Chapter 14
<Chapter>Chapter Fourteen: Double Trouble </Chapter>
Gianna responded calmly, "Even if I dodged this time, he'd just look for another chance to play his games. It's better to teach him a lesson now."
"What if the client he's sent you is too much to handle? What if you end up at a disadvantage?" Faith pressed on.
Gianna just smiled. "Don't worry about me. Go on back to work."
Faith replied, still expressing her concern, "I can't help but worry. Why don’t I join you for the meeting?"
Gianna shook her head. "No, if I can't handle this on my own, what will our company do when even bigger challenges come? We’d be doomed."
Seeing her resolve, Faith backed down, "All right, but promise me, if anything unexpected happens, you call me immediately. Don't try to tough it out alone!"
"Mm-hmm got it," Gianna acknowledged.
Shortly after Faith departed, Aidan arrived, his smug expression evident as he carried the contract for their upcoming discussion. "Gianna, I'll await your signed return!"
"All right, Aidan. If there's nothing else, you can leave. I have a heap of work to get through."
A flash of anger crossed Aidan’s eyes before he turned on his heel, laughing coldly as he walked out. He couldn't wait to see Gianna stumble.
Gianna quickly checked the documents, set up a meeting for later, and then went back to her tasks. Time passed swiftly, and before she knew it, the workday was over. Grabbing the files, she headed straight to the restaurant for their meeting.
Upon entering the private room, the man inside immediately rose, greeting her cheerfully, “Miss Redstone, please, have a seat!”
Wayne was surprised by how attractive Gianna was. He eagerly awaited their meeting, believing Aidan had sent him someone truly beautiful this time. Remembering what Aidan had said on the phone, Wayne felt a thrilling excitement in his heart.
Gianna took a seat two spots away from Wayne, offering a polite smile, "Hi, Wayne."
Wayne, discontent with the distance, stood up and moved to a seat closer to Gianna, his eager gaze fixed upon her.
"There's no need for formality, Miss Redstone. We might not have met before, but you know what they say. Familiarity comes with time. Just call me Lee if you'd like!"
Wayne was over fifty, several years older than Julian, and when he laughed, the wrinkles on his face shook like chaff in the wind. He had the audacity to let Gianna call him "brother."
As he spoke, he unwittingly grasped Gianna's hand resting on the table.
The very next second, a scream akin to a pig being slaughtered pierced the air.
"Ah! Let go! It hurts!"
With a calm expression, Gianna released him. "Sorry, Wayne, I'm not fond of people touching me."
Her apology was void of any trace of remorse.
Annoyed, Wayne's eyes darted around before his face broke into a smile again.
He picked up a decanted bottle of red wine from the table, pouring Gianna a glass. "How about this, Miss Redstone? Drink this glass of wine, and I'll forget about what happened just now. Deal?"
Gianna's eyebrows lifted, and a smile curled her lips. "Wayne, reds bore me. I'll get the waiter to bring us some whites."
As Gianna stood up to leave, Wayne's smile turned frosty. "Miss Redstone, if you lack sincerity, perhaps it's best if we discontinue our discussion about the partnership!"
He slammed the wine glass on the table with a loud thud, his face a mask of fury.
Gianna realized that Wayne was merely attempting to leverage the contract for his own gain and replied coolly, "Fine, then. Enjoy your meal, Wayne. I'll be taking my leave."
Wayne had intended to intimidate Gianna, but she had effortlessly shrugged him off and walked away, leaving him stunned for a few seconds before he chased after her.
"Stop right there!"
His voice was loud enough to draw the attention of those around him.
Through the ornate wooden dividers, the people at the following table caught a clear view of Gianna and Wayne.
Mitchell and company had not expected to run into Gianna while dining out that evening.
They were all familiar with Wayne, a fabric trader who had capitalized on recent prosperous trends to become a conceited business owner. He embodied the nouveau riche, looking down on anyone who wasn't of significant importance.
Seeing Felix's troubled expression, Mitchell couldn't help but whisper, "Felix, how did Gianna get mixed up with Wayne? The guy's notorious for burning through women, leaving a wake of wreckage. Everyone in Dawnridge knows his terrible reputation."
Although Mitchell never saw Gianna as a good match for Felix, he certainly didn't want to see her ruined by Wayne.
Felix's face was stony as he focused on Gianna, his thoughts unreadable.
Unaware of the onlookers, Gianna turned back to Wayne with a detached air. "Was there anything else, Wayne?"
Wayne sneered, "Gianna, you're just a PR specialist at MY FASHION. Don't play the innocent in front of me. Even if I took you down right here and now, there would be no consequences. Go back with me willingly before I lose my patience! And who knows? If you make my night, maybe I'll sign the contract."
Gianna raised an eyebrow, "Is that what Aidan told you to do?"
Contempt and mockery filled Wayne's eyes, "Does it matter what Aidan said? Look at how you're dressed. Isn't it obvious you're trying to seduce me?"
Today, Gianna wore a white slip dress with a blazer casually hanging over her shoulders. Her long hair was softly curled, giving her a demure yet elegant presence.
Puzzled, she glanced down at her attire, wondering how it could be perceived as seductive to him.
"Wayne, I'm not interested in you. I hope you'll conduct yourself with dignity," she stated firmly.
Gianna turned to leave, but Wayne chuckled coldly in response. "You think you can just come and go as you please? It's not that simple!"
As he concluded his statement, two imposing figures, each standing over six feet tall, suddenly materialized beside Gianna, exuding an aura of intimidation.
Gianna's lips curled into a smirk, though her eyes were frosty, "Are you resorting to force now, Wayne?"
Behind the wooden partition, Mitchell couldn't help but frown and muttered to Felix, "If you don't step in now, Wayne's going to take Gianna away!"
In his view, Gianna, who looked so delicate, was sure to be at a disadvantage.
Felix's eyes were streaked with ice, "Just wait."
"Wait for what?!" Mitchell pressed.
Felix remained silent, his dark eyes locked on Gianna.
Anna, the founder of MY FASHION, had recently returned, and coincidentally, Gianna worked there too. Could this truly be mere coincidence?
Wayne glared at Gianna, fury in his gaze, "Take her to the Private Room! I'll make sure she regrets this!"
Wayne headed toward the Private Room, already plotting how he would toy with Gianna.
Yet, after barely covering two steps, screams erupted behind him, succeeded by a forceful kick that sent him crashing into the wall with a thud.
"Aggh!" Wayne cried out as he tumbled to the floor, every inch of his body screaming in pain.
From behind the partition, Mitchell was stunned and turned to Felix in disbelief, "Gianna can fight like that?"
He hadn't even seen how Gianna made her move, but those two beefy men were already down on the ground.
Can just any average woman kick a man across the room like that?
Felix stayed quiet, his stare at Gianna deepening. Perhaps he had never really comprehended Gianna.
Meanwhile, Gianna slowly approached Wayne, a frosty smirk playing on her lips.
Wayne struggled to think of anything other than Gianna being an absolute demon at that moment.
"Don't... don't come any closer! Or I'll call the police!"
As Wayne's panic-stricken eyes met Gianna's emotionless gaze, she stepped closer, placing her foot firmly on his chest.
Wayne felt an excruciating pain and suddenly coughed up blood.
"Did you just say... you were going to 'take me out'?"
