Money Or Your Dignity

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CHAPTER 31

"You must be mistaken, Mr Wilson." Scarlett asserted firmly with a straight face, making her seriousness known to the young man standing in front of her.

Then she continued to say, "There's no mutual feeling or interest between us, so I will kindly appreciate it if you step back and let me leave."

Staring unblinkingly, Scarlett noticed her blunt retort might have engulfed Ryan in a state of shock that warranted him speechless.

Regardless of his astonished reaction, Scarlett decided to take her leave as she made an attempt to walk past the young man.

"Not so fast, red-head." To her unforeseen startlement, Ryan decided to put an end to whatever little space was between them as he inched closer, his gaze, looking unconvinced as they peered deep into hers.

"Drop the silly act. I've waited long enough already."

Immediately after saying that, Ryan maliciously leaned closer in an attempt to kiss Scarlett, but she was quick to evade his uninvited advances. As a result, his lips landed on the side of her face.

Out of mere instinct, Ryan took a long sniff of her appealing scent, the tip of his nose trailing down her skin and aiming for her neck.

"Mr Wilson please behave yourself! This is a public place!" With her face scrunched into a look of disgust, she tried to push him off.

Ryan resisted, to her dismay, and that made her aware of the situation she had gotten herself into.

Panic soon kicked into Scarlett's nerves, and her defensive instinct was automatically activated.

Raising her knee, she made an attempt to knee him in his groin, but Ryan, who was already aware of her plans, skillfully held her on time, and a scornful smile visited his lips, amused by her audacity.

"Sweetheart, that's an old trick to play. It won't work." He whispered against her ear, his warm breath tickling her earlobe and he deliberately left a little present there to further taunt her.

"Let go of me!!"

Scarlett has never felt so irritated in her entire life as she did right now. She continuously struggled to break free but all her endeavours to escape from his clutches amounted to nothing but failure.

"Help!" To Ryan's awe, he heard her scream out for help. "Help! Arsenio, please he–hmph."

Feeling alarmed that someone might hear her, he covered her mouth with his hand, and the look in his eyes deadpanned as he uttered in a low tone.

"Shut the f*ck up."

Scarlett didn't pay heed to his words. She bit his hand over her lips as hard as she could.

"Aahh~" Ryan let out a pained cry as he immediately pulled his hands away from her.

As quickly as the pain came, it dolled out soon. He glared daggers at Scarlett with a big scowl on his face. "You b*tch."

Scarlett flinched and shut her eyes closed as Ryan attempted to hit her. Time passed but the impact was not forthcoming. And when she opened her eyes to know why, she was shocked.

Ryan was at the mercy of Arsenio's strength. He was held at chokehold and upon closer look, he was pegged to the wall, his legs a good distance from the marble tiles floor.

POW

A heavy punch landed right across Ryan's face. And then another and another- like a loop. By now, a few staff, customers had gathered.

"Arsenio st–"

"You've got some nerve trying to harass my secretary right under my nose, huh?" Arsenio said as anger settled in.

"What the f*ck, man?" Ryan cussed out loud. "What's wrong with hitting on a beautiful–" before he got to say the last word, another punch flew right across his face.

Gasps erupted from the onlookers as Arsenio's punch sent Ryan to the floor. Just then the manger came rushing to the scene.

"What is going on here?" He asked while staring down at Ryan.

And when his eyes trailed to Arsenio's, he was met with a death threatening glare that sent shivers although his body, causing the hair in his neck to stand.

"M-Mr Stone! I didn't know you were dining at my restaurant. I would have personally come to–"

"Save it," Arsenio cut him off. Then he turned his attention back to Scarlett– the victim. "Are you okay?" He asked. His accent cutting through her fears.

Scarlett swallowed and slowly nodded. Then she let out a shaky breath along with a few words. "I'm fine."

Arsenio let his eyes remain on her face as if he was making sure her words matched her current state.

"Alright. Go get out things. We will have lunch somewhere else," he said.

"Okay." Scarlett left and came back in a hurry. She didn't want to stay there even a minute longer. And Arsenio caught on well with that.

He took the two bags from her and began walking. But then he stopped, with his back facing Ryan, he dropped a message. "Ryan Wilson, inform your father about your inability to secure this project."

With that being said, Arsenio left along with Scarlett. The manager tried to make them still have lunch but the second glare he received paralyzed him on the spot and shut his lips closes.

Once they were outside, the car was already pulled up at the front, waiting for their arrival. Like a gentleman, Arsenio opened the car door for Scarlett and let her get into the car first

"You should not have ended that project with Mr Wilson's company because of me. You will loose money," Scarlett said.

"Money or your dignity, which is more important?" Arsenio questioned.

Seeing that she was speechless, he proceeded to say, "If you were to loose your dignity today, you wouldn't be in the best state of mind. And I..." he met her gaze. "...need you in your best."

"An employee that can't be in their best while working shouldn't be working. Do you understand, little red?"

"I understand," she looked away.

"That's what I want to hear."