The Rescue

Chapter Sixteen : The Rescue

Alina’s Pov

I was shaking. My face hurt. My arms and legs ached. My heart was pounding so hard I thought it would burst. Everyone around me laughed or whispered. They threw words like knives. I wanted to disappear. I wanted to vanish and never be seen again.

Then… the door slammed.

A shadow filled the room. My chest tightened. He was here. Lucien.

He didn’t hesitate. He didn’t look around. He came in like a storm. The laughter stopped. The whispers froze. Everyone went silent. Even the air seemed to hold its breath.

His eyes found me immediately. Sharp. Cold. Burning. My legs trembled. My stomach dropped. My heart raced.

He didn’t speak at first. He just stared, scanning the room, every corner, every face. Then, slowly, he pushed through the crowd. Everyone stepped back, afraid. He crouched, holding my trembling hands in his.

“Who dared to do this?” His voice was low, dangerous, but calm.

One of the staff stammered, trying to explain, “I… it’s… your girlfriend, sir… she said she was clinging onto you… and…”

I froze. My stomach sank. My face burned. I wanted to sink through the floor. I didn’t want him to hear that. I didn’t want anyone to think that.

Lucien didn’t flinch. His eyes became colder, sharper. His jaw tightened. He stood up slowly, holding me close. “Do I ever call you and tell you I have a girlfriend?”

Vanessa’s face went pale. She opened her mouth, but no words came out. She shrank back, her hands trembling. The other staff were frozen, afraid to move.

“You’re fired,” Lucien said, his voice cutting through the silence. “Now. Go. Write the letter. Do it immediately.”

The staff stared at him in disbelief. Some whispered to each other, but no one dared speak. Lucien’s eyes burned like fire.

He turned back to me, still holding me, shielding me from everyone. “Anyone raises a hand on you again,” he said slowly, “will face the same consequences. Do you understand?”

I nodded. My throat was dry. My voice was gone. My chest felt tight. Relief and fear mixed so badly, I couldn’t think.

He guided me toward the door. I clutched his jacket like it was the only thing keeping me steady. Every step felt surreal. The people who had mocked me, laughed at me, and thrown me down, now stared silently, afraid of him.

When we reached the elevator, he didn’t let go. He brushed the wet hair from my face. “You’re safe now,” he whispered, low and dangerous. “I won’t let anyone hurt you.”

I wanted to cry. I wanted to scream. I wanted to tell him everything I had felt since the first night we met. But all I could do was nod. My hands clutched his jacket tighter.

The elevator ride felt like forever. Every floor was a heartbeat of relief. I dared a glance at him. His jaw was tight. His eyes fierce. But there was something else in them, something softer when he looked at me.

“You’re mine to protect,” he said quietly, but with fire. “Do you understand?”

I swallowed hard. My hands shook. My chest felt tight, but I nodded. “Yes.”

When the elevator doors opened, we stepped into the quiet hallway. He didn’t let go. He held me close, guiding me like I was fragile glass. I could feel the tension, the fear, and the whispers following us. Vanessa’s mouth hung open. The staff trembled. No one dared say a word.

He guided me through the doors to the dining room. I was trembling, exhausted, and scared. The maids had already set out food. I hadn’t even noticed. My hands shook as I sat down.

Lucien knelt slightly beside me. He lifted my chin gently, forcing me to look at him. “Eat,” he said softly. “You need strength.”

I shook my head, embarrassed. “I… I don’t need…”

“Eat,” he repeated, firmer this time. His eyes softened just a little. “You need it. I’m not asking.”

I obeyed. I took the spoon slowly, my hands shaking. He watched me closely, almost like a hawk guarding his prey. Every bite was a struggle, but he was there. Patient. Protective. Fierce.

When I finished, he leaned closer. “Now,” he said, voice lower, almost a growl, “go and wash up. Meet me in my office when you’re done. Understand?”

I nodded, unable to speak. My legs were trembling. My heart was pounding. I couldn’t believe how much he cared. I couldn’t believe how safe I felt just standing next to him.

He stood, holding my hand, and guided me toward the stairs. “No one touches you,” he whispered. “Not now, not ever.”

The staff watched silently. Some were still frozen with fear. Some dared not even breathe. They had never seen their CEO like this. So protective. So deadly. So caring.

I walked behind him, my heart full of a thousand emotions, fear, gratitude, confusion, and something else I didn’t want to admit. Desire. Protection. Love. All mixed together in a way that made me dizzy.

As I disappeared into the washroom to clean up, I could still feel his eyes on me. And even though I was scared, exhausted, and emotional, I knew one thing clearly: he would never let anyone hurt me. Not ever.