Driven

Ch 16

Ethan's pov

Marissa's yelling was echoing down the halls and to be honest even I was a little scared. I couldn't tell what had happened, but about 3 minutes ago I had heard a shout and Mathew had told me not to leave my office and had left to investigate what had happened.

I wait a couple more minutes, pacing around my office as I wait for another sound. Just as I am about to step out, the door opens and Mathew walks in with a limp and slightly out of it Marissa in his arms. He walks over to the couch laying her down before grabbing a glass of water as I fuss around her, pushing a pillow under her neck and trying to talk to her. She was responding to what I was saying but only barely, all she did was make sounds and try and mumble. Mathew sprinkled some water on her and that didn't make any difference, I reached for my pocket and called Leslie, pressing the phone to my ear as I walked around closing my office door and shutting the blinds. I try to explain what happened to Leslie but with limited information available I just say 'hurry over' before hanging up and going back to Marissa's side.

It takes about half an hour for Leslie to get to the office because of the rush hour and I can't help but worry for Marissa. Almost every ounce of professional behaviour that had been taught to me told me to let Marissa deal with this herself but my humanity held me otherwise. I pull up a chair and sit beside her as she rolls the cup of water between her hands and takes a sip every few minutes.
"Do you think you can talk about what happened?"
"I would sir but that would end up mixing professional and private matters. The man I was talking to is close to one of our clients." She says, her eyes hard with a shaking resolution.

"Look as much as the company future matters to both of us, you need to tell me what happened as it happened on company grounds. One lost client isn't the end of the world you should remember that." I say seriously.

"He was trying to touch me," she shivered her arms wrapped around herself and clutching her shoulder where her nails left red imprints.
"What?! He tried to sexually assault you?" Mathew almost screamed.
"I mean he tried but didn't really do anything so that's not really assault right?" She whispered before looking up at Mathew and backing down under his upset gaze.

I watched surprised at the exchange, I didn't know there was anything going on between them but now was not the time to try and set them up. I reach over and call security asking them to take the man that just left into custody and am not really surprised when they inform me that Mathew had already clobbered the man, effectively knocking him out. They go on to let me know that Leslie is here and I ask them to send him up from the back entrance, I definitely don't want paparazzi coverage on this. After placing the phone back on the receiver I walk back to my table coming down from the panic high that I'd spiralled into. I pat my pockets for a cigarette and lighter, walking over to a drawer for one just as Leslie walks in. I walk back around my desk, briefly going over what happened as Leslie does a basic check on Marissa calming her down.

After about 15 minutes of interrogation, we know for sure who it is that started this whole damn thing, my anger is rising that someone is threatening and blackmailing one of my employees, my assistant nonetheless. I am rigid beside my desk, my anger clear as I stare at the floor my arms cross around myself as my nails dig into my suit, threatening to break skin. I turn suddenly walking to the giant full sized windows, glaring outside at the bustling streets trying to reign in my anger slightly. My hands were itching to write an email that terminates our relationship with the company but I knew well enough that in a professional environment this was just not a possibility.

As I try and calm down, a pair of arms wrap around me as I feel myself melt almost instantly at his touch. I lean back letting him support my weight completely as he places his hands over mine and gently pries them off of each other. He holds them together in one of his hands as his other, slips inside my coat and draws small circles on my waist over my shirt. I close my eyes laying my head on his chest as I let the gentle motion relax my body, a few minutes later I turn in his arms looking up at his gorgeous grey eyes. I watched as they shift color slightly in the bright light and I can feel myself drowning in the stunning pools of color. I slide my arms around his waist and pull him close as my eyes slide shut and I take a deep breath. His natural scent is sweet and sexy and a light shade of musky wood luring me in and turning me on even now, as his hand slipped to my ass, I could tell that I had the same effect on him.