Chapter 28 Took Her on the Spot
"Mr. Cortez, this isn't appropriate."
Quinley's voice carried clear resistance. John gripped her wrist as the smell of alcohol mixed with cigar smoke hit her face. His mouth was about to force itself onto hers. Quinley frantically turned her head away, his wet lips and tongue grazing her cheek, instantly making her feel sick.
"I decide what's appropriate," John said. Seeing her lack of cooperation, he switched hands and roughly clamped her jaw. The force was so strong her cheeks went pale immediately.
"That hurts." She hissed softly, tears welling in her eyes.
But John showed no mercy, roughly lowering his head to kiss her lips. This was the most disgusting contact Quinley had ever experienced—the overwhelming revulsion made her want to vomit, but she could only endure it. Unable to speak with her mouth blocked, she could only make muffled sounds of protest.
Just then, the elevator doors opened. The air instantly froze.
Outside stood Zachary, tall and imposing, with several business partners beside him. "Ms. Elikin?" Someone recognized her and couldn't help but gasp.
Quinley was mortified, but John was so absorbed in his kiss that he wouldn't let go. Zachary stood there, fury blazing in his cold eyes. He was an extremely possessive man—even though they had no relationship now, he couldn't stand seeing her treated this way.
Before he could act, Lucas, who was beside him, had already moved. He slapped John's shoulder, gradually increasing the pressure. "In such a hurry? Never seen a woman before?"
John winced in pain and reluctantly released her, glaring fiercely at Lucas. Seeing he was outnumbered, he wisely stepped out of the elevator.
As Quinley was about to exit, Zachary blocked her path. "Mr. Jennings, long time no see." She crossed her arms, pretending nonchalance, even nodding to greet the business partners.
Her expression was calm, but the partners were deeply uncomfortable. "Are you coming or not?" John urged from outside the elevator.
"Yes, just wait for me." Quinley pushed past Zachary and deliberately took John's arm.
Zachary's gaze was coldly intimidating—he hadn't expected her to sink this low.
"I heard Ms. Elikin resigned?" one partner asked cautiously.
Another said tentatively, "I heard from a friend that Ms. Elikin went into PR work. Mr. Jennings, surely that's not true?"
Hadn't they just witnessed it with their own eyes? Zachary's expression was as dark as night. Lucas could see his mood—Quinley was degrading herself, and he was angry at her lack of self-respect.
"Gentlemen, Ms. Elikin has left Apex Global Group. She's no longer Mr. Jennings's secretary. As for her current profession, that's her choice. Please don't speculate."
The elevator reached the seventeenth floor and everyone exited, but Zachary returned to the elevator and pressed the down button. "Mr. Jennings, where are you going?" someone asked.
Lucas quickly explained, "He forgot his phone downstairs. Everyone go ahead to the private room."
The elevator descended to the first floor, and Zachary strode out quickly. Outside Golden Mile Entertainment, Quinley was still in a standoff with John. He insisted on taking her to a hotel room.
"Mr. Cortez, I'm not feeling well today. It's really not convenient." She made excuses to stall.
A normal man might respect this, but John wasn't normal. Hearing her words, excitement flashed in his eyes. "I love a good battle."
"Mr. Cortez, let me take you for some late-night snacks. You've been drinking all evening without eating much—that's bad for your stomach." She could only continue delaying.
John was losing patience—he saw through her intentions. Suddenly, he grabbed her skirt hem. "What? You want me to screw you right here?"
He yanked hard, pulling the skirt up to her thighs, exposing her flesh-colored safety shorts. Quinley was mortified—she'd never encountered someone so shameless. She reached to cover herself, but this only excited him more as he continued pulling downward.
Just as the skirt was about to be torn off and his hand reached for her safety shorts, a vicious kick sent John flying. "Damn it!" He crashed to the ground.
Quinley immediately pulled her skirt back into place and looked up to see Zachary deliver another flying kick. He'd practiced taekwondo in his youth—his leg techniques were brutal and precise. Before John could get up, the second kick landed. His front teeth hit the concrete, breaking in half.
"Bastard!" John roared, trying to fight back, but his movements were chaotic. Zachary was professionally trained—every move was fast, ruthless, and accurate. Soon John was on the ground, only able to cry out in pain.
Quinley silently cheered, but she couldn't show it—if something happened to John, she might ultimately be held responsible.
"Mr. Jennings, stop! You could kill him." She stepped forward to restrain him but was pushed away.
"Who told you to touch her?" Zachary shouted while continuing to kick.
John curled into a ball, protecting his head. "I don't know her! I just got an anonymous message telling me to screw her."
Everything was as Zachary had suspected. He just hadn't expected them to be so vicious. Quinley was also shocked—she'd thought tonight was about helping out, not realizing she'd walked into a trap. But so what? If she wanted to make quick money, big money, she had to pay the price.
"Mr. Jennings, please show mercy." She stepped in front of John again. Their eyes met—his burning with fury, hers filled with helplessness and pleading.
If he hadn't appeared in time, her fate would have been unthinkable. Yet now she was pleading for the man who had assaulted her. Zachary couldn't understand it, nor did he want to.
"Do you know what you're doing?" he roared.
Quinley said calmly, "I know you're trying to help me, and I understand. But if you really want to help me, please stop."
She was telling the truth—if he beat up John, no one would hold Zachary accountable, but they would definitely make trouble for her.
Zachary's gaze bore into her intensely. "Mr. Jennings, everyone's waiting for you." Lucas arrived just in time.
Zachary's fury gradually subsided as coldness returned to his eyes. "Take care of yourself." With that, he turned and left.
At the same time, Quinley helped John to his feet. "Mr. Cortez, I'm sorry. Let me take you to the hospital."
Hearing her voice, Zachary didn't turn back. He didn't want to—afraid that what he'd see was no longer the Quinley he once knew.