Chapter 178 How Dare You Slap Me
Rachel and Natalia were taken by surprise.
Only when the sting of the slap spread across her face did Natalia grasp what had happened. Holding her cheek, she stared at Tracy, shock etched on her face.
Now abandoning all pretense of courtesy, her tone became cold, asking, “Just who do you think you are? How dare you slap me?”
Her life had been one of privilege and protection.
She had not only never been slapped but had rarely ever been scolded harshly.
Yet, on this day, she found herself on the receiving end of a blow from Tracy.
Feeling it beneath her dignity not to respond, she believed she must act to preserve her reputation as the Carpenter family heiress.
“So what?” Tracy retorted, her arrogance undiminished by the severity of her actions.
A sinister smile twisted Natalia’s lips, erasing any trace of her former gentleness.
She rolled up her sleeves and stepped closer. Then, with a swift motion, she retaliated with a resounding slap. The impact echoed sharply.
Shock registered on Tracy’s face as she took a moment to absorb the pain. Her fury escalated uncontrollably, yet it was Rachel who bore the brunt of her ire.
“Rachel Marsh, are you out of your mind? Who is this? Who did you bring here?” Tracy demanded furiously. Rachel’s lips parted, ready to reply, but Tracy cut her off with a stamp of her foot. “Is this some new intern? Did you set this up to take your frustrations out on me?”
A look of pity crossed Rachel’s face. How could Brian tolerate such foolishness?
But whether Rachel acknowledged it or not now seemed trivial. With arms crossed, she leaned casually against the wall. “Well, yes, I did. Didn’t you just threaten to call for backup? Have you changed your mind now?”
Natalia stretched her fingers out, taunting, “Oh, is that so? Better make it quick then, or I might just beat your into a pulp.”
Tracy retorted, “Go ahead and try. You think I’ll let you hit me again?”
With a deceptively sweet smile, Natalia’s fist clenched once more and struck Tracy squarely on the nose. Tracy burst into tears on the spot.
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Chapter 178 How Dare You Slap Me
Her sobbing echoed loudly, capturing the immediate attention of everyone in the office.
As she stood there with a bloody nose, several colleagues reacted with concern. “Tracy, are you alright?”
“Tracy, let me help you sit down.”
“I’m going to get Mr. White.”
Soon, the group split up. One colleague guided Tracy to a couch, another handed her tissues, while a third went in search of Brian.
As Brian entered, Tracy’s smile flickered across her face again.
She could almost hear Rachel’s silent ridicule of her foolishness.
But wasn’t her seeming stupidity just a tactic, designed to provoke a reaction?
Who else would have struck her if not for her provocation?
Her timing couldn’t have been better; not a moment too soon, not a tick too late.
In that instant, she silently thanked her own nose for bleeding right on cue.
More so, she was grateful for Natalia’s impulsive nature. Without Natalia’s help, she couldn’t have orchestrated this scene so flawlessly. With Brian now here, she believed his guilt would translate into an increased desire to protect her. A sense of triumph filled Tracy’s heart.
As Brian entered, Tracy looked up at him, her tears flowing freely but quietly.
Her tears spoke volumes of her distress.
“Has it stopped bleeding?” Brian inquired.
A young woman next to Tracy responded, “Yes, she’s not bleeding anymore.”
Brian directed his gaze towards Tracy. “Clean yourself up and take care of that.”
“Okay.”
Not long after, Tracy reappeared, her face clean yet marked by a look of vulnerability.
The air in the meeting room was heavy, almost suffocating.
Tracy reached out and lightly pulled on Brian’s sleeve.
“Brian, I’m fine now. It wasn’t Rachel’s fault. Earlier, I spoke too harshly. Please, don’t hold it against them.” Her plea was predictably rehearsed.
Natalia couldn’t help but roll her eyes.
“Just keep pretending,” she whispered under her breath, lounging in a chair with a drink in hand.
Tracy was taken aback by the intern’s audacity to be so forthright in Brian’s presence. Her boldness was indeed extraordinary.
“I’m hungry,” Natalia said out of the blue.
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Chapter 178 How Dare You Slap Me
Brian then moved to sit in a different chair.
The room remained under a heavy cloud of tension.
His eyes paused on Natalia briefly before he turned towards Rachel.
“You look quite at ease. Is this typical for managers at White Group these days?”
The challenge in his tone was clear to Rachel. “Actually, I’m quite tied up with work. I should get going,” she responded.
She wasn’t keen on staying for the ongoing drama, although Natalia had been the one to insist she come. “Hold on a second,” Brian called out as she began to leave. “Since you’re here, stick around a little longer.” “Okay.” Rachel decided she’d observe the unfolding scene.
After all, it wasn’t Natalia who would be left dealing with the consequences. This time, Tracy might not come out on top.
Shortly, the door to the meeting room swung open and Ronald entered, carrying trays with coffee and cupcakes. He greeted them with a smile and set the refreshments down between Natalia and Brian.
Natalia eyed the treats and promptly took a cupcake to enjoy.
Tracy was left dumbfounded. It wasn’t long before she exclaimed, “You’re just an intern; how dare you behave with such audacity? You assaulted me, and now you indulge as if you own the place. Were those cupcakes meant for you?”
Natalia deliberately looked at Ronald, blinking innocently. “Oh, were they not?”
“They were certainly not,” Tracy retorted. “Ronald, this intern is crossing the line. Could you please have security escort her out?”
Undeterred, Natalia grinned and took another cupcake.
As she ate, she glanced at Ronald and teased, “Oh, really? Ronald, she is asking you to throw me out. Will you?” Ronald was about to respond when Natalia suddenly began to cough violently, having swallowed too hastily. He quickly went to her side, patting her back with genuine concern.
After she calmed down, he offered her a glass of water, saying, “Miss Carpenter, please, drink some water to help.”
Miss Carpenter?
Tracy’s confusion was evident.
Given Ronald’s respectful attitude, was this Natalia Carpenter, the daughter of the influential Wilson Carpenter?
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