Chapter 462 A Good Play
Keith was totally blindsided and stumbled back, slamming into the wall. Next thing he knew, Francis had him on the ground, knee jammed into his throat.
With ice-cold eyes, Francis sneered, "You got a death wish?"
Keith's mouth was already messed up, and that punch made his face swell up like a balloon.
Keith let out a low chuckle, "Francis, you that insecure? I just said one word to Harper and you lose it. If I had actually hooked up with her, you'd be losing your mind."
He slowed his tone, making sure only Francis could hear, dripping every word with sarcasm. He knew Francis had a short fuse and loved pushing his buttons. Just a few words and Francis was ready to snap.
Francis had planned to just give him a warning punch, but hearing that, his anger flared up.
Keith licked his busted lip and taunted, "No wonder I've been obsessed with Harper all these years. Your girl is something else."
Francis lost it, raining down punches, one after another. Keith was on the ground, getting choked, unable to fight back, while a crowd gathered, too scared to step in.
Harper saw someone pull out their phone and rushed over, grabbing Francis's arm, "Francis, stop it."
Francis, still fuming, threw one last punch before letting go of Keith's neck. Keith's once good-looking face was now a swollen mess.
Harper pulled Francis away, "Let's go to the office."
They couldn't keep brawling in front of everyone. Harper knew that much. Word would spread fast that Francis beat Keith to a pulp. His position in the company was already shaky, and this would just make it worse. People didn't know the full story and would only feel sorry for Keith. No one wanted a boss who threw punches.
As expected, the gossip started.
"How could Francis do that? Even if he hates Keith, he shouldn't have hit him at work."
"Keith's always so nice to the receptionists, buys us coffee. Such a gentleman. Francis went too far."
"Keith even helped me carry heavy printer paper once. No ego at all."
Normally, no one would dare talk like this in front of Francis. But lately, with his illness and Ryan stirring the pot, the company was split into factions. The ones talking now were Ryan's crew, plus some who were fooled by Keith's nice-guy act.
Harper glanced at Keith, lying there, looking all helpless. Was he really that weak? Seemed more like he was putting on a show, especially with the earlier taunting meant to set Francis off. Since he was playing dirty, she wasn't gonna let it slide.
Francis ignored the gossip; he only cared about Harper right now. He looked her over and softly asked, "You okay?"
As soon as he asked, Harper's face crumbled, and tears started streaming down. Francis frowned and tried to hug her, but Harper pushed him away. If he hugged her, who would see her tears?
Harper had worn a hat today to stay low-key at Francis's company, so she wasn't easily recognized. Now, people could only see her rosy lips and the tears hanging from her delicate chin. With her shoulders shaking, she looked incredibly pitiful.
Francis's face tightened up, but before he could say anything, Harper cut him off, "Francis."
Her sweet voice caught everyone off guard.
Harper pointed at Keith, who was limping around trying to milk some sympathy, and in a complaining tone, she said, "He tried to molest me."
The crowd went nuts.
Harper continued, "I came to bring you some soup, and he saw me and asked who I was looking for. I told him I was here for you, but he still..."
She choked up, like she was too ashamed to go on, and then angrily said, "He even touched me."
This unexpected move from Harper made Francis frown, but then he relaxed. If she was really upset, she wouldn't be acting like this. He stayed quiet, playing along.
Harper, crying and shaking Francis's shoulder, put on a real dramatic show. She whimpered, "I told him I was your girlfriend, but he still tried to force himself on me and even spilled the soup I brought for you!"
Everyone looked and saw the spilled soup on the ground. Instantly, their opinion of Keith tanked. Keith, this kind of guy?
Keith was stunned by Harper's performance, wondering if she was possessed.
Harper kept shaking Francis's shoulders, acting all petulant. She stomped her foot and whimpered, "He even said really nasty things!"
Francis's previously dark mood completely lifted. He pressed his lips together, trying not to smile, and asked seriously, "What did he say?"
Harper cried as she said, "He said he wanted to play with your woman, and that he would take everything that was yours, even the company."
And she wasn't exactly lying; Keith's words were even worse. She just didn't want to reveal her identity, so she rephrased the situation. As for the company, he did want to take it, so she wasn't wronging him.
Francis looked at Keith and coldly snorted, "Nice dreaming."
Harper extended her wrist and said, "Look, he even squeezed it red."
Francis's eyes were cold, but his voice was gentle as he said, "Let me rub it for you."
Everyone was shocked by Francis's gentleness. They never expected the usually stern Francis to have such a side. And although he had been single for years, a girlfriend wouldn't be surprising. What was surprising was his acknowledgment of it. They wondered which socialite had won his favor.
Francis looked at Keith with disdain and threatened, "A few punches wouldn't spare you next time."
Then he put his arm around Harper's shoulder and turned to leave. Behind them, Keith's eyes glinted with coldness. He hadn't expected to be played by Harper.
Keith couldn't argue with Harper in front of everyone, or his gentle image would be ruined. But that made it seem like he was admitting his assault. Anyway, his image was significantly damaged by her.
Keith left without a word, his retreat bolstering the credibility of Harper's claims in the eyes of those watching.
In the office, Francis closed the door and lifted Harper onto the desk, then took out some alcohol from the drawer to clean her red and swollen areas.
"It's not that serious. I rubbed it until it's red by myself," Harper said. If she didn't rub it hard enough, how would others change their view of Keith?
Francis hummed softly and said, "Next time I'm not around, don't confront him."
He was worried she would get hurt. Luckily, this time they were in the company, and he arrived in time. Otherwise, the presumption that it happened without his timely arrival was frightening.
Harper saw Francis's expression twisted and knew he was angry. Sitting on the desk, she easily wrapped her arms around his waist and said soothingly, "Why? I'm fine."
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