Chapter 149 William Reaches Out and Grabs Scarlett's Neck...
Scarlett felt furious just looking at Thalia. She had come to the law firm every single day for a week to wait for William, but each day she just sat in the reception room from morning till night without even catching a glimpse of him. Today she finally managed to see William, and before they could even start talking, Thalia showed up. Her timing was impeccable, as if she had planned it perfectly.
"Thalia, that's enough. Aren't you afraid that when the Smith family falls, you'll have offended everyone in Emerald City and won't even be able to stay here anymore?"
Thalia waved her hand dismissively and said with disdain, "I hope you live long enough to see that day."
As she spoke, her eyes swept over William standing by the window. Scarlett caught that coquettish, complaining look and instinctively felt there must be some relationship between these two that others didn't know about.
She turned back to look at William, who appeared completely unfazed, leaning against the windowsill smoking a cigarette.
Acting as if none of this concerned him.
Thalia had already been annoyed when she went to the office early that morning. Coming to find William and running into Scarlett made it worse. As 10 o'clock approached, William still showed no sign of speaking.
Sensing Thalia's murderous glare, William finally spoke: "Ms. Lewis, shall we talk another day?"
"Does Mr. Brown have a relationship with Thalia?"
"Is that something I need to tell you?" William's polite and gentlemanly retort was like a gentle man coaxing you while slapping you in the face, leaving Scarlett powerless to fight back.
She opened her mouth to speak, but found that all her words died on her lips.
William walked to his desk with his cigarette and pressed the intercom: "Brian, escort Ms. Lewis downstairs."
Shortly after, the door was pushed open and Scarlett was asked to leave.
Brian led Scarlett toward the elevator.
"What's the relationship between Mr. Brown and Thalia?"
Brian paused slightly: "By relationship, does Ms. Lewis mean the kind of client and service provider relationship we're thinking of?"
"A romantic relationship."
Brian shook his head: "I wouldn't know about that. Mr. Brown has never liked us asking about his private affairs."
"The elevator's here, Ms. Lewis, please."
Scarlett stood at the elevator entrance with one foot inside and the other still at the door. Instead of getting in, she suddenly turned and rushed down the corridor toward William's office.
Brian silently exclaimed to himself—do these wealthy young ladies only think about love?
How could she be so bold to do this?
If Scarlett pushed open the door and saw something she shouldn't, wouldn't his career be over right then and there?
Brian started running after her: "Ms. Lewis, if you keep this up, I'll have to call security."
"Ms. Lewis."
The door to William's office was pulled open.
Thalia had been pressed down on the sofa by William, who had pulled down the strap of her dress from her shoulder. William had wanted to continue, but hearing Brian's calls from the hallway, he abruptly got up and went to the door.
William still held his cigarette, dressed in his suit, standing at the office door staring at her with deep eyes that radiated cold warning and silent pressure.
"Mr. Brown."
Everyone in Emerald City knew William was no saint.
A man in his twenties who could overturn all the elite families in Emerald City and stand among the city's nouveau riche, becoming someone the wealthy sought to please—this alone showed he was a man of deep cunning.
"Ms. Lewis should know that all your privileges with me depend on your father."
Scarlett wanted to explain.
But she heard William call out to Finn: "Call Mr. Lewis and tell him if he can't discipline his own daughter, don't blame others for doing it for him."
"William, who do you think you are? Don't think I don't know you and Thalia are in this together. The Lewis family showing interest in you is your good fortune. Go ask around Emerald City—how many people actually think highly of you? They only care about your connections and your position in Emerald City's legal circle."
William raised his hand and took a drag of his cigarette, then turned around and grabbed her by the throat.
Right there in front of everyone.
William's strong, powerful arm gripped her neck, gradually lifting her up.
Scarlett's toes left the ground as she grabbed William's wrist, trying to free her neck.
Brian's heart trembled hearing Scarlett's arrogant words. He had to admire her nerve.
Even Jasper had to be respectful and polite when meeting William.
And she... not only called him by his first name but also insulted him.
William was the kind of person who, even as a low-level worker, couldn't hide that air of commanding authority.
Right now, with his back to her, William was choking Scarlett.
Thalia was shocked just watching.
"It seems I've been too merciful, allowing a useless rich girl like you to come here and shout at me."
William finished speaking and flung his hand.
Scarlett slid across the floor and crashed into the trash can against the wall.
Finn stood by watching silently. Seeing William throw Scarlett aside, he walked over and handed him a handkerchief, taking the cigarette from his hand and stubbing it out in the trash can.
At the office door, William casually wiped his palm with the handkerchief: "Since Ms. Lewis is so bold, I'll grant your wish."
Scarlett lay on the ground clutching her neck, coughing violently, not hearing clearly what William had just said.
Only when Finn came over, dragged her by the arm into the adjacent reception room, and called Jasper did she realize who she had offended.
.......
The office door closed again. Brian's eyes swept over the glass window of the secretary's office.
The crowd gathered at the window finally dispersed.
"Was that really Mr. Brown just now?"
"Yes!"
"Mr. Brown has always been refined and elegant in my mind. What happened today?"
"Didn't you hear what Ms. Lewis just said? Mr. Brown is good-tempered and low-key, but what Scarlett said—is that something a human being would say? A rich girl with no achievements or prospects, standing in front of Mr. Brown criticizing and judging him?"
"Everyone in Emerald City knows Mr. Brown's status in the legal circle. Never mind the Lewis family—even the century-old Mitchell family and the current industrial giant Wilson family are his clients. Who doesn't treat Mr. Brown with respect when they meet him?"
"Scarlett is finished. Whether she survives depends on how Jasper handles this."
As they spoke, someone sent out the video they had secretly recorded...