CHAPTER 14: CHAPTER 14: DELIBERATE SCHEME, MAKING HIM LOSE FACE!

The moment those four words were spoken, Howard Jennings was completely intimidated by Iris Crawford’s presence. All his life, he had been short-sighted and aggressive, relying on the relationship between Yvonne Jennings and Jordan Jacobs to consider himself part of the upper class, believing that wherever he went, people should respect him. He never imagined... he would be splashed directly in the face like that!

In a fury, Howard Jennings charged forward, "You wretched woman have no idea how high the sky is and how deep the earth is!"

Iris Crawford moved back with a face full of disdain, "Stay away from me."

Howard Jennings wiped the water from his face. Damn it, the water was dripping from his hair onto his shoulders. His suit was quite expensive, bought by maxing out Yvonne Jennings’ card, and he loved to show it off to everyone. Now it’s been ruined!

Howard wanted nothing more than to humiliate Iris by pinning her to the ground, "You splashed tea all over my face, where do you get such gall! Get your boss out here, I’m going to fire you!"

"Too bad the tea wasn’t hot enough."

Iris clicked her tongue with a sigh, elegant and alluring even compared to Howard’s pathetic state, "I should have known to splash acid on your face, shamelessly relying on others without realizing your true worth. You think you deserve to work at Jordan Jacobs’ company, sent here to negotiate a partnership? I bet it will close down in two years!"

Howard’s eyes nearly got water in them; he rubbed his eyes and went to grab Iris’s hair but stumbled and fell face-first onto the ground like a clumsy fool.

Iris glanced at her high heels, covering her mouth as she said, "What’s wrong, are your eyes failing you, Jennings?"

Jennings, Jennings?!

These days, everyone knows he’s Yvonne Jennings’ relative. People should call him brother Jennings when they meet him. How dare this woman call him Jennings without any respect?

Short of not sitting on his head, domineering!

Getting up from the ground, Howard Jennings cursed, "Just you wait, get me a towel to wipe my face!"

Iris found a chair far away and sat down. After all, there were plenty of chairs in the meeting room. She crossed her gorgeous legs, "No."

She wouldn’t do anything unrelated to work.

While Howard Jennings flung water, he approached Iris again, even passing the meeting room door, locking it with a reverse hand motion, "If you won’t accept a toast, you’ll drink punishment wine. I won’t let Jordan Jacobs spare you, women like you surely can’t find a husband—"

Seeing him lock the door, Iris thought Howard was incredibly bold, daring to... was he trying to leave her in a helpless situation?

Unexpectedly not avoiding Howard’s action of grabbing her, she even frowned and asked, "What do you want to do?"

Watching her dodge with some fear in her eyes, Howard leered, "What, scared? Where did your arrogance go? You’re clearly afraid of Jordan Jacobs when mentioned, showing your sycophancy without pride or shame, let me tell you, you butter up to your brother, and I can let you meet Jordan Jacobs..."

As he spoke, Howard reached out to touch Iris’s shoulder. Even through the shirt fabric, Iris felt goosebumps rise. The man probably assumed she enjoyed seducing bosses, so at this moment, she dared not move, emboldening him to start tearing at her buttons.

Iris tilted her slender neck as if the prey gave up resistance, exposing vulnerable areas to the hunter.

Just then, there was a sound outside the door, followed by a loud bang. The door Howard had locked was forcefully kicked open by someone outside using immense strength!

Smoke and dust exploded and danced in the air. After dissipating, someone stood outside the door, dressed in a suit, casually inserting his hand in his pocket, drawing back the high, door-kicking leg with style and explosiveness.

With his other hand, he dusted off the dirt and entered the room, "What’s happening?"

Howard Jennings shivered all over; this voice... was cold, carrying an oppressive authority without anger.

He turned with stiff shoulders, only to see a man walk in, standing tall with a cold, pale face. His eyes glanced at Howard with scrutiny and mockery, "I didn’t know, in my company, someone could lock my door?"

Lachlan Wyatt!

Howard Jennings’ face changed dramatically in fear, "No, Young Master Wyatt, listen to my explanation... it’s this woman..."

Lachlan shot a look at Iris blocked by Howard, only to see her weakly slumped in a chair, her clothes in disarray, her chest heaving slightly, and large expanses of fair skin exposed.

Raising a brow, Lachlan’s throat slightly tightened, "Hmm?"

"This woman was disrespectful to me, I just wanted to... teach her a lesson. If she carries the same attitude while receiving clients for you, you’d lose a lot of business!"

"Is that so?"

Lachlan glanced at Iris’s complexion then said, "How was she disrespectful to you?"

"She said I shamelessly rely on others without knowing my true worth..."

"She wasn’t wrong."

Lachlan looked at Howard impassively, "You’re not seriously clueless, are you?"

Howard felt his hair bristle up. He had assumed Lachlan wouldn’t possibly clash with a partner over a woman, only to find his harsh words were so unapologetic!

Gnashing his teeth, Howard said, "But this woman splashed water on me anyway! Demanding an apology isn’t excessive, is it?"

"You... you were touching me..."

A fragile sob echoed nearby, sparking some commotion outside as well. Crowds gathered at the meeting room door, peering inside, witnessing Iris trembling with whitened face, clenching her chest’s clothing, seemingly terribly wronged, "I was just preparing tea early in the meeting room awaiting guests’ arrival, then he said... said Young Master Wyatt and I were in that kind of relationship. I was afraid of defaming Young Master Wyatt’s reputation, so I argued with him, then he started touching me, and I couldn’t help but splash him with tea to fight back. If... if that’s wrong, how am I supposed to act, should I undress for him to humiliate me!"

The last phrase carried a desperate hint of mutual destruction, making those outside suck in cold air.

"How could Jacobs Family’s representative be so lacking in manners..."

"Wow, can someone like that come negotiate business? Jacobs Family might go bankrupt, let’s not collaborate with them."

"This lady secretary has quite some courage, when hearing someone defaming Young Master Wyatt, she wants to protect his reputation..."

"Gotta say, kind of touched, seeing her like that... Jacobs Family’s representative is super oily!"

Howard’s one mouth was no match for so many mouths. Even if he wanted to justify, there was no way to. Initially, this woman deliberately provoked him; now she turned it into her being the victim!

"You’re a great actor!" Howard blurted out, "Do you think by doing this you can fool everyone? I just said a few words to you, and you splashed water on me, it wasn’t me who started it, you also tripped me!"

"What girl wouldn’t care about her reputation!" Iris cried, "Could I possibly be trying to frame you? What’s in it for me! You even said if I succumbed to you, you’d take me to see Jordan Jacobs. You see all women as shameless, you undeniably have a prejudice against women!"

Upon hearing those words, the onlookers outside couldn’t stand it anymore.

"Does the Jacobs Family have no one? Coming to our company to poach people!"

"That’s right! And you take her to meet Jordan Jacobs, our company offers way better benefits than the Jacobs Family, don’t you know that! Don’t think you’re so great, and don’t assume all women are vain, that they’ll just follow you with a few words!"

Howard Jennings was speechless at that moment, looking at Iris Crawford’s pitiful appearance, and almost couldn’t catch his breath, wishing he could rip her mouth open right then, "You bitch, spouting nonsense, conspiring to oppress our Jacobs Family..."

"If you weren’t doing such things, who would bother to mess with you!"

"Get out!"

"That’s right, get out of our company!"

The crowd was already furious, and a security guard rushed in, grabbing Howard Jennings and dragging him out while he yelled.

As he was being dragged out, Howard Jennings was wriggling like a caterpillar, struggling, "Let go of me! You bitch! What’s your name, I won’t let you get away with this, I’m Yvonne Jennings’ cousin, don’t you know who I am!"

"Pft!"

Seeing him being dragged away, the crowd felt a sense of satisfaction. They then silently moved aside to let Iris Crawford tidy up her clothes in the meeting room. When Howard Jennings had finally disappeared, Iris breathed a sigh of relief, twisting her neck as she stood up from the chair.

Her expression changed; she had been tearful just a moment ago, but now turned cold and indifferent.

Lachlan Wyatt wanted to applaud her, "Impressive, Miss Crawford."

"Thanks to Young Master Wyatt for your cooperation."

Iris Crawford walked to the window, using the reflection in the mirror, took out lipstick to touch up her makeup. Her clothes were still in disarray, with an impressive cleavage faintly visible. After applying lipstick, she lowered her head to straighten her clothes.

As she lowered her head, her hair fell from her ears. The woman’s hand slowly refastened the buttons that had been torn open, her movements elegant and sensual, making dressing seem more suggestive than undressing.

Lachlan Wyatt’s deep gaze watched from the side, "The door’s open, not afraid of being seen?"

"With you here, no one would dare to look inside."

Lachlan curled his lips in a good mood, "You’re smart, knowing how to handle Howard Jennings. He’s no match for you."

Now that Howard Jennings had lost favor in their company, Jordan Jacobs was eager to secure this deal, certainly intending to personally apologize and show sincerity. This step trampled their arrogance and vented some anger for herself.

Iris Crawford was too clever, or rather, a woman who could act too well was rather terrifying.

Iris smiled so brightly it dimmed the world around her, "I’m not worthy of Young Master Wyatt’s praise. I’ve learned a bit following you these years, using it now to contribute to our corporate interest."

She openly said it was for the company, but subtly implied she’d learned her manipulative skills from Lachlan!

A beautiful woman in this world of fame and fortune, if she were brainless, could only be played. So Lachlan didn’t dislike cunning and schemes; in fact, he liked associating with selfish and intelligent people and despised incompetence and kindness.

"Beauty and intelligence are double-edged swords." Lachlan stepped forward, his gaze locking onto the area of her chest that had been in disarray earlier. He leaned down and whispered in Iris’ ear, "Be careful not to harm yourself."

"I believe if something happens to me..."

Iris took advantage of her leverage to hug Lachlan’s neck, her eyes enigmatic with an unspeakable allure and dedication, "Young Master Wyatt would surely come to my rescue, wouldn’t you?"

"If you still have value by that time." Lachlan’s pupils resembled a black hole. He extended his tongue to lick Iris’ earlobe, bold enough not to worry about being seen by passersby outside—the door had been kicked in and couldn’t close.

Far from resisting Iris’ temptation, the man instead inhaled pleasurably, laughing as he said, "I’d certainly risk my life to save you."

Iris’ face was flushed, yet her gaze was cold.

******

Sure enough, when Howard Jennings explained the situation to Jordan Jacobs at the company, Jordan was shocked, unable to believe Lachlan Wyatt unceremoniously expelled the person he sent over and couldn’t believe...

"You usually harass people without consequence, so why go causing trouble on Young Master Wyatt’s turf?" Jordan Jacobs slammed his hand on the table, standing up, "Do you know how important this cooperation is? Angering Lachlan Wyatt, our partnership will be over, can you alone bear the responsibility!"

This incompetent fool! All along, because he was Yvonne Jennings’ brother, and Jennings always flattered him, Jordan hadn’t openly criticized, turning a blind eye to him harassing people in the company mostly to avoid arguments with Yvonne if news got back.

Jordan Jacobs had given his brother-in-law enough face, who would have thought... he’d mess up such an important matter!

Howard Jennings was seeing Jordan Jacobs so furious for the first time, scared speechless. He thought he had free reign at the Jacobs Group, only to realize Jordan Jacobs’ leniency didn’t mean he had no objections. Now... causing trouble on such a scale couldn’t go unaccounted for!

Howard Jennings was sweating profusely, "It’s all that woman’s fault... she did it on purpose! Purposely let everyone see me act against her..."

"If you didn’t make a move, could anyone have caught you out!" Jordan Jacobs said, hating iron for not becoming steel, "When talking business, can’t you just restrain your urges a little! You’ve totally embarrassed our company!"

"Young Master Jacobs... Young Master Jacobs..." Hearing this, Howard Jennings panicked, "Give me another chance, you are my brother-in-law, after all, we’re family, aren’t we..."

The wedding hadn’t even been arranged, yet he was already calling him brother-in-law, fearing Jordan Jacobs would back out.

"I’ll go myself. Don’t show up and embarrass me anymore! Go home and reflect for a month, come back when you’ve thought it through!"

Jordan Jacobs gave Howard Jennings a stern glare, then instructed someone to call Lachlan. Once connected, a delightful female voice came through, "Hello, this is Young Master Wyatt’s line..."

"Please put me through to President Wyatt..."

"President Wyatt is busy, may I ask who’s calling?"

"This is Jordan Jacobs, CEO of The Jacobs Group. Our representative caused trouble for you earlier, and I want to personally express my apologies..."

"Oh." The gentle, delightful voice instantly dropped in pitch, and after the "oh," the line went dead, leaving Jordan Jacobs stunned amidst busy tones.

Why... did that woman’s voice on the phone just now sound... so familiar?