in love with their boss just the same. It has nothing to do with gender."
Alexander fell silent.
That wasn't what he meant at all!
Alexander touched his nose, covering up the stiffness at the corner of his mouth.
"You must have heard about Ethan entering the country."
"Yes, Ethan is probably here to meet with Eli."
Ethan, as the leader of the Phantom Crew assassin organization, was actually meeting with Eli from Sunhaven Isles in Imperia City, Stellara!
"What do you think?"
Catherine glanced at him coolly and said: "Eli wants the Stellara market, Ethan wants to take us down. It's just a temporary alliance."
They were all people who operated on the dark web—Ethan and Eli's schemes ran deep.
When Alexander heard her say "us," the corner of his mouth curved up slightly, an indescribable joy welling up in his heart, sweet as honey.
Catherine saw the smile on Alexander's face and was somewhat speechless.
Had Nightfall injured his brain on some mission?
She'd just said Ethan and Eli were teaming up to take them down, and he could still smile?
Bright Heal Hospital's neurology department was pretty good too—she should find a chance to get Nightfall checked out.
The Evergreen Group, CEO's office.
Charles sat at his desk in a sharp suit, his shirt without a single wrinkle, his sculpted handsome face refined and elegant, his every movement carrying the distinctive bearing of an upper-class gentleman.
His special assistant in a professional suit stood beside him, respectfully saying: "Mr. Windsor, we've investigated all of Catherine's past at the Smith family."
"Speak."
"Catherine didn't have it good at the Smith family. Her monthly allowance was two thousand dollars, but because it was often withheld, last year Catherine's total allowance for the entire year was only five thousand dollars. She almost had to pay her own tuition."
"The Smith family's current daughter Clara grew up with Catherine. Her monthly allowance exceeds five thousand dollars. Last year she received a total of one hundred thousand dollars, all given privately by Celeste."
Charles rubbed his temples, suppressing the anger in his heart, "Continue!"
"Catherine originally had a fiancé, Lucas from the Johnson family in Serenitia City, but Lucas is quite the playboy. The Smith family wanted Clara to marry Lucas and kicked Catherine out. When Marcus sent people to pick up Catherine, they were even insulted."
"Yesterday when Catherine was kidnapped, it was orchestrated by Celeste and Clara. They wanted to sell Catherine to a remote mountain area, preferably so she could never come back."
Even the assistant was shocked.
This family was too terrible!
The pen in Charles's hand nearly snapped in two!
"Good, very good! Damn the Smith family! Being poor would be one thing, but they actually treated my sister like this!"
Charles was usually easygoing and refined—this was the first time the special assistant had seen him this angry.
"Mr. Windsor, Nolan Dixon from Azurewave Group has invited you to discuss business at The Velvet Lounge tonight. Also, that Lucas will be at The Velvet Lounge tonight too."
Charles sneered, "Tell Nolan I'll be right there."
"Yes."
The Velvet Lounge.
The huge dance floor was packed with people. As soon as Catherine stepped in, she felt several people deliberately bumping into her arm.
Alexander pulled Catherine's hand, bringing her closer to his side. His tall figure cast a shadow that enveloped Catherine.
"Sorry, she's taken."
Seeing Alexander's cold face, those who wanted to hit on her instinctively took a step back.
Catherine was suddenly pulled into his arms, her face pressed against Alexander's shirt. He seemed to be wearing a sandalwood-like cologne, faint and filling her nostrils, making her face feel slightly warm.
It was her first time being this close to a man. Catherine held her breath and was about to pull away when Alexander pressed his hand against her back.
"Shh, Ethan is over there."
He leaned close to Catherine's ear, Alexander's deep voice carrying a hint of barely controlled joy and intimacy, full of magnetic hormones.
Catherine's face grew even redder. Her back stiffened as she looked in the direction Alexander indicated, and sure enough, she saw Ethan drinking at a booth.
Catherine had encountered Ethan a few years ago and knew what he looked like. The unfamiliar man in the same booth must be Eli from Sunhaven Isles!
Alexander's hand patted Catherine's slender back. From an outsider's perspective, it looked like the two were embracing.
"Ethan brought thirty assassins, Eli has over fifty thugs around him. We can't rule out more drug lords hiding here."
Catherine quickly calculated the people present.
Alexander was somewhat surprised—Catherine had figured out how many people Ethan and Eli brought in just that brief moment?
She smelled nice, making him reluctant to let go.
"Sorry, this is forward of me, but to avoid being spotted by Eli and Ethan, we need some cover."
Catherine was silent.
This kind of cover was really unnecessary!
In the booth area, Lucas's leering gaze swept over the swaying dancers on the floor, searching for tonight's target.
"Lucas, isn't that your fiancée?"
Someone beside him patted his arm, pointing at two people embracing at the edge of the dance floor.
The man in the black shirt was looking down and saying something to the girl in his arms. Under the hazy lights, Catherine's face carried an alluring charm.
Lucas's eyes lit up!
But he said dismissively: "My fiancée is Clara. She's the real daughter of the Smith family. Catherine is just a fake. She kept rejecting me before, but now she's here working as a bar girl."
Though he said this, his feet didn't stop moving as he walked straight toward Catherine and Alexander.
Lucas adjusted his expression, forcing out a sleazy smile.
"Catherine, long time no see. I think about you every day!"
Catherine was speechless.
The Velvet Lounge wasn't Charles's property, so it was normal that Lucas was let in.
"Lucas? If you're sick, go to a mental hospital."
"Catherine, why did you chase me all the way here? Although I can't marry you, I can reluctantly let you be my mistress."
Lucas thought the conditions he offered were tempting enough, looking completely confident.
At this moment, Alexander's smile disappeared. He looked down at Catherine, "Sorry, please give me one minute."
Lucas hadn't even noticed Alexander beside Catherine, assuming he was probably Catherine's client for the night.
Alexander methodically unbuttoned and rolled up his sleeves, revealing his muscular arms, then his fist landed directly on Lucas's face!
A storm of punches rained down continuously. In an instant, Lucas felt several of his teeth shatter!
"Do you know who I am?"
His shiny leather shoe stepped on Lucas's face. Alexander ground down hard several times, his voice as cold as the grim reaper!
"Just someone with no manners."
He waved his hand, and immediately people rushed out from the shadows, dragging away the half-dead Lucas like a dead fish.
Such incidents weren't uncommon in bars. The lighting was dim enough that few people noticed Lucas getting beaten.
Catherine didn't speak.
Alexander turned around. His deep eyes still carried anger. He looked at Catherine with regretful words, slowly opening his mouth: