He Taunted Me, I Showed Him My Power

My husband was tied up in a meeting, so he sent the family driver to pick me up. The moment I opened the front passenger door and sat down, Walter Hayes frowned. "Ma'am, please sit in the back." I thought he was only being considerate. "It's fine. There's more room up front, and I'm not picky." Instead, he turned off the engine. "That seat isn't for just anyone. Mr. Shaw's former fiancée always sat there. She was sweet, sensible, and never wasted his money. Unlike some people, she didn't marry into the family, go 3 years without having a child, and still act like the lady of the house." I let out an angry laugh. Adrian Shaw and I had been married for 3 years. I had bought the car, and I paid the driver's salary. Yet he was using my money while guarding the front passenger seat for a woman I had never even met. I stared at him. "And who exactly did you mean by 'some people'?" Walter curled his lip. "Ma'am, I was just speaking offhand. There's no need to be so sensitive." I unbuckled my seat belt. "You're a driver. What gives you the right to decide where I sit or comment on whether I have children?" He said nothing. He lowered the window and lit a cigarette. "I don't like the smell of smoke. Put it out." Walter exhaled a cloud of smoke. "Mr. Shaw never used to care about that. Ms. Bennett never made such a fuss when she rode with me either." "Which Ms. Bennett?" "Megan Bennett. She used to be with Mr. Shaw. If she hadn't gone overseas, you never would've had a chance." I took out my phone and called Adrian. "Nora Ellis, did he pick you up?" I looked at Walter. "He did, but your driver says the front passenger seat belongs to your former fiancée and that I'm not worthy of sitting there." Adrian went silent. "What former fiancée?" Walter whipped around. "Mr. Shaw, that isn't what I meant!" I put the call on speaker. Adrian's voice turned cold. "Mr. Hayes, explain yourself." Walter immediately changed his tone. "Mr. Shaw, Mrs. Shaw misunderstood. I only asked her to sit in the back because the front passenger seat is less safe. As for Ms. Bennett, I mentioned her in passing. I didn't mean anything by it." "Nora, don't get upset," Adrian said. "I'll have Owen pick you up right away." "Don't bother." I opened the door. "I'll get a cab." "My meeting ends in 10 minutes. I'll come find you." Walter hurried out of the car. "Ma'am, don't storm off in this heat. If you leave on your own, Mr. Shaw will think I bullied you." "Didn't you?" He choked, then lowered his voice. "Ma'am, you shouldn't take everything so seriously. I've driven for the Shaw family for 8 years. I was already working for the late Mr. Shaw. How long have you been part of this family?" I nodded. "Fine. You're done working here as of today." His face darkened. "What do you mean?" "You're fired." He scoffed. "Mr. Shaw pays my salary. You think you can fire me just because you say so?" I held up my phone. "Your salary comes from my personal account. I bought this car before I got married. Do you think I have the authority now?" Walter's expression shifted, but he still sneered. "Don't think you can throw your money around, ma'am. Mr. Shaw values loyalty. He won't throw me out just because you complained about me. If word gets out, people will only say you drove out a longtime Shaw family employee." "Let them say it." I turned toward the road. Walter followed in the car. "Get in, ma'am. If something happens to you in this heat, I can't answer to Mr. Shaw." I ignored him. He suddenly swerved in front of me and stopped. I almost walked straight into the hood. "Walter, what are you doing?" "Nothing. I'm asking you to get in. Don't make this difficult for me." I pulled out my phone to call the police. Adrian called just as Walter climbed out and grabbed my wrist. "That's enough, ma'am. Aren't you embarrassed to stand beside the road crying and making a scene?" I wrenched my arm free. "Touch me again and see what happens!" A black executive van braked hard at the curb. Adrian got out and strode toward us. Walter released me at once. "Mr. Shaw, thank goodness you're here. Mrs. Shaw insisted on getting out, and she wouldn't listen no matter what I said. She even threatened to fire me. I only stopped her because I was afraid something would happen." Adrian came to my side and took my wrist. Red marks ringed my wrist. His eyes went completely cold. "Walter, who gave you permission to touch her?" Walter panicked. "Mr. Shaw, I didn't mean to hurt her. She lost her temper, and I was afraid she'd run into traffic." I pulled my hand away. "Adrian, I never want to see him again." Adrian nodded. "All right." "Mr. Shaw!" Walter cried. "I've driven for the Shaw family for 8 years. Even if you don't think I deserve any credit, doesn't all my hard work count for something? Are you really going to throw me out over a few words from your wife?" "It isn't about a few words." Adrian's gaze was dark. "You crossed a line." Walter glared at me.