Chapter 140 Mr. Jennings Wakes Up
"Mr. Powell, wait!"
Landon chased after him. At the elevator, he blocked the old board member like a desperate, groveling dog.
"Someone's trying to frame me! I didn't do it—I didn't do anything! That man in the video isn't me."
He denied it frantically, but nobody believed him. They'd all just witnessed the disgusting sex tape in the conference room. The star of the show was standing right in front of them—Landon himself.
Wild, unhinged, absolutely revolting. Hard to watch.
These board members had seen plenty in their time, but they'd never encountered anyone as depraved as Landon.
"You're on your own."
Mr. Powell was someone Landon had worked his ass off to win over. But now, the old man's face was tight with anger, his cloudy eyes filled with disappointment.
The elevator doors opened. Mr. Powell led the group inside. They walked away shaking their heads and sighing.
Watching them go, Landon practically stomped his feet in rage. The elevator doors closed. Furious beyond reason, he spun around and charged straight into the secretarial office.
"Talk! Who's trying to destroy me?"
He was screaming.
The secretarial department had four people—all young women. Right now Landon was a rabid dog ready to bite anyone in sight. They were all terrified.
When no one answered, Landon lashed out randomly.
Earlier when the commotion started outside, Grace had pulled Quinley into the supply closet. Now with more chaos erupting, Grace stood and locked the door.
"Cindy, this has nothing to do with us. We need to stay out of it."
Grace was warning Quinley specifically.
Quinley nodded. Suddenly, a heavy thud echoed through the office. Then a piercing scream.
"Mr. Jennings, you can't do this to Ms. Gomez! She's innocent!"
Landon had turned on Adela.
In that moment, Quinley forgot Grace's warning. She yanked open the door and rushed out.
Landon had grabbed Adela by the hair. She was slight—no match for him physically. She struggled and resisted, but Landon was strong. He dragged her toward the wall, slamming her against it.
"You're Zachary's lapdog! You're the one trying to ruin me!"
He used brutal force. Blood was already seeping from Adela's forehead, dark and red.
In that instant, Quinley didn't think. While everyone else stood frozen, she grabbed a mop and swung it at the back of Landon's head.
A dull thud. He crumpled to the floor unconscious.
With Landon down, everyone panicked again. They all shrank back, staring at Quinley.
"Thank you."
Adela's voice was weak.
Quinley dropped the mop and helped steady her. "Ms. Gomez, your forehead's bleeding. You need to get to a hospital."
Adela's face was deathly pale. She nodded, then pulled away from Quinley's support. "Thank you."
She steadied herself against the wall and addressed the trembling secretaries. "Contact security. Have them remove him."
Someone immediately complied. Security arrived quickly and hauled Landon away.
"Contact the front desk. He's not allowed in Apex Global Group Building anymore. Ever."
She issued the second order.
Quinley stood behind Adela, watching her with approval. Calm under pressure, unshaken—she'd handled it well.
"Cindy, could you and Grace clean up the conference room?"
Adela's instructions were clear.
"Of course."
Quinley nodded and headed to the conference room.
On the electronic display screen, the video of Landon and Sophie's hookup played on loop. They were in a KTV private room, going absolutely wild.
Grace rushed over and immediately shut off the screen. Her face was grim. She let out a heavy sigh.
"Cindy, don't be so impulsive next time."
"Okay. I'll remember." Quinley obediently agreed.
But at that moment, she didn't know her impulsiveness had just caused her serious trouble.
Two hours later, Emily showed up at Apex Global Group with Joe and an entourage. Landon had been injured and hospitalized—she was out for blood, demanding to find whoever was responsible.
The front desk couldn't stop her. She took the elevator straight to the executive floor.
Adela had gone to the hospital for her injury. The moment Emily arrived, she started making threats.
"Whoever just hurt my son—show yourself if you've got the guts!"
Her presence was overwhelming, aggressive.
Without Adela there, the young secretaries were even more terrified. They all kept their heads down. Nobody dared speak.
Grace pulled Quinley into the supply closet. She peeked through the door crack at what was happening outside, her face going pale with fear.
"Cindy, whatever you do, don't go out there."
Emily had brought people with her. A few women had no chance against them.
"It was you, wasn't it?"
When no one confessed, Emily started grabbing people randomly. She seized the new intern secretary by the hair, forcing her to admit it.
The intern shook her head frantically. "It wasn't me! Really, it wasn't!"
"Not you? Then her?"
She pointed at another secretary.
"Grace, call Mr. Murphy."
Quinley was remarkably calm. She gave clear instructions.
Grace did as told and immediately dialed Lucas's number.
Quinley added, "Call Peter, the CFO."
Grace didn't understand why, but if Quinley said to do it, she did.
Before Lucas arrived, Peter showed up. Being an old player, he immediately sidled up to Emily.
"Mrs. Jennings, please calm down. Getting upset isn't worth damaging your health. Why don't you come to the reception room? I happen to have some work matters to discuss with you."
He put on a fawning smile and reached to take Emily's arm.
Emily wasn't having it. Right now she only wanted to find whoever had hurt Landon.
"Who are you? If this doesn't concern you, get lost."
Peter smiled awkwardly. He moved closer and whispered a few words in her ear.
Quinley was too far away to hear what Peter said, but she saw Emily's expression grow complicated.
"Mrs. Jennings, please."
He made a welcoming gesture. Looking suspicious, Emily followed him to the reception room.
Once Emily left, the secretaries huddled together, still shaking.
"Get back to work. Mr. Murphy will be here soon."
Quinley emerged from the supply closet holding cleaning supplies. Her voice was measured and steady, but it gave those panicked people something to hold onto.
Less than twenty minutes later, Lucas arrived. Not only did he show up—he brought incredible news.
"I need you to leave."
Lucas walked straight into the reception room, his tone ice cold.
Emily wasn't buying it. She snapped back, "Who the hell are you to talk to me like that?"
"Mr. Jennings has given orders. You and Landon are permanently banned from Apex Global Group."
"Mr. Jennings? Which Mr. Jennings? You mean Zachary, lying in a coma somewhere?" Emily laughed coldly. "Whether he's alive or dead, nobody even knows. Mr. Murphy, save your breath. When my son returns to Apex Global Group, you'll be the first one thrown out. I suggest you wise up, or else—"
Emily looked smug.
Lucas's face darkened. He held back his fury, his sharp gaze boring into Emily.
"Mr. Jennings is awake."