SWNOVELS Chapter 23
Chapter 23 Fighting Against One of Our Own
There were people who could easily command attention with their voice, and Pierre Fowler was one of them. Everyone in the store could not help but look at him.
At the entrance, he showed up looking smart and elegant in activewear. The moment he stepped into the store, the air around him seemed to have frozen. He strolled over to Selena and put his arm around her shoulders. "Are you okay?"
Her left cheek was swollen and red from the slap, but even her right cheek was flushed now. In that instance, everything around her felt surreal. "I'm fine."
"How could you be fine? Your cheek is swollen."
Upon seeing the man, Finneas perked up and observed him. Despite the man's authoritative aura, Finneas straightened his back due to his inflated ego and scoffed. With Selena Yard's background and personality, how good could her man be?
He coughed and interrupted them, "Well, well, I didn't expect you to get a new partner in no time! You're loose indeed." As if that was not enough, he shot Selena a disdainful look.
Soon, he turned his focus onto Pierre and advised, "This gentleman here, do not get bewitched by the appearance of this woman. She was in a relationship with me for many years, but as soon as I was not around, she instantly seduced and slept with another man. She even got pregnant with his child! Look out. Do not get cuckolded."
"Ah, I heard some dog barking." Pierre's eyes never left Selena, not even to take a look at Finneas.
The latter instantly turned red in shame and anger. "Who are you referring to? Here I am, dishing out sincere advice, but you dismissed my kindness. Hmph, could you have been the man she slept with? You're an adulterous couple indeed! What a 'great' match!"
Holly Adams, the manager of the Forever Gown flagship store, came down from the stairs to check on the situation. She received clarification of the incident last time, and she was also aware that the sophisticated man introduced by Selena was the president of JNS Corporation. Therefore, she quickly walked up to him upon his arrival.
"President Fowler, you're here."
Finneas and Megan's faces instantly fell.
President? What president?
"H-He..."
Holly flashed a light smile at Finneas. "I'm the store manager, and this man here is the president of JNS Corporation. Sir, Madam, if you need any assistance, please call for my attention. The day-to-day operations in this store are not under the purview of our president."
Next, she addressed the other staff in the store. "Please continue your work. Stop standing there and watching."
Under her orders, all the staff quickly returned to their positions.
Megan had previously been in touch with Holly, and the wedding gown she ordered was directly handled by Holly as well. Of course she could recognize Holly out of the other staff.
"That's impossible! I clearly heard that..." Megan blurted out but stopped herself in time.
Last time, she clearly overheard Selena's conversation with this mysterious man, and learned that he was merely an imposter. How did he turn out to be the actual president of JNS Corporation? "Miss Yard, this is the real president of our brand. Please don't make things difficult for me. I've only been promoted to store manager a few days ago, and I do not wish to lose my job right away. You agree, don't you?"
"I believe I've been introduced to you before." Pierre shot an icy look at Megan, and Finneas did the same to her. Feeling wronged, she attempted to explain herself, "Finneas, I..."
Finneas's reflex was instantaneous. He flashed an awkward but polite smile at Pierre. "This is a huge misunderstanding! I didn't recognize that you're the president, and I foolishly fought against one of our own!"
Selena stared at Finneas's fawning behavior and felt extremely disgusted by his character.
Before this, she had always thought that Finneas was a gentleman. However, today's incident revealed that he was an uncouth two-faced bully. The moment he learned that Pierre was the president of JNS Corporation, he instantly treated Pierre differently.
Next, he said to Pierre, "This is my fiancée, Megan Yard. She's Selena's sister. In some way, you and I are considered relatives. Here's my business card."
As he was speaking, he took out a piece of business card from his pocket, which he handed to Pierre with both hands.
To his dismay, Pierre did not even bother to take a look at him. Instead, Pierre caressed Selena's cheek gently. "Does it still hurt?"
Finneas's hands froze mid-air for a while. Feeling embarrassed, he then retracted his hands.
"To be honest, we're all closely related. There is no need for an exchange of business cards! I'll introduce myself. I'm Finneas Lake, the current president and future heir of Lake Corporation. May I know how to address you?"
Pierre's eyes were still on Selena's face. "Selena, do you think that crazy dog deserves to know my name?"
Selena tightened her lips but gave no reply.
Finneas knew that Pierre was insulting him, but he could not explode in anger.
Right now, Lake Corporation needed help to get itself out of the dire situation. He had to lower himself and get the support of JNS Corporation. Knowing that many companies in Astoria were competing for JNS Corporation's partnership, he could not afford to put dignity before opportunity. Otherwise, he would lose out in the stiff competition.
"I was too rash just now. It's all my fault. I'll treat you to a meal one day and apologize formally to Selena. How does that sound? Hmm... Forget about picking a date. Let's make it today!"
Pierre finally set his gaze on Finneas. "A formal apology? Alright. I'd love to see how you're going to apologize for slapping her."
Selena had been staring intently at Finneas all the time.
Indeed, she wished to see how low Finneas could stoop in order to partner with JNS Corporation.
At that time, Finneas started to feel ashamed.
He did something abominable-slapping Selena. Based on his observation of Pierre and Selena's expressions, he realized that treating them to a meal might not resolve the grudge.
At that moment, he came to a decision and let go of Megan's arm. Then, he turned around and gave Megan a slap on her face.
She reflexively gaped and flinched. When she finally composed herself, she stared at Finneas in disbelief. "How dare you slap me?"
"Yes! I slapped you! You're the one who flirted with men out there, but you accused your sister of drugging you! It's all your fault! If you hadn't created the misunderstanding, would I have hit her?" he barked at Megan, who was dumbfounded and humiliated. Tears started welling up in her eyes.
The unfolding of events made Selena feel both ridiculous and pitiful. Had I not broken up with Finneas, I would have been the woman who got slapped by him today. Megan worked hard to rob him of me, but she's not any better now.
"It's all because of this woman. When I get home, I will teach her a lesson! Selena, you're satisfied now. Aren't you?" Finneas cast a friendly glance at Selena, a look that filled her with disgust.
"You are the one who slapped me, but to make up for it; you slapped my sister to appease me. If you were me, would you be satisfied?" Selena lifted her chin and stared down at him.
His face turned ashen when he realized that Selena would never forgive him.
On the other hand, Pierre pinched her chin dotingly and agreed, "Yeah, if I were you, not only would I be dissatisfied, I would be even angrier at him!"
Hearing that, Finneas felt his lips twitch in nervousness.