Gilbert's gaze was as sharp and cold as an eagle's.
He slowly took out his phone and clicked a few times.
Moments later, the car window rolled down. His voice was low and commanding, "Get lost. If there's truly an issue with our product, take it up with our legal team and follow proper procedures. Our company handles every case with fairness and reason."
But the man had only come to stir up trouble, hoping to make a quick fortune. Because he'd heard rumors, Gilbert Watson once paid an exorbitant sum to a customer over a perfume issue.
Now broke and desperate, he decided to take a gamble.
Instead of backing down, the man stood his ground with his hands on his hips, clearly ready to cause more chaos.
A cold gleam flashed through Gilbert's eyes. Suddenly, he slammed his foot down on the accelerator.
The engine roared furiously, and the car shot straight toward the man.
Stunned, the man froze.
"Move!" Claire's heart nearly leapt out of her chest. She dashed forward and shoved the man out of the way with all her strength.
He was flung backward, landing hard on the ground.
Gilbert's luxury car thundered past, missing him by only the width of a fist.
Snapping out of his daze, the man turned deathly pale and burst into sobs.
It was terrifyingly clear. If Claire hadn't pushed him, he'd probably be lying in a pool of blood, meeting his maker by now.
Claire stood frozen, a chill running through every vein.
It was the first time she'd seen Gilbert Watson act so ruthlessly and violently in public. He was no different from the devil.
Her thoughts flashed to her mother's death, and she involuntarily shivered.
What wouldn't a man like him dare to do?
Inside the car, Gilbert cast her a sidelong glance, his hawk-like eyes radiating icy menace. The air seemed to freeze under the chill in his stare.
He hit the gas, turned the steering wheel sharply, and the car sped off toward the underground garage.
The man who had stirred up trouble no longer dared to linger. He scrambled to his feet and fled in panic.
The crowd dispersed just as quietly, their faces pale with fear.
Claire, still shaken, walked into the lobby with a pounding heart and entered the elevator.
Moments later, the doors slid open.
She looked up and found herself face-to-face with Gilbert Watson, his expression stormy and dark.
"Ah!" Claire gasped and instinctively stepped back several paces.
Only then did she realize that, in her daze, she'd accidentally entered the executive elevator.
But technically, she was now a part-owner of the company. Taking the executive lift wasn't entirely inappropriate.
Still, she had no desire to share a confined space with this man.
Just as she considered slipping out, Gilbert stepped in and pressed the button for the eighth floor.
The elevator doors closed slowly.
She bit her lip, held her breath, and deliberately stepped back, trying to keep as much distance from him as possible.
Gilbert stood stiff and silent, radiating a cold, oppressive aura. The air in the narrow space felt suffocating.
"Mr. Watson," Claire finally broke the silence.
As a part-owner of the company, she knew she couldn't stay silent in this situation. Zanna Perfume Shop was her mother's entire life's work.
"Yes?"
"You can't treat our customers like that." Her tone was firm and principled. "If a customer has an allergic reaction, it means there may be a quality issue with our product. We should treat people with respect, accept responsibility, and work to improve. That's how we build a trustworthy brand."
Gilbert sneered, "Childish. Woman's Kindness."
Claire stood her ground. "Business should be built on integrity, not intimidation. Zanna must never be stained with blood. This path will only lead to destruction."
Gilbert narrowed his eyes dangerously at her. "Do you even know who that man is? Are you sure he really had an allergic reaction from Zanna's perfume?"
Claire was taken aback.
Come to think of it, Zanna's usual clientele were mostly wealthy socialites. While they did carry a high-end men's line, that guy didn't exactly fit the image. Judging by his clothes alone, he didn't look like someone who could afford Zanna.
"That still doesn't prove he's a bad person," Claire retorted stubbornly. "If you had hit him today, Zanna would've been finished. No matter how powerful you are, the law won't turn a blind eye."
Gilbert shot her a cold glance, too lazy to waste another word.
That man had a criminal record and had tried to pull this scam multiple times. This time, he went too far. He'd even smashed Zanna's front door. To show up here trying to pull this stunt in front of him? He was begging for death.
If Gilbert didn't crush him today, the guy would be back soon to wreak even more havoc on Zanna.
And for Gilbert, this was already considered merciful.
Of course, Gilbert's driving skills were nearly perfect. Even if Claire hadn't shoved the man out of the way, his car would've passed within a hair's breadth, scaring him half to death without actually touching him.
But he wasn't going to explain himself to this self-righteous woman.
"Mr. Watson..." Claire began stubbornly.
Just then, the elevator reached the eighth floor.
Gilbert's brows furrowed in annoyance. This woman is infuriating.
As soon as the doors opened, he strode out.
Suddenly, a mysterious smirk appeared on his lips. He reached back and slammed the elevator button forcefully.
Claire was just about to follow him out.
But the doors suddenly snapped shut, nearly catching her in the process.
She screamed and jumped back.
Instantly, the elevator lights went out, plunging her into complete darkness.
Before she could recover, the elevator dropped abruptly, as if in free fall.
"Ah!" she screamed, crouching down with her arms over her head, trembling from head to toe.
Then came a deafening sound. The elevator slammed into the bottom, then ricocheted upward in a jarring bounce.
Claire was thrown off balance, her head slamming into the elevator wall.
Thankfully, at that moment, the elevator doors finally opened.
Pale as a ghost, she scrambled out on hands and knees like she'd just seen death itself.
Back in the executive office, Gilbert stood in front of the security monitors, watching her crawl out in panic. His lips curled in amusement.
So, she does get scared after all.
This woman walks around with such righteous fury all the time. She needed to be knocked down a peg or two.
Even after escaping the elevator, Claire crouched on the ground, gasping for air, her forehead drenched in cold sweat.
Devil. Gilbert Watson, you're a devil!
She rose to her feet, jaw clenched, face flushed with fury, her fists trembling.
She'd seen it with her own eyes.Gilbert, that smug bastard had pressed something on the panel, and that's what triggered the elevator to malfunction.
He was trying to kill her. No doubt about it.
Just like Emma. Nothing good ever comes from their kind!
She didn't dare take the elevator again. Furious, she stormed up the stairs.
But when she finally reached the eighth floor, panting heavily.
Gilbert was already there, sitting calmly on the sofa in her office, his expression unreadable, as if nothing had happened.
Claire marched in with a dark expression, slammed her keys onto the desk, and was just about to explode.
When his icy gaze cut through her like a blade.
She froze.
Gilbert Watson was capable of anything. Until she avenged her mother's death, it was best not to provoke him. Her life didn't matter, but two little ones were still waiting to be fed. And her mother… still gone.
Expressionless, Claire stood her ground, staring straight at the devil before her.