Chapter 1042: Do you understand the situation you’re in right now?

"Although I pity your situation, Atlas Bennet, I’m afraid our company isn’t hiring anyone today. So, you should turn around and leave at once — security!"

All the security in the area perked up at the commanding call from William. Even the one who was supposed to be checking the list stopped, his breath hitched. The employees, who had been trying to avoid the drama but were close enough to overhear the situation, had their mouths fall to the floor.

How did the situation escalate so quickly?!

Allen panicked as he jumped closer to Atlas’s side, looking around anxiously at the security approaching them. "Sir..." he whimpered before setting his eyes back on Atlas. "This is bad. We’re going to get kicked out even before our interview!"

"Hm?" Atlas hummed as if realization had struck him, but he remained as calm as a lake. "Getting kicked out before the interview... that’s bad."

"Of course it is bad!" Allen gasped in disbelief. "Sir, do you understand our situation right now? We’re about to get kicked out!"

William sneered. "That little company of yours is right, Atlas Bennet. Do you understand the situation you’re in right now?"

"I do," Atlas nodded. "It’s bad."

Everyone: "..."

How could he just respond like that?! They swore this guy’s sense of danger was on a different level. They mostly wondered if it was Atlas’s relaxed personality or if this was all just a facade to hide his embarrassment.

"Bennet..." one of the bystanders furrowed her brows, watching this unfold from the side. "Atlas Bennet... now that I think of it, isn’t Atlas Bennet the CEO of Global Prime Logistics?"

"Manager, weren’t you listening? He was, but Atlas Bennet was kicked out of their company."

"Huh?"

"Here’s the video that proved he was kicked out." The other employee showed her manager the clip almost everyone had seen. "That’s him and then the other guy is probably the other guy with him now."

The manager nodded. "Oh, that’s him, huh? I saw that video. I didn’t think it was him."

"He’s in trouble. I think he came here to look for work, but he ended up offending one of the executives."

"Oh."

The manager’s reaction made the female employee look at her with curiosity. "Manager, why do you look confused?"

"Nothing." The manager shook her head. "Just... I heard about the Bennets. If your task focuses more on the upper internal affairs, then you’d know that all the Bennets are not to be messed with."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Well, first things first, Slater Bennet — we all know him. Even if you don’t want to, we don’t have a choice since his face is all over Anteca. Even buses have his face on them. It doesn’t matter if it’s a child or an elderly; they all know him. And then, from what I heard, the second Bennet brother is actually a high-ranking soldier in the military," the manager paused as she thought about what she had learned due to her work involving the market flow. This might not sound relevant in the business world, but it actually was. "Atlas Bennet aside, Prime Group is owned by the youngest Bennet."

"Oh..." The female employee nodded. "What about it, then? Even if they’re like that, this is the Pierson Corporation. This is the Pierson Family."

The manager sighed. "Do you know who currently handles the CEO’s personal security? It’s Prime Group. They also handle security for a few ministers, and from what I heard, some leaders in other countries."

"What I’m trying to say is... this is going to be bad," she continued, her eyes fixed on Atlas, William’s group, and the security team. "If Prime Group hears about this, there’s a high possibility they’ll pull the CEO’s security. And if that happened, Zoren Pierson wouldn’t let this slide."

And then, the Pierson Corporation would be like an everyday battlefield again.

It had been a while, and no one might’ve noticed it, but lately, the Pierson Corporation had been rather peaceful. So peaceful, in fact, that everyone had almost forgotten what it was truly like in this hell. The regular employees might not know the details, but those in higher positions, like the manager, were slightly aware of how quickly the mood of this big company could change. Plus, the amount of workload.

The manager and the other female employee weren’t the only ones buzzing, trying to assess the situation. Many others couldn’t help but speculate as well. Others, however, chose to side with William, as they had nothing to do with Atlas Bennet.

So what if Atlas was a Bennet? It wasn’t like Atlas had the power to fire them; William sure did have all that authority to fire them on the spot.

"I’m sorry, Mr. Bennet," William offered Atlas an apologetic smile. "You might not be aware of this, but today is a very important day for all of us. So, I have no choice but to have you escorted out."

He then tipped his head, signaling the security to kick these two pests out. When the security hesitated for a moment but still followed his orders, a satisfied smile spread across William’s face.

"Sir, I’m sorry, but I have to escort you..."

"Touch me... or him..." Atlas slowly glanced at the security guard, who was reaching for him. "...and you’ll see what’ll happen."

Those who heard only snickered in ridicule, but the one who received that message directly felt a shiver creep up his spine. Looking back at Atlas, he couldn’t help but gulp as he felt smaller, as if he needed to look up just to meet Atlas’s eyes. But alas, he knew he was taller than Atlas — or at least, the same height.

Atlas snapped his eyes away from the security guard, focusing on William. A glint flickered in his eyes, tilting his head slightly as if sizing up his first prey of the day.

"What are you still doing?" William frowned as he noticed the man who was supposed to escort Atlas had just stood there like a statue. "Didn’t you hear what I said? Or should I ask another person who can follow simple instructions to replace you?"

"Ye — I’m sorry, sir! I’ll do it!" the security guard nodded profusely, but when his eyes landed on Atlas’s side profile again, his hand — which had been inches away from Atlas — trembled and quickly moved back.

Seeing the security guard’s cowardly action, William hissed. "Hah! Very well! You’re fired!" he yelled, motioning for another to step forward. "Kick that useless idiot out who can’t even do his job properly! Drag him out, along with those two!"

By the time William finished, he was already panting. Much to his dismay, despite all that yelling, the security guards didn’t move an inch. They all stood there, wide-eyed, like statues who couldn’t move.

"What are you all looking at?" William frowned. "Are you all deaf, or do you all want to get fired—"

"Interesting."

William choked when he heard the quiet whisper behind him. His shoulders tensed, and he held his breath, his eyes widening as he recognized that voice. No matter how quiet it sounded, he knew that low baritone that carried nothing but a blizzard each time it reached anyone’s ears.

Slowly, William looked back. His neck twisted as if its screws were rusted and in need of oil. The second he saw the pair of dark eyes blazing with intensity, tinted with a hint of red, William gulped.

"Zo—Zoren?"