The Cursed King

"Are you sure?" Marc asked her gently. "Do you need to take half a day off?"

Elise quickly shook her head. "No. I am really fine. I didn't expect you to be here at all. I was afraid that they would have kept insisting. But you have taught them a lesson. Thank you."

The doors of the elevator finally opened as Alex rushed out and then threw her arms around Elise. "Where are the fuckers who tried to hurt you? Did you throw them out of the company, boss?"

"Yes, I did. Have their faces and names listed down. I don't want to see them again stepping into this company at all. Blacklist them." Marc sighed tiredly and rubbed his face. "Also, get in touch with my lawyers and prepare for anything."

"Okay, Boss. I'll also make sure these people don't come here again." Alex nodded her head and then looked at Elise. 

She was very surprised to see Marc went the extra mile to protect Elise. When Alex contacted him, the man was in his floor, but he was here first? Did he take the stairs? That's crazy!

Alex didn't know that Marc would do anything to protect Elise. She was his grand-aunt. Or at least, his future grand-aunt.

If anything were to happen to Elise under his watch, then Loriel would blame him for it. Marc didn't want to get on his uncle's bad side at all. 

Although Elise herself was shaken up and upset about everything that happened, she pretended to be fine.

She was grateful to both Alex and Marc that came all the way here to help her. "Thank you for all your help and coming all the way here, Alex. How did you guys know?"

Marc cleared his throat and replied to her question. "Any unnatural occurrence that happens within the company is directly reported to Alex and then to me. I prefer to handle the cases on my own when I can."

"Oh, I see."

Marc turned to Alex and barked more orders. 

"Make sure the security will work properly and those two fuckers will never set foot in this building again," Marc spoke firmly. His murderous glare was directed at the four security officers who had walked in with guilty faces.

"I am sorry, Boss… They said they are important guests. We were fooled," said the older security guy, looking regretful.

"Idiots!" Marc grumbled. He turned around, patted Elise on the shoulder and then went back to his office using the elevator.

Alex quickly started checking on Elise. "Did they hurt you in any physical way at all? Would you like to go to the clinic? Rest down for a minute? I shouldn't have made you come down if I knew this was going to happen."

"I'm really fine. Thank you, Alex." Elise smiled and tried to assure them that she was fine and that there was nothing to worry about.

Unbeknownst to all three of them in the hallway, a great number of people on the floor of this building saw the entire thing play out in front of them.

One never usually saw their boss Marc Sanderman get up in a rut like this. He literally descended down the top of the building all the way here to chase these people harassing Elise.

It was clear that Marc didn't do things like this one out of the blue.

In front of his people, Marc Sanderman was a calm and collected person. While he was somewhat known as a womanizer who dated a lot of women, it was the first time that his employees saw him do something a heroic action like this for someone whom he was not dating.

Or… maybe he was actually dating Elise secretly? Or at least… maybe he was attracted to her and wanted to pursue her?

So many scenarios popped up in their minds as the people were trying to decipher what happened and what could be the relationship between their big boss and the new girl.

Elise was shaken by the incident, but she kept her cool. She smiled and walked back to her work place as if nothing happened. 

She was this close to defending herself with her power. If Marc didn't punch Julian immediately, Elise didn't know what would happen. She might have killed the man out of instinct to protect herself.

Elise only realized that she could create fire several months ago. At that time, she was so furious that her father was taken to the hospital but she was not allowed to go and visit him.

She burned down the gazebo out of anger. Back then, many people were suspicious, but they couldn't really pinpoint it at her. So, Elise was safe.

However, later she realized that having the power to burn something was not normal. She was worried that this would help make Julian and Tessa's case against her.

She was afraid that people would think she was a freak and should be put in the mental asylum.

Elise could face Julian and Tessa and their families. Heck, she could even kill all of them. However, it would be impossible for her to escape if she had to fight the whole world, and that was exactly what would happen if she became a fugitive.

She would be hunted by so many people and the law enforcement. She couldn't let it happen.

***

KNOCK

KNOCK

"Come in," said Marc without looking up from his phone. The man was busy, still thinking of ways to boost his popularity on the most eligible bachelor award this year.

"Boss," Elise's voice rang from the door. The boss immediately looked up and smiled at her.

"Yes, Elise?" Marc asked gently.

Elise had been used to sweet treatment from Marc. So, she never thought much about it. She didn't even realize that Marc was never this sweet and friendly to any of his other staff.

"Uhm… Thank you for your help today," Elise said haltingly. 

"I wasn't helping you. I just happened to pass by on my way to the cafe and saw what happened." Marc shrugged nonchalantly. He didn't want to make Elise think he went out of his way to help her. "I will do it for anyone, not just you."

He was almost as good as Loriel at lying. His expression looked so convincing.

"Oh…" Elise nodded. "Still I have to thank you. And…"

Marc somehow thought the main reason Elise came to see him was not to say thank you.

"And..?" He repeated her words. "Is there something bothering your mind?"

"Ah, yes… well…" Elise looked worried. "Could you please not say anything to Loriel about the incident today?"

Elise didn't want Loriel to know that the same people who disrupted their dinner came to her office to harass her. The man might think there was something really wrong with her.

"Oh…" Marc felt so relieved to hear Elise's request. He was actually worried that she would talk to Loriel about the incident and Loriel would think Marc was useless and incapable of protecting his grand-aunt.

Fortunately, Elise wanted to keep it a secret.

So, of course, Marc was so happy. Loriel wouldn't need to know that two pests came to this building and harassed his woman.

"Will you please not tell him? I am worried about his reaction," Elise pleaded. "Besides, you handled it so well. I feel safe here. There is no need to make him worried."

"You are right. You are safe here," Marc smiled broadly. "I will not say anything to Loriel."

"Ah… thank you so much!" Elise let out a sigh of relief. "In that case, I will go now. Bye."