Melissa quickly gathered her belongings and hastened after him.
Inside the elevator, Marcus pressed the button for the 24th floor, and then turned to Melissa, her head bowed, and asked, âDo they often bully you? Why didnât you tell me?â
âNo, itâs not like that.
â
âOh? So you just got something in your eyes?â
After a pause, Melissa looked up, her voice steadier.
âColleagues are merely that, nothing more.
â
Marcus adjusted his shirt collar nonchalantly, his tone casual.
âAnd what about me? Am I just your supervisor?â
âNo.
Youâre my patron.
â
Her response seemed to please Marcus, who smiled softly.
When the elevator reached the 24th floor, Melissaâs surprise was evident, but Marcus was already stepping into the HR department.
His rare presence sent ripples of unease.
Indifferently, he commanded, âReplace the second and third secretaries of my office.
â
The director of the HR department looked at Melissa before asking, âWhat about Miss Brown?â
Marcus give him a sharp look that made him shudder.
Noticing the jacket in Melissaâs hands, realization dawned on him.
Melissa was under Marcusâ protection.
By the dayâs end, the impeccably groomed secretaries upstairs were jobless, all because of Melissaâs tear-stained eyes.
In the car, Marcus offered no justification for his actions.
Melissa, sitting beside him, ventured, âThat wasnât necessary.
â
He glanced briefly at her, still busy with his phone.
âAre you teaching me how to do things?â
She wouldnât dare!
Yet Marcus casually remarked, âPerhaps itâs not unthinkable.
Only our relationship might need redefining in that case.
â
Setting down his phone, he rested his chin on his elegant fingers, musing as if contemplating a significant matter.
âIf you were my wife, you could have authority over all my young secretaries.
â
Melissa remained silent, too intimidated to speak.
Marcus observed her in silence, then chuckled, âBut youâre not and neither am I currently seeing anyone.
â
Melissaâs silence deepened.
Sensing the moment, Marcus instructed the driver, Ross, âPlease head to the supermarket across from the apartment.
Youâre free to leave after dropping me off.
â