Chapter 10 - The True Boss
Adrian Whitmore stepped into the humid laundry corridor, looking like a terrifying angel of death dressed in a five-thousand-dollar custom suit.
His dark eyes locked immediately onto Victor's heavy hand gripping Grace's fragile arm, and a dangerous, predatory silence descended over the room.
The air in the hallway suddenly felt freezing cold, completely saturated by the sheer, overwhelming power of the billionaire's presence.
"Remove your hand from her right this second," Adrian’s voice commanded, echoing through the basement like rolling thunder.
He did not yell, nor did he raise his voice in panic, but the absolute, chilling authority in his tone demanded instant obedience.
Victor froze entirely, his arrogant, violent demeanor evaporating into thin air the very second he recognized the face of his employer.
Every security guard at the estate had been forced to memorize the billionaire's photograph, but seeing him in person was entirely different.
Victor instantly dropped Grace’s arm as if her skin had suddenly caught on literal fire.
He stumbled backward, his knees visibly shaking as he desperately tried to formulate a coherent sentence.
"Mr. Whitmore, sir... I... I can explain this situation," Victor stammered wildly, a sickening sweat breaking out across his forehead.
"I was just leaving the property as instructed, and this maid started verbally attacking me in the hallway."
Grace stood paralyzed against the wall, rubbing her bruised arm and staring in absolute shock at the incredibly handsome, powerful man standing before her.
She recognized his sharp, striking facial features instantly, despite the total absence of the dirt, the ragged beard, and the torn coat.
This terrifyingly powerful billionaire was the exact same starving beggar she had tried to feed just a few hours earlier.
Adrian did not even look at Grace yet; his lethal, unblinking focus remained entirely fixed on the trembling security guard.
"You were officially terminated fifteen minutes ago, which means you are actively trespassing on my private property," Adrian stated coldly.
He reached into his tailored jacket pocket, pulled out a sleek silver phone, and pressed a single, pre-programmed button.
Within less than ten seconds, four massive men wearing matching black tactical suits flooded into the narrow laundry corridor.
These were not standard estate guards; they were Adrian's elite, highly trained private executive protection detail.
"This man just laid his hands on one of my employees," Adrian told the head of his security team, not taking his eyes off Victor.
"Subdue him, drag him off my property, and ensure he is permanently handed over to the local police department for aggravated assault."
Victor let out a pathetic, high-pitched noise of absolute terror as the four massive men instantly surrounded him.
"Please, Mr. Whitmore, it was a misunderstanding!" Victor begged, tears of pure cowardice streaming down his face as his arms were violently pinned behind his back.
"I need this job, I have bills to pay, please show some mercy!"
Adrian tilted his head slightly, a cold, ruthless smirk playing at the very edge of his lips.
"Mercy is exactly what you denied a starving man at my front gate this morning," Adrian whispered, his voice dripping with venom.
"Get this absolute trash out of my sight."
The elite guards did not hesitate for a fraction of a second, physically lifting Victor entirely off his feet.
They dragged the screaming, crying former guard down the hallway, the heavy steel doors slamming completely shut behind them.
The corridor fell into a sudden, ringing silence, leaving only the billionaire and the terrified young maid standing among the scattered towels.
Adrian took a slow, deep breath, forcing the violent rage out of his system before he finally turned to look at Grace.
His sharp eyes softened considerably as he noticed the dark, ugly bruises already forming on her pale arm.
"Are you severely injured, Grace?" Adrian asked quietly, his tone completely shifting from a ruthless dictator to a genuinely concerned human being.
Grace shook her head slowly, her mind completely unable to process the insane reality of what was happening.
"No, sir," Grace whispered, staring at his expensive platinum watch and perfectly polished shoes.
"Good," Adrian replied, adjusting his expensive silk tie and standing up perfectly straight.
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"Because I need you to follow me upstairs to the main foyer right now."
"I am calling a mandatory assembly of the entire staff, and we have a tremendous amount of business to discuss."
