Gavin stood frozen, bewildered by the unexpected reaction of the boss. Instead of reprimanding Chris, the man stared at him, awe written all over his face.
"Why are you hesitating, sir?" Gavin pressed, irritation edging into his voice. "This man insulted me—and by extension, this company—all because he's some ex-convict with a big mouth! Call security and have the police handle him immediately!" He gestured wildly toward Chris, voice rising with each word.
But before he could say more, a resounding slap echoed through the hall. The boss had struck him hard across the face.
"You idiot!" the boss snapped, his eyes burning with fury. "How dare you speak to him like that? You've just made the biggest mistake of your miserable career by belittling and humiliating him. And now, you'll bear the consequences!"
Gavin staggered back, one hand holding his stinging cheek, stunned into silence. Ava, watching the scene unfold, felt a chill wash over her. Why wasn't the boss condemning Chris? And why did his daughter also seem completely unbothered by what had just happened? Is something going on? Ava wondered to herself.
While she tried to piece it together, the boss approached Chris, admiration gleaming in his eyes. His voice softened as he spoke.
"I'm deeply sorry for what happened earlier," he said with genuine remorse. "I assure you, we'll make things right."
His daughter stepped forward to join him. "Absolutely. You will be compensated for the mistreatment you faced here," she promised. "And as President of the company, I'll personally ensure the man responsible is dealt with."
Chris looked up, his hands still in his pockets, eyes fixed coldly on Gavin. "If you really want to make things right," he began, "he should be the one to apologize to my friend. The way he disrespected her—suggesting she sleep with him to keep her job—was beyond disgusting. Who does that?"
Rihanna's expression darkened. In a flash, she stormed over to Gavin and slapped him twice—sharp and swift.
"I trusted you," she hissed. "I never thought you'd stoop so low. Harassing a woman and then trying to cover it up like nothing happened? You've just shamed everything we stand for."
Gavin, now pale and shaken, dropped to his knees in front of Ava, pleading for her forgiveness. "Please… I didn't mean it. I was stupid. Forgive me…"
Ava hesitated, her heart naturally inclined toward forgiveness. But Chris? He remained unmoved.
"An apology isn't enough," Chris said, pulling his hands from his pockets and facing Gavin fully. "You're the kind of rot that weakens a company from the inside. People like you need to be rooted out."
Gavin blinked, unsure. "Wh-what are you saying?"
Instead of answering directly, Chris turned to Rihanna and gave her a subtle but meaningful look. She nodded, understanding immediately. Without a word, she reached into her bag and threw a stack of documents at Gavin's feet.
"You're fired," she said coldly. "Effective immediately, you are no longer an employee of ASSTAS—neither as a recruiter nor in any other capacity."
She narrowed her eyes. "We built this company on integrity. Anyone who attempts to tarnish that reputation will be removed without hesitation."
Desperate, Gavin scrambled toward her. "I said I was sorry! I promise I'll never—"
"Spare us the apology," Rihanna cut in. "You tried to coerce a woman into sex for a job. That's a criminal offense. And lucky for you, we've already prepared something special for you."
"Wh-what… what do you mean?" Gavin stammered, voice trembling.
Right then, three uniformed officers entered the hall. One of them, holding a pair of handcuffs, stepped forward.
"The police?" Gavin gasped, his pulse racing.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Gavin. I'm Inspector Wilfred," one officer said as he flashed his badge. "You are under arrest for sexual harassment. You have the right to remain silent—anything you say or do may be used against you in a court of law."
As the cuffs clicked shut around his wrists, Gavin spun to Chris, face contorted in fury.
"This is your doing, isn't it?!"
Chris took a step closer, his smirk calm and cutting. "You brought this on yourself, Gavin. You shouldn't have messed with me."
Then his tone sharpened. "The biggest mistake anyone can make is underestimating Chris Loner."
He turned to the officers, nodding once. "Take him away."