Chapter 4: The Power Behind

Amia had no idea what was going on. After all, how could someone in her position, just doing odd jobs, know about such matters? But Steve's unusual behavior was indeed strange. Amia glanced at Steve, noticing how gracefully he bowled, effortlessly hitting a strike every time, while the Lyle Group’s CEO, struggling, failed to knock down all the pins despite multiple attempts. Seeing this, the Lyle Group CEO’s secretary rushed to serve him tea and water. Observing this, Amia decided to mimic the gesture by wiping Steve's sweat and offering him water. Meanwhile, the Lyle Group CEO, Will, turned his gaze towards Amia. Dressed in a standard business uniform—a white blouse and a knee-length skirt—Amia's outfit perfectly highlighted her figure. Her neat ponytail further accentuated her refined makeup and appearance. Will couldn’t help but stare, nearly drooling, but he kept a smile on his face as he spoke to Steve, "Mr. Steve, you’re truly fortunate. Your assistant is not only beautiful but also has a great figure. I envy you." Steve, expressionless, responded calmly, "Mr. Will, you have a way with words." Will then turned to Amia, "Miss, do you know how to bowl?" Before starting work, Amia had bowled a few times, but she knew that in this setting, she shouldn't join in. So she shook her head and casually said, "I'm sorry, Mr. Will, but I don't know how to bowl." Sensing Will’s suggestive gaze, Amia felt deeply uncomfortable. "Miss, if you don’t know, I can teach you—hands-on," Will said as he wrapped his arm around Amia’s waist and gave it a squeeze. Instinctively, Amia forcefully pushed Will’s hand away. Will’s expression darkened as he looked at Amia with displeasure. Realizing the potential trouble she had caused by offending a business partner, Amia looked nervously at Steve, fearing she might face consequences or even lose her job. As Amia worried, Steve suddenly said, "Mr. Will, please respect yourself. Miss Amia is with me." Steve stared at Will, his eagle-like eyes exuding a cold aura. Understanding the situation, Will quickly nodded, "Oh, I’m terribly sorry, Mr. Steve. Please don’t take it to heart. I will pray to God for forgiveness." Though Will apologized, his eyes lingered on Amia, still unwilling to let her go. He mistakenly assumed Steve was just another playboy who wouldn’t give up a woman he hadn’t had his fill of, so he was willing to wait. "Mr. Will, I’d like you to apologize to my assistant," Steve said, still toying with the bowling ball in his hand, his face betraying no emotion, making it impossible to tell if he was angry or pleased. Will hesitated for a moment, then forced a smile, "Mr. Steve, we’re business partners. This woman is just a means to an end." A means to an end... Hearing those words felt like a knife to Amia’s heart, reopening old wounds and dirty memories she’d tried to forget. Despite all her hard work and dedication, despite her focus on earning her place through merit, she was still belittled just because she was a beautiful woman. No longer concerned about Steve’s reaction, Amia, now furious, glared at Will, "Mr. Will, what do you mean by that? If you’re calling me a means to an end, then are your mother and sisters the same? Why do you equate women to mere objects? Is that how you prove your worth?" Amia spoke with confidence and determination, standing her ground. Even Marilyn, standing nearby, couldn’t take it anymore. "Mr. Will, our company doesn’t need business partners like you. We respect all our employees." Realizing he had crossed a line, Will finally understood he was in deep trouble. "I’m sorry, Mr. Steve. I shouldn’t have said that about your assistant. I apologize to you, Miss, and to you, Miss Marilyn." Will quickly apologized, just as Steve threw the bowling ball with such force that it knocked down several pins, one nearly hitting Will in the head. Terrified, Will’s legs went weak, and his body broke out in goosebumps. "Mr. Steve, I know I was wrong. But there’s no need for this." Ignoring Will’s apology, Steve turned and walked away, with Amia and Marilyn following closely behind. "Thank you for standing up for me earlier, Mr. Steve," Amia said, catching up to him. Steve, standing at an imposing 6'3", naturally exuded a sense of security. Walking behind him made Amia feel much safer. "Let me tell you now: no matter what harassment or bullying you encounter in the future, stand up for yourself. Don’t be afraid, because you have the backing of Tech Group." Hearing Steve’s words warmed Amia’s heart. Knowing she had the support of Tech Group gave her a great sense of security. "Thank you, Mr. Steve. I understand," Amia said, her eyes brimming with tears. Steve noticed she was on the verge of crying. "Just remember, working under me means you represent me, Steve. So don’t be afraid of anyone bullying you," Steve said gently. "I understand!" Amia nodded vigorously. This made her think back to the times she was bullied before. If someone had stood up for her then, maybe she wouldn’t have ended up in her current situation, unable to go home. "I think you handled it well," Steve added. Amia was deeply moved, and Marilyn spoke up, "Mr. Steve, I’ve already instructed all departments to cancel our partnership with the Lyle Group." Tech Group had been developing chips, and while they had made good progress, their technology was still not fully mature. The Lyle Group had a more advanced chip technology, so canceling the partnership would mean some losses for Tech Group. Amia understood that Steve’s actions were meant to protect the reputation of Tech Group. To be able to work under Steve was indeed a great fortune for Amia.