Alyssa’s grip on Lisa’s wrist loosened.
Her eyes were fixed on the man sitting at the head of the table.
The moment the young man seated at the head of the table lifted his eyes to look at her, all the anger that had carried her to this office seemed to vanish.
Did I just make myself look like a fool?
Her thoughts raced.
She recognized him instantly.
How could she not?
Eric Walker.
CEO of All Stars Entertainment.
The second richest man in Country A.
A man whose name alone could shake the entire entertainment industry.
All Stars was the top entertainment company in the industry.
They only signed A-list actors.
The best of the best.
The kind of actors who graced magazine covers and starred in billion-dollar films.
People like Alyssa could only dream about entering its doors.
What was he doing here?
In this small, rundown company where she worked?
Who’s the lucky actor?, she wondered.
Who’s getting signed today?
Director Eli rolled his eyes before forcing a smile.
He gestured toward the empty chairs.
“Come inside, Miss Alyssa. Have a seat.”
“Thank you, Director Eli,” Lisa said quickly.
She tugged at Alyssa’s hand, trying to guide her toward the chairs.
Alyssa didn’t move.
Lisa turned to look at her.
Her eyes were wide.
Pleading.
Her expression screamed one thing:
Please don’t make a scene.
Not here.
Not now.
Alyssa understood.
But she didn’t care.
She hadn’t marched all the way to the executive floor just to sit quietly.
She had come here to confront Director Eli.
She had come here to demand answers about what happened to Lisa.
And she wasn’t leaving until she got them.
Besides, she didn’t like the way Director Gideon was staring at her.
There was a faint smile on his lips, one that made Alyssa’s stomach turn.
Even with all these people in the room.
His eyes crawled over her skin like insects.
Her hands clenched into fists.
Eric Walker leaned back in his chair.
He studied her.
Then he spoke.
“Do you want to say something?”
Alyssa’s breath caught.
Did he just talk to me?
For a second, Alyssa almost looked behind herself to make sure he wasn’t addressing someone else.
She looked at him.
His voice was calm and deep.
There was no judgment in his eyes.
Just curiosity.
“Mr. Eric, we should continue our discussion,” Director Eli interrupted.
He knew Alyssa’s temper.
He had seen it before.
He knew what happened when she came barging into his office like this.
And he could not afford to let Eric Walker witness that chaos.
If she exploded in front of Eric, it would become an embarrassment for the entire company.
Eric’s gaze shifted to Director Eli.
“Let her speak.”
His voice was quiet.
But it carried weight.
Director Eli bowed his head.
“Yes, Mr. Eric.”
He turned to Alyssa, his jaw tight.
“Miss Alyssa. What actually brought you here?”
Alyssa looked at Eric.
He was looking at her too.
That look in his eyes…
it felt like a green light.
Like he was giving her permission to speak her mind.
Go ahead, his gaze seemed to say.
Say what you came here to say.
Alyssa took a breath.
She took a step forward and reached out.
Her fingers closed around the collar of Lisa’s shirt.
She pulled it down, just enough.
The red marks on her neck were exposed.
The shape of fingers pressed into her skin.
“You promised to protect us.”
Alyssa’s voice was quiet.
But it cut through the room like a blade.
“Someone did this to her. And I need to know which one of you did it. And why.”
Director Eli leaned back in his chair.
His eyes narrowed.
“How are you so sure it was one of us?”
He tilted his head, a smirk tugging at his lips.
“You seem so confident with your statement.”
Eric Walker watched from the head of the table.
His fingers were steepled beneath his chin.
His eyes were fixed on Alyssa.
There was something in his gaze.
Excitement.
Curiosity.
Like he was watching a fire spread.
Alyssa didn’t flinch.
“Because no ordinary employee would dare lay a hand on my manager and it’s only one of you who has the audacity to do that.”
She turned her head slowly.
Her eyes landed on Director Gideon.
“And may I know why, Director Gideon?”
All eyes shifted to him.
He hadn’t spoken since they walked in.
He sat in his chair, stiff and silent. Follow the newest chapters on g.com.
Lisa’s face turned pale, she grabbed Alyssa’s arm.
“Don’t, Alyssa. Please don’t.”
Her voice was barely a whisper.
Pleading.
Desperate.
Alyssa ignored her.
She kept her eyes locked on Gideon.
She had figured it out the moment she walked in.
The way he looked at her.
That same lustful gaze he always wore.
And the way Lisa couldn’t even look in his direction.
It was him.
She knew it.
Gideon felt the weight of everyone’s gaze.
Including Eric’s.
“Did you do that?” Director Eli asked.
The room held its breath.
Gideon’s jaw tightened.
“Yes. I did.”
The confession hung in the air like smoke.
Alyssa clenched her fists.
“So it really was you.”
Her voice trembled with restrained anger.
“Why did you do that to Lisa?”
Before Gideon could answer, Director Eli raised his hand.
“Calm down, Alyssa. Let me do the questioning.”
Alyssa’s head snapped toward him.
“Don’t shut me off.”
She took another step forward.
“This woman has been protecting me since the day I entered this company.”
Her eyes briefly softened as she looked at Lisa.
“She’s endured insults because of me.”
“She’s been humiliated because of me.”
“And now she’s been assaulted again because of me.”
She turned back toward Gideon.
“So no…”
“This isn’t something I’m going to stand back and watch.”
Director Eli’s face grew serious.
“This is a company matter.”
Alyssa laughed bitterly.
“A company matter?”
She pointed toward the bruises on Lisa’s neck.
“No.”
“This became personal the moment he laid his hands on her.”
Then she looked directly at Director Eli.
Her voice was low.
Dangerous.
“Stay out of this while I’m being nice. And let him explain why he raised his hands on a woman.”
Director Eli opened his mouth to argue.
But the look in Alyssa’s eyes made him stop.
It was dreadful, fierce and unyielding.
Eric Walker leaned forward slightly.
A small smile touched his lips.