Rising from the Ashes (Andrew and Lauren) novel Chapter 736

Andrew let out a dry chuckle. "Forgiveness? Mrs. Rhodes, I think you're mistaken. I didn't do anything wrong, so why would I need your forgiveness?"

Tiana's eyes burned with fury as she pointed at Howard's battered face. "You didn't do anything wrong? Look at him! Do you see what you did? Andrew, don't think that just because Marvin backs you, you can run wild on Rhodes Corporation's turf!"

Andrew frowned. "So what you're saying, Mrs. Rhodes, is that I wasn't allowed to hit Howard? Why? Because he's your nephew? Because the Lambert family is untouchable?"

Lauren felt a pang of anxiety—Andrew was being far too aggressive with Tiana. Howard was not just another employee; he was part of the Lambert family. At a time like this, it would be better to give Tiana some leeway to de-escalate things.

She whispered, "Dr. Lloyd, that's enough."

Andrew simply scoffed and glanced at the other lackeys he had beaten down. His voice was laced with disdain. "Listen up—all of you. If you screw up, you pay for it. If you get hit, you stand up straight and take it like a man. This time, I only slapped you to teach you a lesson. But if I ever catch you throwing your weight around again, you'll regret ever being born."

Michael's temper snapped. "Andrew, you're still not admitting fault? You don't feel even a little remorse? And now, you're even making threats?"

Andrew shot him a cold look. "Why would I admit fault when I've done nothing wrong?"

Michael's face twisted with rage. "You beat them up! How is that not wrong?"

Andrew let out a low chuckle. "Did you ever bother to ask why I beat them up?"

Michael's voice was dripping with arrogance. "I don't care what your reason is. You hit someone—that's wrong. And to make it worse, you didn't just hit anyone; you hit Aunt Tiana's nephew—you hit my people. So I have every reason to believe you were just taking personal revenge!"

"I just don't get it. These guys are just middle managers, making what—20, maybe 30 grand a month? And yet, they think they're untouchable? They have the nerve to look down on me, a board member?"

Andrew turned to Howard, casually fixing his crooked suspenders before giving his cheek a light pat. "Funny, isn't it? We live in a capitalist world. Since when did corporate employees start looking down on the ones actually funding their paychecks? Tell me, isn't the very thing you people fear the most precisely men like me?"

Howard flinched, his entire body trembling, but he kept his mouth shut.

Michael had finally reached his breaking point. "Mrs. Rhodes, look at him! Do you see how arrogant he's become? He acts like throwing five billion into this company makes him some kind of god!"

Andrew smirked and let out a slow, mocking laugh. "Sorry to break it to you, but having money really does mean I can do whatever the hell I want."