24. No one touches what belongs the King

Christopher Anderson. One of my past mistakes, I never wanted to relive again. Christopher owned his own company and he was one of the few board members of Black industries and Devil's tech. Christopher started as an investor until he heard Mr. Black needed software, that's when he became a board member. Chris rode the elevator up with me. I had to deliver my days' work to my boss, who worked on the second floor from the top. I was an intern and studying to get my marketing and management degree. Chris, not much older than me, had his trust fund and brain.

Ben, of course, my leader or whatever had already asked me out which I decline because work and pleasure never went hand in hand. Chris was persistent and I, of course, said yes. It was fine and one date turned to a couple but Ben stole my heart and Chris was pissed. Chris had Ben almost fired. It wasn't his finest hour neither mine but he never left us alone. He was always in the building until he was shipped to some country that needed his expertise. I have nothing against him, I just wanted nothing to do with him other than friends and Christoper doesn't understand that.

"Chris and I went on a few dates before Ben," I told my boss. "Christoper and I had a great friendship until he destroyed it."

Mr. Black took his seat, while Chris and I remained standing. "My condolences on your boyfriend. I know he meant a lot to you."

I took my seat. "Thank you," I said. I had gotten over the looks of pity. The apologies from people that did nothing wrong. The condolences and the worst, the loneliness. "Sir, should I leave?"

Mr. Black said nothing so I remained sitting. Christoper took a seat next to me a few seconds later. It felt uncomfortable as hell. I wanted to stand up and leave already. "Congratulations on your promotion," Christoper spoke.

"I'll wait outside by Candice," I said and walked out.

I didn't have time for Christopher and his hints on getting back in my life. He was obsessed with getting everything his way that any other way was incorrect. When I closed the door behind me, Candice's arms awaited me. She hugged me immediately. We walked towards her desk. "I heard he was in office. You could hear him down by the cafeteria," she said. "Scar dropped your lunch, I might have stolen half of it."

I shook my head at her. "Did you at least get us a drink?"

"No alcohol on the premises but I did get you a soft drink." I rolled my eyes at her joking personality.

Candice and I had lunch or what little food we had, we finished. Candice took my mind off everything. She was seeing this guy, no one knows about, not even me. She didn't want to destroy it and that makes it serious because for her it was all fun and games. Mr. Black knew about him and he approved so I guess I should accept him as well, especially since he was making my friend a happy woman.

"I feel like the whole Black family is out in field seeking life partners." Which is true in a sense because Hades has a girl, Candice has a guy and Mr. Black's victim happens to be me.

"Of cour-" she stopped mid-sentence. "Don't look now but twelve o'clock."

I took a deep breath and stood up. My phone was in Mr. Black's office so even if I wanted to go to my office, I couldn't. Most of my work is done over the phone and I mean, my phone is my life so why would I leave it?

"Rose," I turned around to face Chris. "I'm sorry, you know for what happened between us."

I nodded. "Why wait till the water turned red? All I ever wanted was for you to say sorry but you never did." I moved to walk past him but he stopped me. Candice immediately raised to her feet. "It's fine, Candy."+

"Candy? Your friends with your boss's secretary?" He questioned and then smirked as if he found out something worth gold.

"She's my best friend, Christopher. You know why Ben had a better chance than you?" I pulled my arm out of his grasp. "I said no once and he respected it. He was more of a man than you'll ever be." And it happened like a movie. I felt his slap before I saw his hand. As soon as he slapped me, Candice slapped him. Tears sprung to my eyes as I held my cheek. Candice came to stand by me. "You'll never be a man, always a coward." he lifted his hand but this time it was caught by Mr. Black. "You want me to turn my other cheek, you low life." I turned away from him as he laughed. I stood behind Mr. Black's back.

"You a piece of shit, Anderson." Candice sprung to attack him again. "I'll fuck you up." A man was holding her by the waist, security. "You piece of shit, I'll find you, you retarded trust fund piece of shit. Can't even make your own money. " Christopher kept laughing. "Working on Daddies money."

Mr. Black stood quietly waiting for his sister to finish and for him to fire back and like an idiot, he did. "I'm a trust fund baby," he nodded. "What about you, Candice Black?" Candice stood still and the security let her go. "Are you not just a little slut hiding behind big brother's money and power?"

Wrong move, buddy. Both Candice and I slipped past the security to attack him. Candice was hitting soft spots and so was I. I used my freshly done nails to scratch his ugly face. "No one and I mean, no one calls me a slut." she took a pen stabbed it into his shoulder. I had his head in my clutches. I was banging his head into the floor while Candice was stabbing the hell out of him but he was a man and a man can overpower us easily because he gave Candice and me a backhand and we were off him.

Mr. Black picked him up by the throat and choked the life out of him. Someone help us to our feet. "No one touches what belongs to me, Anderson. You made this personal and your life will be your way out." Christoper was turning blue. You could see the life draining him.

"Rose!" Candice screamed at me and indicated to her brother.

I walked over and put a hand on his arm and immediately Mr. Black released him. He looked at me and pulled me closer to his side. "You will no longer welcome in any of my businesses. Our contract is from here onwards revoked." He turned his back on a coughing man laying on the ground. Christoper's color was returning. "Escort him out." he moved me to his office by the waist and Candice, he grabbed her hand. He stood at the beginning of the hallway. "This is my sister and her friend," he said making us the center of attention. The elevator opened and Scarlet stepped out confused as hell. "Anyone disrespectful to Candice and Rosella will result in termination. Some of you will be losing lives because of the disrespect," he said. "Miss Bell, is the future queen." what? I looked at Mr. Black but he wasn't bothered. "Spread the word. Nothing of today leaves the floor. Continue your work." And everyone went on working as if an attempted murder didn't just take place. "Both of you in my office now." he walked towards his office while Candice and I stood dumbstruck.

We walked towards her desk and the people in our way parted like the red sea. It was strange because normally they wouldn't do that, not even for Daniels. Now we were in the limelight and I hated it. "Nothing is going to be the same again."

"Boss Lady." Scarlet neared us.

"My brother had a shitty thought doing that but I understand, you know. He wanted to protect you and how can he if no one knows about you?" Candice said. She was sometimes wise and stupid at the same time but I loved her.

"Rosie Rose, a man is here to see you," Scarlet said gaining both Candice and my attention.

"Work related," Candice asked and I gave her a look.

She shook her head. "Personal. He didn't give a name but he said that he'll make you the happiest person alive," she said with a smile. "He's quite handsome, not my baby handsome but still. He is on his way up."

"This should be interesting," Candice said.

"It seems it would be," I commented as we all patiently waited for the elevator.

We had no idea who this mystery man was and what made it more interesting was that Mr. Black was now outside his office watching the scene unfold. He said nothing. I went to him and told him that someone was coming up to see me but I didn't know who and would like to wait. He had no problem as long as he could wait as well.3

He claimed he would make me the happiest person alive and he did because when the elevator doors opened and I saw the figure stepping out, a smile immediately made its way to my face.+

"Matt!" I ran to him and he lifted me off the ground. My feet encircled his waist and I hugged him.

Matt Johnson, my boy best friend from New York. This...him...he was a chapter in my book of life that I would relive any day.