Chapter 160: Leave The Same Way You Came
It wasn’t that the receptionist wanted to stop her. She had simply been given strict instructions.
"Ms. Luiz, we’re not refusing to let you into the building," she explained as patiently as she could. "President Hale’s orders are that anyone wishing to see him must have his permission before using the private elevator to the executive floor."
No matter how politely she phrased it, Lady Francine refused to listen.
The receptionist stood her ground, backed by two security guards who remained unmoving at either side of the elevator. Seeing that neither threats nor intimidation were working only fueled Lady Francine’s anger.
She let out a cold, mocking laugh.
"Luca has only been president for a few days, and he’s already acting like he owns the world. Does he really think he can ignore the shareholders?"
"Lady Francine."
A calm voice cut through the lobby before the receptionist could respond.
"It’s not that I don’t respect shareholders."
Luca stepped out of the elevator with Captain Rico and Cecelia at his side.
"I just don’t consider you one."
The receptionist almost sighed out loud in relief.
’Thank goodness...’
The moment he appeared, employees throughout the lobby straightened instinctively.
"Good morning, President Hale!"
"Morning, Mr. Hale!"
"President Hale!"
Their greetings echoed across the spacious lobby.
It wasn’t only because he was young and charismatic.
Earlier that morning, every employee had received an official notice announcing a twenty-percent salary increase.
Nothing boosted morale quite like a bigger paycheck.
The security department was even more enthusiastic. They had already received bonuses from the previous two incidents, along with department funds for a celebratory dinner.
Naturally, they shouted the loudest.
Watching the scene unfold, Lady Francine’s expression darkened.
’He’s only been in charge for a few days... yet they’ve already lined up behind him.’
’What a calculating little bastard.’
Her glare sharpened.
"So you’re Luca Hale."
Her voice dripped with hatred.
"You’re the one who sent my son to prison."
She wanted nothing more than to claw the smug expression off his face, but the ring of security around him made that impossible.
Luca’s expression never changed.
"Your son put himself in prison."
His tone was flat.
"If you’d raised Dexter properly, none of this would’ve happened."
"Hmph. Clever mouth."
In Lady Francine’s eyes, her family belonged to the elite.
Men like Dexter didn’t commit crimes.
Women should’ve considered it an honor to be noticed by him. Anyone who resisted or exposed him was the one in the wrong.
That twisted belief had never once been challenged... until now.
She folded her arms.
"We’ll argue about that another time."
"What I want to know is why you fired all of my people from the company without consulting me."
"What gives you that right?"
Her voice echoed through the lobby.
Luca looked at her as if she’d asked the most ridiculous question imaginable.
"If that’s why you came here..."
He pointed toward the entrance.
"Then get out."
"I’m the CEO."
"I’ll fire whoever I think should be fired."
"I don’t need your permission."
Her lips quivered.
"You..."
She couldn’t find a response.
After a moment, she forced out a sneer.
"Fine."
"Enjoy yourself while you can."
"You may control Hale-Viv, but don’t forget Vanderbilt Global Maritime."
"What happens when your ships have nowhere left to dock?"
"Let’s see how you run your business then."
A smug smile spread across her face.
She had already reached an agreement with the Day family.
If they couldn’t attack Hale-Viv directly, they’d cripple Vanderbilt’s shipping network instead.
Without ports, ships couldn’t unload.
Without cargo movement, operations would grind to a halt.
To her, it was the perfect way to chop off one of Luca’s arms.
Luca almost laughed.
"So this is the brilliant strategy you and Arthur came up with?"
He sounded genuinely disappointed.
He’d expected something dangerous.
Instead...
This?
Even if they somehow convinced nearly every port around New Orleans to reject Vanderbilt vessels...
There was still one harbor nobody could stop him from using.
The Iris Port Facility.
Because it belonged to him.
His ships could dock whenever they pleased.
"What’s wrong?" she demanded.
"Aren’t you scared?"
He gave a thoughtful nod.
"I am."
"I’m terrified."
"Now..."
He looked toward the entrance.
"Can you leave?"
Her face twisted with rage.
"So you’re determined to make this a fight to the bitter end?"
Smack!
Smack!
Two sharp slaps rang through the lobby like gunshots.
The sound bounced off the marble walls, leaving everyone frozen.
For a heartbeat, complete silence fell.
Then, almost every employee had the exact same thought.
’That was satisfying.’
Lady Francine stood rooted to the spot.
Her face slowly turned bright red as two swollen handprints appeared on her cheeks.
She seemed too stunned to react.
Only when an employee carrying documents hurried past did reality finally sink in.
She let out a shrill scream.
"AAAAAH!"
"Luca Hale!"
"You actually hit me!"
"I’ll make you pa—"
Before she could finish, Captain Rico stepped in.
Smack!
Smack!
Smack!
His palm landed over and over again, each slap harder than the last.
Within seconds she was completely dazed.
Her hair was a mess.
Her cheeks ballooned.
Two teeth flew out onto the polished floor with tiny streaks of blood.
Rico casually twirled his keychain around one finger.
"The boss only slapped you twice."
"That was already generous."
"And you’re still running your mouth?"
He grinned.
"You’ve got some nerve, old hag."
Humiliation burned hotter than the pain.
Luca had slapped her.
Now even one of his employees had done the same... right in front of the entire company.
She spat out a mouthful of blood.
"And who the hell are you?"
"You think you can survive in New Orleans after this?"
"Oh?"
Rico answered with another slap.
Smack!
"I’m telling you this once."
"If another word comes out of your mouth..."
"I’ll keep slapping you until you forget how to speak."
Whether it was his massive frame or the cold look in his eyes, something finally broke her arrogance.
She fell completely silent.
’Much better.’
Luca gave an approving nod.
He turned and headed back toward the elevator.
Halfway there, he stopped.
Without looking back, he spoke calmly.
"Throw her out."
"And make sure she takes everything she brought with her."
"Exactly the way she came in."
With that, he stepped into the elevator.
Rico and Cecelia followed.
The doors slid shut.
The lobby gradually emptied until only the receptionist, several security guards, and Lady Francine remained.
Her swollen face trembled with rage.
"Luca Hale..."
"I’ll never forget this."
She spun around and marched toward the exit.
Only for Chief Tenpenny to step directly into her path, casually resting his baton across one shoulder.
"A good dog doesn’t block the road."
She glared at him.
"Move."
Instead of backing away, he flashed a broad grin.
"Ms. Luiz."
"Didn’t you hear the boss?"
"He said you have to take your things with you."
"What things?"
She snapped.
Tenpenny pointed at the floor.
"Those."
She followed his finger.
Her two bloodstained teeth lay on the polished marble.
"..."
"You’ve got to be kidding."
"You can hate me later," Tenpenny replied cheerfully.
"But pick them up first."
Grinding her teeth... or what remained of them... she crouched and reached for the broken teeth.
The instant she bent over—
Thud!
A heavy boot landed squarely on her bottom.
She lurched forward with a yelp.
Just as she was about to explode in fury, Tenpenny leaned over with a grin.
"Ms. Luiz."
"The boss said you should leave the same way you came."
"So..."
He nodded toward the bloody teeth.
"Carry them out in your mouth."
Her eyes widened in disbelief.
"W-What did you just say?!"