Meanwhile, Charlie was fighting a battle of his own.
He stood rigid in front of the Hermes Heights building, trying his best to keep calm as the owner of the SUV—an older woman in her early forties, overdressed and overpampered—pointed at him like he was a stain on her shoe.
"I will not let this go," she shrieked, drawing attention from everyone nearby. "Not until you get this lowlife of a bastard fired from these premises!"
"I—I'm sorry, ma'am," Charlie said quietly. "It was an emergency. I had to use the car available."
Before he could say more, the manager's hand cracked across his face.
A harsh, humiliating slap.
"Do you want to destroy the company's reputation?" the manager barked. Without hesitation, he delivered a second slap—louder, sharper than the first.
Charlie held his cheek, swallowing both pain and pride. One wrong move and he would lose the only job he had.
The lady smirked, delighted. But she wasn't done.
"Kneel before me seven times," she said, folding her arms like a queen on her throne, "and maybe I'll consider dropping my complaint."
"No. he will do no such thing."
A calm female voice cut through the air like a blade.
The crowd parted instinctively.
Camilla stepped forward, her heels clicking against the polished floor, her gaze sharp enough to slice diamonds.
The lady blinked, stunned. "Ex—excuse me?"
"Miss pierce, please let me handle this," Charlie whispered, trying to shield her.
But Camilla ignored him. She faced the lady fully.
"Who do you think you are?" the woman snapped.
Camilla tilted her head. "A concerned citizen watching a lonely-ass, attention-starved woman throw tantrums in public because she spent the night in a hotel with a man old enough to be her son."
Gasps exploded from the gathering crowd.
Whispers. Phones raised. All eyes on the unfolding drama.
The lady's face twisted with rage.
Camilla took the moment.
"Manager," she called out, loud enough for everyone to hear. "Is this how you treat a staff member who helped a pregnant woman who was literally dying? You slap him because he borrowed a car in an emergency and returned it safely? Is this your company's professionalism?"
The manager froze, guilt washing over his face like cold water.
Charlie stared at her—bewildered, grateful, and confused.
Camilla turned to him suddenly.
"Charlie, how much is your salary?"
He hesitated. "Three thousand yuan, ma'am."
Camilla didn't blink. "Good. If I offer you four thousand yuan—plus wardrobe allowance and feeding allowance of another three thousand—would you be willing to work for me?"
Charlie gaped, speechless for several seconds before regaining his composure.
"Yes," he said firmly. "Yes, I will."
"Good." She motioned with her hand, already walking away. "Then it's settled. Come with me."
Charlie followed her, still trying to process