Chapter 3

Isabella froze, then answered with a nonchalant air. "Don't know him."

Hugo didn't believe a single word. If they didn't know each other, why would she talk like that? She even threatened to bring down the Johnson family, and Michael just smiled?

Before he could ask more, Isabella had already walked out, tossing back. "I'm going to look at the Johnson Group files."

She'd always been decisive at work. She spent one day reviewing the Johnson Group's general situation, then that evening had someone arrange a meeting with Beau, a minor shareholder of the Johnson Group and a key subject of this audit.

Beau was surprisingly agreeable and agreed to meet at a certain restaurant.

The private room was at the far end of the corridor. Except for the room across the hall, where there was faint light and conversation, all the other doors were tightly shut and pitch black. Isabella had a bad feeling about this.

Isabella stood at the door of the private room, several times wanting to turn around, but thinking of the harsh words she'd said to Michael, she took a deep breath, gritted her teeth, and pushed the door open.

Inside was a scholarly-looking man wearing gold-rimmed glasses, quite refined and gentle.

Isabella hadn't expected this. She froze for a moment before putting on a smile. "You're Beau?"

Beau gestured for her to sit across from him. "From Ms. Taylor's reaction, it seems like you didn't expect me to look like this?"

Isabella smiled. "I'm here to verify some project transactions with you."

She took out documents from her bag. Just as she set them down, she felt the person across from her get up and move closer.

Isabella quietly shifted aside, but before she could move, Beau grabbed her wrist.

"Beau, what do you think you're doing?" Isabella tried to pull back but couldn't.

Beau's lips curved, no longer gentle. "Ms. Taylor, I know what you want to investigate, but do you know it's illegal to investigate my private activities without my permission?"

Isabella bit her lip. "I'm not investigating your private activities."

"Really? But tonight is my private meeting with a friend, and you suddenly barged in. I could accuse you of stalking." Beau smiled sinisterly. "Why don't you hook up with me? Then, when your former client comes after you, I can protect you."

Isabella finally understood completely. "You set me up?"

She yanked her hand free, stood up and headed for the door. Just as she grabbed the handle, Beau rushed over and blocked it, violently pulling her back with surprising strength.

"Let go!" Isabella struggled with all her limbs, grabbed her purse and wildly hit Beau's head. Taking advantage of his moment of pain, she quickly got up and ran toward the door, opening it.

Before she could get out, Beau caught up, grabbed her hair and tried to drag her back.

"Help!" Isabella screamed while struggling desperately.

Her dress was torn, exposing her delicate skin.

Beau became even more excited and was about to grab her when a stern voice questioned from across the hall.

"What's going on?"

Isabella didn't have time to see who it was. She quickly covered her clothes and ran over, hiding beside that person. "Please call the police, I'm begging you."

Beau frowned and looked over, wanting to question who was interrupting his fun. When he saw who it was, his expression turned to surprise. "Mr. Johnson? What are you doing here?"

Isabella looked up in shock, meeting a pair of deep eyes.

Michael looked at her mockingly. "This is your capability?"

Isabella's heart sank. She hugged her body, retreating helplessly, the confusion and surprise in her eyes heartbreaking.

After hearing Michael's words, Beau immediately got bold and accused Isabella, "She tried to seduce me, wanted to get information out of me!"

"Get lost." Michael was brief.

Beau said smugly, "You hear that? If you leave now, I won't hold you accountable..."

"I told you to get lost!" Michael stared at Beau darkly.

Beau jumped in fright and quickly nodded and bowed as he left.

Michael turned to stare at Isabella, suppressing his anger, "Come inside with me."

"No thanks, I'm going to the police station to report this." Isabella kept her head down, not looking at Michael, and lifted her foot to leave.

Pain shot through her ankle. Caught off guard, her body lost balance and she was about to fall. Instinctively grabbing Michael's arm, she fell into his embrace.

Isabella's unique scent rushed into Michael's nose. His eyes changed slightly, his voice hoarse, "You want to go out like this?"

He didn't give Isabella any chance to object, bent down and scooped her up horizontally, returned to the previous private room, and closed the door behind him.

Only then did Isabella think to struggle, pushing against his chest. "Let me go!"

As she struggled, her torn clothes fell away, revealing her cute underwear.

Michael held his breath, gritting his teeth in warning. "Be still!"

He bent down to set her on a chair. As he put her down, he saw her reddened wrist and sneered coldly, "You always use this method of selling your body. Now you're finally getting what you deserve. How much information have you gotten using this method?"

"Michael, if you're just here to insult me, please leave." Isabella couldn't understand why he always caught her at her most miserable moments.

"Telling the truth is insulting? I advise you to use some proper methods. Information obtained this way, I find dirty." Michael's heart churned with a violence even he couldn't explain.

Isabella looked up, wanting to say something, but caught sight of the red marks on his neck. Her intended defense turned to cold mockery. "Right back at you. Seems like Mr. Johnson hasn't changed his ways."

"What do you mean?" Michael's face turned cold.

"Exactly what I said." Isabella felt this was pointless. She pulled her clothes together as best she could and stood up. "I won't disturb Mr. Johnson's fun anymore."

A large suit jacket suddenly draped over her shoulders, the woody fragrance hitting her nose, bringing her a familiar sense of security.

Her eyes reacted before her reason, welling up with heat.

Isabella suppressed the inappropriate emotion, pulled off the jacket and laid it on the chair. "No need, wouldn't want to dirty Mr. Johnson's jacket."

"Isabella, do you have to be like this with me?" Michael gritted his teeth.

Isabella didn't answer, just silently walked toward the door, but her hand was gripped tightly.

Michael suppressed his anger. "How are you going out like this? Want the whole city to see how shameless you are?"

The repeated slander was too much for Isabella to bear. She whipped around, staring hard at Michael. "Michael! Don't go too far!"

In her rising anger, she began speaking without thinking, "Who I sleep with is none of your business!"

Michael's eyes reddened. "None of my business?"

He stepped closer, cupped Isabella's face, and lowered his head to kiss her forcefully.

Isabella struggled hard, but Michael only became more aggressive, making it hard for her to breathe, his hand moving to her waist.

After the slap rang out, the room fell terribly silent.

Isabella's chest heaved violently. "You disgust me!"

Michael covered his face, laughing coldly, "Disgusting? Wasn't it disgusting last night? Or do you feel disgusted today because I didn't pay you?"

"What last night? Stop making things up... wait," Isabella came to her senses. "Last night was you?"

"Still pretending at a time like this? Your acting is as bad as ever. Only an idiot like me would fall for it." Michael's smile was mixed with hatred.

"Michael?" A woman's gentle voice called from outside the door.

Isabella glared fiercely at Michael, pushed him away and limped out, brushing past that woman.

She could vaguely still hear the woman's complaint. "Why didn't you tell me you were coming out? Shall we continue?"