The Co Family

The black monitor went into blue screen before displaying the captured incidents for the last thirty minutes. Everyone stared at the monitor. Ria Zhang stood in the middle of the lobby, looking around. Then she pulled her phone from her bag and swiped it open. Maybe realizing that she was standing in the middle, she took a step to the side.

Then from the corner, an attendant glanced at Ria Zhang. Picking up a tray with bowls of hair color over it, she walked towards Ria Zhang. And as if it was in slow motion, everyone witnessed how the attendant bumped into her and splashed the hair color on her white sneakers.

Stan Co pressed his lips together. "Arie, is this how your employees treat a client? Regardless of the reputation, a client is a client," he looked at his sister.

Arie Co remained silent. Despite being a black sheep, Sierra Co was still her cousin. And it was obvious in the video that she didn't start it.

"Sierra, what do you want to do with her?" Stan Co asked his sister.

Ria Zhang raised an eyebrow. Since everyone thought that she was bad, she might as well embrace it. Of course, maybe the old Sierra Co was bad. But she'll be the judge of it. She pretended to look at her nails.

"I just don't want to see her anywhere near the Co Industries," she said.

Everyone widened their eyes. The demand was preposterous. Only the management can decide about it. The attendant clenched her fists, eyes were glaring at Ria Zhang.

"You're just someone sharing the Co surname and a wannabe mistress. Who are you to make a decision about it?"

Ria Zhang inclined her head. "Excuse me? I didn't say it was my decision. That was just merely my wish. Mister Stan Co can either grant it or not," she glanced at her brother. "So, what do you say?"

Stan Co's mouth broke into a smile. His eyes were filled with tenderness as he gazed at his sister. "Whatever you say, it goes."

"Well, then. There you have it. Have a nice day, Miss Attendant," Ria Zhang took a step towards the exit when someone pulled her hair. "Ouch!"

"Sierra!" her brother's voice drowned in the commotion.

"You're nothing but a slut!"

Her first reflex was to pull the attendant's hands that were pulling her hair. But she remembered that it was a public place. She couldn't get physical. She just endured it, waiting for her brother to intervene.

After a while, her hair was finally free. She breathed a sigh of relief.

"Take her to the police station," Stan Co told the security guards. The two guards nodded and drag the attendant outside.

"You're a slut, Sierra Co!"

Ria Zhang lowered her head. She was a slut? She died a virgin in her previous life and that lowly attendant was calling her a slut? Hmmmp. That stupid woman hasn't tasted what it was like to be a real bitch.

Stan Co put his arms around his sister. "Are you okay?"

Ria Zhang nodded. "Let's just go home. I'm tired."

"Okay," he glanced at Arie Co before going out.

At the car, as usual, the driver of her brother looked at her with disgust. Ria Zhang closed her eyes. She doesn't care if people think she was bad. She just have to think of a way to redeem her reputation and at the same time, take revenge to those people who wronged her.

"You don't need to go with me upstairs," she told her brother after a while.

"Sierra -"

"I'm fine, elder brother. I just need to think," she cut him off.

Stan Co sighed. "Okay. Call me if you need something."

She nodded.

The elite of Costa City was lively that day. Different conversations have only one topic: Sierra Co's hair being pulled by a salon attendant.

It was however a puzzle why the Sierra Co who always got physical didn't use force to deal with the woman.

At the Co Mansion located at the outskirts of the Costa City, the current head of the Co Family and Sierra Co's parents were watching the video of the incident.

"How dare that lowly woman touched my daughter's hair?!" the voice of Steve Co reverberated throughout the study room.

Jasmine Co's hand patted her husband's arm. "No need to be so agitated, dear. I'm sure, Stan would protect her."

She was as agitated as her husband though. But she cannot show it. Her husband was impulsive and he might do something rash if she egged him on.

The current patriarch of the Co Family has his lips set in a thin line. His poker face continued to watch the video but no one knew what he was thinking.

The next day, a news shocked the Costa City. The attendant was found dead inside her cell, a blanket was wrapped around her neck. The elites and the common public in Costa City suddenly went silent.

Who was Sierra Co's backer to be able to kill the attendant inside the prison? Unless someone knew an official in the government, it was pretty impossible to kill someone inside. And it was just a lowly attendant. Only two families has ties with the government and military: the Cos and the Yuns.

Ria Zhang doesn't know anything about it though. She was currently in her bed, a face mask covered her face as she read a magazine.

A knock sounded on the door. Without looking up, Ria Zhang spoke. "What is it?"

The door opened, revealing a pale Lulu. "Young Miss, there is a big news!" Her chest was heaving.

Ria Zhang glanced at her maid. "What news?"

"That bitch attendant was already dead."

Realizing what Lulu told her, Ria Zhang sat up right. "Dead?"

"Yes, Young Miss. She was found dead inside her cell."

Ria Zhang furrowed her brows together. "You can go."

The maid opened her mouth to speak but took a step back When Sierra Co dismissed her.

Ria Zhang reached for her phone and dialed her brother's number. "Elder brother, did you do it?"

Stan Co wrinkled his brows. Although he did despicable deeds, Sierra Co doesn't know about it. However, he cannot lie. "Are you angry?"

She raised her eyebrow. So, he really did? Damn, rich people really behave as if they are the gods and goddesses. But these people are now her family. And regardless of how they did it to protect her, she will do the same. "Hmmmp. Make sure to cover up your tracks."

Stan Co's mouth opened when he heard her sister. She was not angry? Although the press branded Sierra Co as a bitch, slut, wannabe mistress, the truth was she was righteous. Always scolding him whenever he does something bad.

"That's default."

"Brother, thank you for protecting me," she told him.

Stan Co's throat constricted. It was the first time Sierra Co appreciated what he has done for her. He cleared his throat. "You're my only sister. I'll do anything to protect you."

"Awwww. How sweet," it was followed by a laughter.

The corners of Stan Co's eyes moistened. It has been a long time since his sister laughed so carefree. Ever since she met that guy, all she did was scheme on how to get the guy away from Kara Lu. It's a good thing she was slowly letting go.

"Stop teasing me," he said, a smile hovered on his lips.

A laughter was her only response.