I took a new cup of coffee and headed to the pantry to brew another. When I returned, Racquelle sneered and splashed coffee all over my face again.

“This is so bitter! Joshua, how can I trust you with any tasks in the company when you can’t even make a decent cup of coffee?”

With a blank expression, I picked up another cup and said calmly, “I’ll make you a fresh one.”

However, before I could leave, she said, “Stop! Did I permit you to…?”

Her voice turned icy as she ordered, “I don’t want coffee anymore. Wipe up the floor in the office. I don’t want to see a single drop of coffee. Do you understand?”

Following her command, I grabbed a pack of paper towels and crouched down, ready to clean the stains on the floor. But then she stepped before me and pressed her foot down on my hand.

“Why waste paper? Just use your clothes to wipe it. Once you’re done, you can wash them and wear them again.”

Racquelle looked at me smugly, clearly trying to humiliate me on purpose. Suppressing my anger and frustration, I removed my shirt and repeatedly wiped the floor.

Just then, the office door swung open. Vernon sauntered in, as comfortable as if he were at home. He laughed when he spotted me on my knees, scrubbing the floor.

“Hey, isn’t this your lapdog? He’s so obedient and hard at work early this morning.”

Racquelle crossed her arms, proudly nodding. “Yeah. You arrived just in time. Come, sit down, and enjoy the show!” She took Vernon’s hand and plopped down on the couch. They were engrossed in their world, acting like I didn’t exist.

My breath became heavy as I struggled to contain my disgust. After cleaning the floor, I wanted to leave, but Racquelle called me back with a cold expression. “Stop! Did I say you could go?”

I halted my steps and turned to her, asking, “Ms. Smith, is there anything else you need?”

“Sign the contract before you leave.” She glanced at the contract on the table and ordered me to.

I shook my head, refusing without hesitation. “There’s an issue with this contract. A 25 percent discount is unprecedented for the company. If anything goes wrong…”

Racquelle grabbed the ashtray from the table and smashed it against my head with a bang. I couldn’t dodge in time and felt blood trickle down my forehead.

She glared at me with a frown and cursed, “Joshua, you’re just the Smith family’s lapdog. You better do whatever I ask you to do obediently, or don’t blame me for being cruel.”

I looked at her calmly, replying, “Ms. Smith, you’re in charge of the company and have the right to sign. If you truly want to work with Vernon, sign it yourself.”

Racquelle was furious. She shoved Vernon aside and stepped up before giving me a sharp slap.

“Slap!”

The impact made my ears ring, and it took me a while to recover. She glared at me with a frosty expression and said icily, “Are you courting death? How dare you talk back to me? You must sign the contract today. If you refuse, I’ll throw you out of the Smith family. Do you understand?”

She looked at me with malicious intent, as if this would quickly bring me under her control.