I didn't want to waste my time arguing with Shermaine.

"You can just tell Alex Hammond to fire me, then. We'll see whether I need the company more or it's the other way round."

I turned my gaze toward my phone, planning to call Owen's assistant first.

At that moment, a man said nonchalantly, "Oh! Who was it that had the audacity to say something like that in this building? Did they forget whose company this is?"

People stepped aside, gradually making way for a man in an expensive suit walking toward us. He was rather tall and handsome, yet a frivolous expression lingered on his face.

Shermaine adopted a sad, pitiful expression the second she saw him. She hurried toward the man.

"Welcome back, Mr. Hammond." She immediately clung to Alex Hammond's arm, her voice dripping with longing and admiration.

Alex's gaze drifted across the room and eventually landed on me. "Was it you?"

Shermaine swiftly pointed at me.

"That's her, Lucy! She acts all arrogant and looks down on everyone else just because she's secured a few deals for the company.

"She comes in late and leaves the office early every day. She also slacks off during work. Even our HR staff isn't sure what to do about her.

"You're finally taking over managing the company, Mr. Hammond. You ought to punish people like her, who are always breaking our company rules!"

Shermaine's eyes turned red, looking as though she was the one who had been treated unfairly. "She even yelled at me just now when I reminded her that she was late again."

Several ladies around Shermaine, who looked like her underlings, quickly chimed in.

"She's right, Mr. Hammond. Lucy has always been very forceful and imposing. She's made things difficult for Shermaine by stealing a lot of business deals from her!"

"Even after Shermaine had reminded her that she should do things moderately, Lucy outright ignored her words."

"That's right. Moreover, Shermaine was Lucy's mentor who had shown her the ropes when she just joined the company."

Alex snickered and asked mockingly, "Are you really our company's top salesperson? It's just that you've been lucky enough to join a successful company like ours, Hammond Group. Without our company, you'd be nothing."

I had heard long before that Alex was a frivolous playboy. I didn't expect that he was also so shallow and unprincipled.

I let out a sigh. "Alex, I have no desire to argue with you over these things. I just want to know if Mr. Hammond Senior's condition has stabilized."

My parents and the Hammond couple had decided early on to have me and Alex marry each other.

Over the years, the Hammond family's business gradually went downhill. Meanwhile, my family's business had flourished.

There were several instances where the Hammond family had nearly gone bankrupt, and my father provided them with the necessary help each time.

Six months ago, my father suggested that I join Hammond Group and start in the most basic position.

One of his reasons for suggesting that was so that I, a young lady who just graduated from college, could gain more skills and experience.

Another very important reason was so that I could observe Alex and learn more about his temperament.

We would keep him as my fiance if he were an intelligent, decent man. Otherwise, we should probably just call off the engagement.

However, I couldn't even catch a glimpse of him during the past six months since Alex had traveled abroad for his studies.

Meanwhile, I tried to keep a low profile since I didn't want my colleagues to feel pressured if they were to find out who I was.

Not only did Owen help keep my real identity a secret, but he was also very kind to me. Naturally, I was concerned about his condition after learning that he had suffered a heart attack.

Yet, Alex had completely misunderstood why I was worried about Owen. He laughed contemptuously.

"Why? Are you worried about my dad? Are you that eager to become my stepmother?"

I was boiling with anger. "Alex Hammond, mind your words!"

"Did I hit the nail on the mark? Are you getting all worked up because you're embarrassed?" Alex stared at me disdainfully.

"It's been 20 years since my mom passed away, yet my dad's never considered remarriage. These stunts that you're pulling won't be enough to help you become my stepmother."

Shermaine covered her mouth and exclaimed in shock.

"You should calm down a little, Mr. Hammond. There's no way our company's top sales lady would ever harbor such impure intentions toward Mr. Hammond Senior.

"She's just another regular employee in this company. I'm sure she knows her place well, don't you think so? She probably just admires Mr. Hammond Senior a lot."

The ladies around Shermaine agreed with her.

"That's right! You shouldn't take the words of a nobody like her too seriously, Mr. Hammond."

"How could a regular employee like her even think of becoming our boss' wife?"

Those people broke into fits of derisive laughter.

I felt pretty nauseated as I looked at the foolish, unsophisticated man before me.

I suppressed the anger burning in me and said monotonously, "As an employee of this company, it's only natural for me to ask about Mr. Hammond Senior's current condition.

"You're his son, yet you're saying these things that may damage your father's reputation while he's still in the ICU. What a fine son you are!"

"How dare you!" Alex's face darkened.

It was probably the first time someone had talked back to him like this. His face was twisted into a grimace.

"Lucy, right? You think you can lecture me just because you've secured a few business deals for our company?

"Let me be clear. This is Hammond Group, and I'm a Hammond! I can fire anyone as I see fit!"

He took one step forward and stared down at me.

"You think I don't know what someone like you is really after? You're obviously planning to use my dad to help you climb to a higher position in our company.

"You know very well how you've earned the title of our company's top salesperson. Unfortunately, my dad's in the ICU now. You've lost your backing. It's time you hand over the title to someone else."

Then, Alex reached out to Shermaine, who was watching our exchange from the side, and pulled her toward him. He lifted Shermaine's chin slightly and announced in front of everyone.

"Everyone, Shermaine is my lover. Anyone who tries to bully her or affect her work performance will be considered my enemy."

The others immediately cheered to show their loyalty to Alex.

"You're so cool, Mr. Hammond!"

"Shermaine is so lucky!"

Shermaine leaned against Alex's chest and cast me a mocking glance.

"Don't worry, Mr. Hammond. From now on, I won't let anyone affect my work performance."

I found it really absurd and amusing as I looked at them.

How on earth did my father come to the conclusion that someone like Alex was suitable to be his son-in-law?

"Alex," I said calmly. "If I'm not mistaken, you have a fiancee, right?"

Almost everyone in Jerunia's high society knew about it back when our families arranged for Alex and me to be engaged.

More than 20 years later, there was already a huge gap between the two families' wealth and status. Still, my father kept to his promise and never mentioned a word about calling off the engagement.

Technically speaking, I was still Alex's fiancee.

Alex was caught slightly off guard by my question. Yet, a moment later, he burst out laughing as if he had just heard the funniest thing ever.

"I knew it! You're planning to marry into my family, huh? You've even gone and looked into whether I have a fiancee!"

Alex was laughing so hard that he clutched his stomach. Shermaine, who stuck close to him, was laughing as well.

"Mr. Hammond, she seems really interested in your family's affairs."

Alex pinched Shermaine's cheek lightly. His eyes blazed with scorn and contempt.

"After all, there are a lot of women who desperately want to become the future Mrs. Hammond."

Alex turned his head and smugly jutted his chin upward as he looked at me.

"That's right. I do have a fiancee that my parents have chosen for me. So what?

"I have money and power. Even if I already have a fiancee, there's nothing wrong with me having a few lovers, like what ancient kings and emperors did. Is that so wrong?"

The other employees dissolved into fits of laughter.

"Mr. Hammond is absolutely right!"

"Exactly! It's completely understandable for a decent man like him to have several lovers."

I cast a stony glance at all these people who were spouting nonsense.

"Do you seriously think you're some sort of king just because people suck up to you nonstop? We're no longer living in the past."

I smirked. "You should stop pretending like you're some sort of royalty.

"Also, stop assuming that all women are dying to throw themselves at you like that woman beside you. Alex Hammond, you disgust me."

Alex stopped laughing at that point. His face darkened. "What did you say?"

"I said you disgust me." I looked him right in the eye and showed no signs of fear.

Alex exploded, "You dare talk to me like that? Do you really think this is your turf? Let me make it clear to you now. We don't need someone like you in our company! Get out of here this instant!"

He had a menacing look on his face as he was completely enraged.

With a worried expression, Shermaine held onto Alex's arm and gently patted his chest to calm him down.

"Mr. Hammond, don't bother getting mad at her. It's a complete waste of your time and energy."

She directed her gaze at me and said furiously, "Lucy, how could you say something like that to Mr. Hammond? It's too much! Hurry and apologize to him!"

I shrugged. "Thanks for reminding me. He should be the one apologizing to me."

Alex pointed at me and let out a chuckle. "Has she gone insane? I officially announce that she's fired!"

He took his phone out and called the HR department.

"Hello. It's me, Alex Hammond. Prepare a termination report for Lucy from the sales department right now. As for the reason, you can state in the report that she disrespected her boss and broke our company's rules!"

After shouting all that, Alex ended the call and glared at me. "Today, I'll show you the consequences of getting on my wrong side."

An uncomfortable silence hung in the air.

Shermaine was the only one who was scanning the room with a contemptuous look in her eyes.

Within less than ten minutes, the HR department manager, Mark Turner, brought the termination report that he had printed out to Alex.

"Mr. Hammond, here's the report that you've asked for."

Alex snatched the few pieces of paper from Mark. Without even looking through the report, he hurled those papers at me.

I felt a slight prick when one of the paper's sharp edges left a tiny cut on my cheek.

"Sign it now!" Alex lifted his chin, gesturing toward the paper on the floor. He sounded really pleased with himself.

"Sign it, and get out of my sight!"

The other employees were murmuring amongst themselves.

"Oh my god! Is Mr. Hammond really going to fire Lucy? What do we tell Mr. Hammond Senior when he eventually comes back to work?"

"Well, it's her fault for picking a fight with Mr. Hammond."

"She got what she deserved!"

Shermaine was grinning widely as she laughed aloud. She had a triumphant look on her face.

"By the way, what's your real name, Lucy? You have to write your full name on the document. You can't sign it with the nickname that you use for work."