Mrs Hale, I Surrender
Chapter 194 Junior President Payne: Elegance and Pride Abound (2nd Update)

Chapter 194: 194 Junior President Payne: Elegance and Pride Abound (2nd Update)

The man, who was bent over drawing, didn’t even lift his head.

"There’s a client dispute downstairs."

"Kick them all out."

"But one of them doesn’t want to cause trouble."

"Then just kick out the troublemaker, do I really need to teach you this?"

"But now the two of them have come to blows."

The man paused from drawing, "Who got hit?"

"The one causing trouble."

The man remained silent, his head bowed as he continued drawing. The staff member was getting anxious, hoping he would intervene, and it just so happened that Junior President Payne was there today.

It would have been one thing if it were just the Conner Family involved, but unfortunately, the Hale Family was dragged into it, "Junior President Payne, maybe... you should have a look?"

"I’m not a police officer, there’s surveillance inside, deal with it by calling the police."

"One of them is Mr. Hale’s girlfriend."

"William Hale?"

The staff member nodded.

Only then did the man put down his pen.

----

At this moment in the resting area

Serena Conner was completely disheveled.

"Miss Conner..." A staff member tried to approach and support her but was pushed away by her.

"Get lost!"

She struggled to rise from the ground, her clothes dripping with a yellowish liquid, while the murmurs and sneers of others around her fueled her rage and frustration.

Serena Conner strode forward aggressively, "Zoe Bell, you rely on others to act tough, how dare you hit me, what do you think you are!"

"At least I know what shame is."

"You bitch... I’ll break your mouth today."

Serena Conner, in total disarray and having lost all face, went to hit her, but her hand had barely touched Zoe Bell.

She was deflected and pushed away—

Because the floor was wet and slippery with spilled tea.

The next second,

Serena Conner’s high heels slipped, and she fell on her buttocks, streaming with cold sweat from the pain and feeling as if her soul were about to leave her body.

Even more embarrassed, she gritted her teeth, "Zoe Bell! Did you push me?"

"Were you the one who wanted to start a fight? Am I supposed to just stand here and take a beating?"

"You..."

"I did hear that you were getting married and didn’t want to make a fuss, so I endured your provocations time and again, not wanting to expose your shortcomings. But since you kept coming at me, now that you’ve decided to marry, you shouldn’t keep pining for other men."

"It’s none of your business what I do!" Serena Conner scrambled up from the ground.

"Your fiancé should be able to manage you, though."

As Zoe Bell spoke, her gaze went past her, settling on someone behind her.

Serena Conner’s breath hitched, and she turned to see the man who was about to marry her standing behind her.

He was holding a bouquet of roses.

His expression was particularly ugly at the moment.

"You... weren’t you gone already?" Serena Conner hastily tried to straighten her clothes, but couldn’t hide her disarray, and quickly walked up to him.

Serena Conner couldn’t let go of William Hale, but she also knew that nothing could happen between them.

The man in front of her, though average-looking, was wealthy and doted on her.

He was the best option she had at the moment.

Besides, the two families had already settled on a wedding date, and if it were called off because of her, her father would certainly kill her.

"She’s spouting nonsense, don’t believe her," Serena Conner hurriedly explained.

"I know you’re marrying me because the person you like would never like you back, and that person... is Mr. Hale, right?" The man sneered, "Do you still like him now?"

"No!"

"Getting into bed... he wasn’t interested, so you came to me as a backup?"

"That’s not it!"

The man tossed the roses aside and turned to leave. Serena Conner reached out to grab his arm but was shaken off by the man.

"Don’t go, we’re about to get married."

"Then let’s not get married. Go find someone else."

Serena Conner’s face went pale.

Her scandal of offering herself had been exposed, and soon it would spread throughout their social circle. William Hale had rejected many women, but she was the first to shamelessly throw herself at him.

Considering her family’s reputation, no one would marry a woman like her.

Before the man left, he glanced at a Payne Corps’ staff member, "I won’t need the jewelry I ordered, and keep the deposit."

"..."

The staff member was taken aback—their deposit was more than half, which was no small sum.

Serena Conner knew it was completely over.

Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of Zoe Bell. Zoe’s expression was as usual, like a bystander watching a play, which infuriated Serena even more. She turned around, intending to keep causing trouble for her.

But she was grabbed by the security guards who had rushed over, "Let go of me, let go—"

"Miss Conner, please calm down," the staffer urged.

"What’s going on with Payne Corps? Taking her side? She’s nothing but a plaything kept by someone, with no moral bottom line. You do business with her, support her?"

"And you still claim to be the pure stream of the industry? That’s what Payne Corps amounts to!"

Serena Conner began to speak without restraint.

Before Zoe could speak, a deep voice arose, "This lady has quite the tone."

"Saying that’s what Payne Corps amounts to."

"You’re the first one!"

Zoe turned at the sound of the voice.

The man exuded an ease that came from experiencing life’s many challenges, his features cold, his bearing elegant and proud, giving off a feeling of great distance.

His temperament was wild and lofty,

A body of integrity, as if watching geese heading home, his hand waving freely as if strumming strings.

His dark eyes swept the surroundings, his oppressive aura silently penetrating every corner.

Serena Conner seemed to recognize him and bit her lip, saying nothing.

"Why don’t you continue?"

"She hit me!" Serena Conner felt as if her face were on fire.

"Why did she hit you?"

"She made things up, tarnishing my reputation! You Payne Family Members are covering for her."

The Payne Family?

Zoe glanced again at the man not far away. Was this a Payne Family Member?

The staffer who had been present all along hurriedly walked to the man, lowering his voice, "Junior President Payne, the situation is like this..."

After hearing the explanation, the man said, "You say that this lady has slandered me, then bring the person involved here, and if you need, we can help contact Mr. Hale to come over."

After all, it was William Hale’s bed she had climbed into.

Upon hearing this, Serena Conner turned pale.

She was like an eggplant hit by frost.

She dared not confront William Hale!

Seeing her reaction, the crowd also guessed that what Zoe had said was most likely true.

"Although I’m not close to him, I think he would also be willing to give me this face," the man said, adjusting his cuffs.

"If you feel it’s not necessary, then please apologize to my guest," he continued, his voice mild and indifferent, but his face was the epitome of coldness.

"Guest... Guest?" Serena Conner’s face turned the color of wax.

"Hmm."

Could it be that the designer responsible for serving her today was actually Junior President Payne?

What virtues and abilities did Zoe Bell have!

She must have benefitted from the Hale Family’s influence, but even if Serena was reluctant, she dared not offend the man before her and could only manage to say sorry unwillingly.

Her consequent fate was being driven out of Payne Corps.

However, the attempt of Serena Conner to climb into William Hale’s bed henceforth spread.

Zoe then politely nodded to Junior President Payne.

"I apologize for giving you a bad experience."

"It’s nothing," he replied.

By this time, the staff had already picked up her phone; the screen was shattered, and they felt sorry. Zoe took the phone, found it wouldn’t turn on, and couldn’t help feeling annoyed.

"Miss Bell, are you here to customize jewelry?" the man asked in a low voice.

"Yes."

"Come with me," said the man, and he turned toward the stairs. Zoe hadn’t reacted yet when a nearby staff member nudged her arm, urging her, "Hurry up, Junior President Payne means he wants to design and make it for you personally, this opportunity is rare."

——

Hannah Johnson had gone to inspect the custom jewelry, which was done in a very private and secure room; hence, she was completely unaware of what had happened outside.

When she went to the second floor, couldn’t find Zoe, and couldn’t get through to her by phone, she instantly became anxious.

She inquired with the staff and then learned the situation.

She had gone to Junior President Payne’s office.

And the key point was:

The entire fourth floor was Payne Family Members’ territory; without an invitation or staff assistance, she couldn’t possibly get there.