Chloe kept quiet.
Was this really something their subordinates should be gossiping about?
But thinking back to the president's mention of his wife's smile yesterday and his serious look this morning, it wasn't out of the question.
Chloe sneaked a glance at Vincent, watching him gracefully swing the golf club and sink a ball with ease.
The president of Future Life Corporation wasn't as lucky, missing several times without making a single shot.
After a few rounds, the president of Future Life Corporation signaled for someone to bring tea.
Seeing this, Chloe quickly handed Vincent a bottle of water and a towel.
The president of Future Life Corporation looked at Chloe, his eyes openly scanning her.
Chloe was dressed in a white blouse and a knee-length skirt. Her smooth, long hair was tied into a bun, showing off her slender, sun-kissed neck. Her light makeup was clean and appropriate, perfectly normal professional attire.
However, the president of Future Life Corporation kept staring at her chest, his gaze lecherous as if Chloe was wearing nothing. He grinned, "Mr. Harrison, your new assistant is not only young and beautiful but also has a great figure."
Vincent responded indifferently, "Mr. Samuel, you're too kind."
The president of Future Life Corporation chuckled and said to Chloe, "Miss Clark, do you play golf?"
As the president's special assistant, Chloe knew a bit but wasn't proficient, and it wasn't her place to play in such a setting.
"Mr. Samuel, I don't." She hated the way he looked at her but didn't dare to do anything considering the occasion. She took the bottle Vincent had finished and prepared to step aside.
Unexpectedly, Mr. Samuel reached out and slapped her butt, then wrapped his arm around her waist, teasing, "Miss Clark, if you don't know, I can teach you."
Chloe instinctively stomped hard on Mr. Samuel's foot, causing him to release her in pain and glare at her viciously.
Once free, Chloe immediately stepped aside, worriedly looking at Vincent.
In such a business negotiation setting, offending a client could very well get her fired.
To Chloe's surprise, Vincent's deep voice suddenly rang out, "Mr. Samuel, she belongs to me."
He looked at Mr. Samuel, his perfect, handsome face showing no change in expression, but the slightly narrowed eyes behind his silver-framed glasses indicated his displeasure.
Mr. Samuel suddenly seemed to understand, quickly smiling apologetically, "Mr. Harrison, I was wrong. I apologize."
Mr. Samuel was speaking to Vincent, but his lustful gaze never left Chloe. He said meaningfully, "I really thought Mr. Harrison, as rumored, didn't touch women. Since Mr. Harrison isn't tired of her yet, I'll wait."
"Mr. Samuel, apologize to her immediately!" Vincent snapped as his long fingers played with the golf club, a faint smile on his face, still revealing no true emotion.
Mr. Samuel was stunned, then laughed, "Mr. Harrison, we're partners. She's just your plaything."
The word 'plaything' pierced Chloe's heart like poisoned needles, bringing back some bad memories.
She didn't steal or rob; she earned her job with her skills and made money with her abilities. Why should she be humiliated just because she was a girl and looked good?
This time, without waiting for Vincent to speak, Chloe stood up herself, refuting, "Mr. Samuel, don't you have women in your family? Weren't you born from a woman after ten months of pregnancy? Or do you think you need to humiliate a woman to prove your worth?"
She stood straight, her attitude neither humble nor arrogant, and her words sharp.
Leo also stepped forward and warned, "Mr. Samuel, the Harrisons don't need your type around, and our crew respects and values each member."
Recognition dawning, Mr. Samuel finally conceded, "Mr. Harrison, I'm truly sorry. Shouldn't have disrespected your... Miss Clark, I apologize!"
Vincent swung the club forcefully, and the white ball flew out, hit a tree trunk not far away, and then flew back toward them, almost hitting the president of Future Life in the head.
So shaken, the Future Life President almost crumpled to his knees, whimpering, "Mr. Harrison, my bad. I know you are very forgiving..."
Vincent stayed mute. His icy stare bore into the president’s hand before he strode off, Chloe hot on his heels. She expressed her gratitude, "Thanks for having my back, Mr. Harrison."
Vincent walked ahead of her, his height a head taller than Chloe's, so she couldn't see his expression but only heard his rich and powerful voice.
He said, "The one at fault is the person who sexually harassed you, not you. In the workplace, if you are bullied, you must bravely fight back regardless of the occasion. You don't have to swallow your anger; the entire Harrison Group is behind you."
It was the first time Chloe had heard him say so much. His deep and powerful voice told her that the harasser was at fault, not her, giving her a strong sense of security. She firmly responded, "Thank you, Mr. Harrison. I know what to do in the future."
Vincent turned back and saw her red-rimmed eyes. She hadn't shown fear when being bullied, but now she looked aggrieved.
Softening, he added, "You represent me when you're with me. Fear no one."
"Yes." Chloe nodded, her voice slightly nasal, not out of fear but gratitude.
Back when she was bullied, if anyone had stood up like he did to point out that the abuser was at fault and not her, she wouldn't have ended up disgraced and unable to return home.
Vincent added, "You handled yourself very well back there."
Chloe felt a warmth in her heart, "Thank you!"
At this moment, Leo caught up. He swiftly reported, "Mr. Harrison, I've already notified the relevant departments to cancel the cooperation with Future Life Corporation."
The Harrison Group had been busy with chip development in recent years and had achieved good results. Because the patents had yet to be finalized, some of the company's products still needed to cooperate with mature chip manufacturers like Future Life Corporation.
Now, terminating the cooperation midway would also cause significant losses to the Harrison family.
Although Chloe knew Vincent's actions were not just to protect a small employee like her but more to uphold the Harrison Group's reputation, her respect for him grew even more.
In an era where capital runs rampant, it was her good fortune to work in such a company and have a boss who stands up for his subordinates.
Because the cooperation with Future Life Corporation was cut off, the Harrison family had to find a new chip manufacturer.
In the afternoon, Chloe and others followed Vincent to Girona to negotiate with a new chip company.
After two weeks of intense work, they finally reached a cooperation agreement with the new manufacturer.
With a flight back to Skyhaven City scheduled for the next morning, Chloe finished dinner and, seeing it was still early, planned to buy some local specialties from Girona to bring back for Alan and Elsa.
When Leo heard she was going shopping alone, he asked, "Chloe, do you want me to go with you?"
A pretty girl, unfamiliar with the place, going out alone at night was somewhat unsafe.
He then asked his boss, "Mr. Harrison, do you want to bring a gift back for your wife?"
Vincent thought of the man's voice on the phone that night and frowned slightly.
On second thought, hearing a man's voice on the phone last time didn't necessarily prove anything; it could have been a misunderstanding.
He nodded, "You two pick something out."
Chloe added, "Mr. Harrison, a gift for your wife would be more sincere if you pick it out yourself."
So, Chloe soon regretted her words, feeling completely uncomfortable shopping alone with her boss.
Originally, the three of them came together, but because the mall's parking lot was full, Leo drove around looking for a parking spot, leaving Chloe and Vincent alone.