Chapter 41: Did He Just Threaten The HRD Manager?
The HR Manager’s patience finally snapped.
His jaw tightened, and his fingers curled against the table as if he were holding back the urge to throw something.
When he spoke, his voice carried a sharp edge that cut through the already tense air. "Get out, while I am still speaking nicely to you."
The room seemed to shrink at that moment.
For a brief second, even the ticking clock on the wall felt louder, as if it, too, was waiting to see what Riley would do next.
But instead of reacting with anger or panic, Riley’s serious expression slowly melted away, replaced by that familiar, almost irritatingly relaxed smile.
The kind of smile that made people question whether he understood the gravity of the situation... or simply didn’t care.
"Well," Riley said lightly, stepping closer to the HR Manager, "that doesn’t sound very welcoming, Sir."
The simple movement sent a ripple of shock through the room.
Sienna’s heart jumped to her throat. Her first thought was not about rules or consequences, but it was far simpler and far more urgent.
’Heck no! He’s going to do something stupid...!?’ She wonders.
Without thinking twice, Sienna pushed her chair back, its legs scraping the floor with a sharp sound. She stood and moved quickly, intending to grab Riley and drag him out before things escalated further.
Because if Riley actually dared to lay a hand on the HR Manager... He will be in serious trouble.
Not only would he be unemployed, but he would also probably be escorted by security to the police station, and he would have a very embarrassing story to tell for the rest of his life.
And somehow, she and Mia would still get dragged into it.
’Great. A group dismissal. How efficient,’ she thought bitterly.
But just as she was about to reach his arm, Riley suddenly paused.
Instead of throwing a punch—or at least doing something equally reckless—he calmly slipped his hand into his trouser pocket and pulled out his phone.
The movement was so unexpected that Sienna froze mid-step.
Riley raised the phone slightly, glancing at it before speaking again, his tone casual, almost lazy.
"You’re a little too quick to kick me out," he said. "You should actually thank me."
The HR Manager’s brows pulled together tightly, confusion flashing across his face.
"Thanks to you!?" he repeated, clearly baffled. "Thank you for what? You’re out of your mind!"
Riley tilted his head slightly, as if considering how to phrase it, then smiled.
"For bringing you something that might save your career as the HR Manager of this hotel."
Instantly, the silence settled in the room. It felt heavy and suffocating.
’Heaven! Did he just... threaten the HR Manager?’ Sienna thought. Her eyes blinked a few times. ’No! He wasn’t threatening. That sounds too simple.’
What Riley just did felt more like casually tossing a bomb into the room... and then standing there with a smile as everyone waited for it to explode.
Across the table, Angie’s composed expression finally cracked, just for a second. Her eyes narrowed slightly, watching Riley with a new kind of caution.
Even the HR Manager seemed momentarily stunned. "What the hell is this brat talking about?" his expression practically screamed.
Before he could say anything, Riley stepped forward and placed the phone in front of him.
"Take a look," Riley said, his voice calmer now, but there was a sharpness beneath it that hadn’t been there before. "Then decide what’s best for Sienna and Mia."
For the first time since he had entered the room, Riley’s tone carried weight. Not playful. Not teasing. Only serious.
Sienna slowly lowered herself back into her chair, her eyes fixed on him.
Confusion twisted in her chest, mixing with a fragile, dangerous thread of hope.
She wanted to believe him.
However, after everything that had happened in the past few days—the evidence, the accusations, the way everything had been perfectly stacked against them—it felt almost foolish to hope for a sudden miracle.
Still...
Her gaze softened slightly when Riley glanced at her.
Just for a moment. His eyes met hers, and the tension in them disappeared, replaced by something warm, steady... reassuring.
He didn’t say a word.
But she could see him speaking through his eyes, saying, "Relax. Everything will be all right."
Sienna swallowed, her fingers tightening slightly against her lap.
’You better not be bluffing, Riley,’ she thought, a hint of dry humor slipping through her anxiety. ’Because if this is your idea of a dramatic exit from this company... I swear I’ll haunt you even if we both get fired.’
Slowly, she shifted her attention back to the HR Manager.
The man was already looking down at the phone, his expression dark and unreadable.
The room fell into complete silence once again.
They are all waiting for him in a tense situation.
For a long moment, no one dared to breathe too loudly.
The air in the meeting room felt thick, heavy with tension, as if even the walls were waiting for the verdict.
Sienna sat still in her chair, her hands resting on her lap, fingers slightly curled, her nails pressing faintly into her skin.
Across from her, the HR Manager remained silent, his eyes fixed on the screen of Riley’s phone. His expression was unreadable. Too calm, too focused, and that alone made Sienna’s heart pound even harder.
’What did he show him?’ she wondered, her thoughts racing. ’What kind of evidence could change everything this quickly?’
Beside her, Mia sat stiffly, her shoulders tense, her gaze locked onto the table as if she were afraid to look up and face whatever was coming next.
Every second that passed felt stretched, unbearable.
Then, finally...
The HR Manager lifted his head, his eyes moving slowly and deliberately. First, they settled on Riley, then shifted toward Sienna and Mia. For a brief moment, a flicker of emotion crossed his face. Not anger or authority, but worry.
Sienna caught the change, and that alone made her stomach tighten.
"Miss Sienna... Miss Mia..." he began, his voice no longer as stern as before.