Glancing at both of them, Kendal smiled. "Stetson, you're late. I'm here with Miss Jones."
"Thank you, Mr. Shaw. I was asked to pick up Miss Jones." The smile on Kendal's face frightened Stetson, the manager of the hotel.
Kendal was a frequent visitor of the Hotel Flower Valley. He stayed in the hotel every time he came to Antawood.
Therefore, Stetson knew Kendal very well.
"Stetson, I'll take care of them tonight. As for those women, I need your help. They were trying to bully my cousin. I believe you can handle them well." Kendal arched an eyebrow and smiled. Although he looked simple, Stetson could sense his cruelty.
He understood what Kendal meant. He glanced at the women again and sighed.
Although they were also from wealthy families, they weren't as influential and powerful as Kendal. They were regular guests of the Hotel Flower Valley, but their main purpose was to hook up with men there.
Men like Kendal were their target. But they had made a terrible mistake today by bullying his cousin. Offending Lolita meant offending Kendal himself.
They had bearded the lion in his den. This was the consequence of their own evildoing -- no one could help them.
Stetson knew better.
When it came to picking sides between the women and Kendal, he would undoubtedly choose Kendal.
After all, the Shaw Group was involved in many projects of the Hotel Flower Valley.
"Mr. Shaw, rest assured. I will handle everything." The manager began to execute the task right away.
"Mr. Shaw, Mr. Shaw, please forgive us."
"Mr. Shaw, I'm sorry. We didn't know that she is your cousin."
"Sorry?" Kendal glared at them. Seeing the anger on his face, the women gasped in fear.
His eyes were shooting daggers at them.
"There is no use in apologizing. If I had come a minute later, you would have torn my cousin apart. Lolita is the treasure of our family, but you were going to bully her. How can I forgive you? What makes you think an apology would suffice? You humiliated her. Do you think you can get away with a mere sorry?" Kendal bombarded them with questions.
The women exchanged glances, trembling with fear.
Kendal was seething with rage; it looked like he was about to explode.
They didn't know what to do.
"Mr. Shaw and Miss Anderson, we are ready to do anything to earn your forgiveness." The women had no dignity or shame. They knew that seeking forgiveness was the only way to protect themselves. Therefore, they pleaded, not caring about their self-respect.
After all, they weren't as powerful as Kendal. Although the Shaw Group was in Ensfield, they were powerful in Antawood as well. Kendal's one word had the power to shut down all the small enterprises.
They couldn't afford to sacrifice their family because of their arrogance.
"Anything?" Kendal looked at them coldly.
Gabrielle had always protected Lolita in the past regardless of what happened to her.
Thinking that Lolita was an innocent girl, Gabrielle, being a native of Antawood, had decided to help her friend.
Now, she realized she had misunderstood Lolita's potential.
Everyone had many faces and characteristics, and Gabrielle was aware of that.
However, she was surprised to see Lolita's other side. Gabrielle found it hard to accept.
"Gabrielle, are you okay?" Lolita returned to her senses and looked at Gabrielle. She reached out and grabbed her hand.
"I'm fine. Is he really your cousin?" Gabrielle asked in disbelief.
"It's true. I'm Lolita's cousin. I guess she has been pretending to be naive and pitiful in front of you. I can't believe she has mentioned me to you before. I mean, she should have told you that she has a handsome, competent cousin like me," hearing Gabrielle's question, Kendal took the initiative to explain.
"Well, Kendal, don't brag in front of Gabrielle. Why should I mention you to her?" Lolita snapped at Kendal.
"You heartless woman! I helped you so much, but you are insulting me in front of your friend. Do you want me to help you or not?" Kendal faked hurt as he looked at Lolita.
"Thank you for showing up on time. I'll leave them to you. Gabrielle and I are going inside. The meeting is about to begin." Lolita didn't want to talk to Kendal anymore. It was obvious that he liked Gabrielle.
"You ungrateful little witch. Are you kicking down the ladder? How can you do this to me?" Kendal grabbed Lolita's hand and refused to let her go.
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