22 The Boss’s Protective Decree
Hazel’s POV
My throat burned as tears welled in my eyes. I tried desperately not to cry, but the shock of Julian’s assault caught up with me. The feel of his fingers around my neck lingered like a phantom touch.
“Sit down,” Liam guided me to the leather couch in his office. His hand never left the small of my
back.
I sank onto the cushions, a tear escaping despite my best efforts. Liam crouched in front of me, his violet–blue eyes filled with concern.
“Let me see,” he said softly, tilting my chin up with his fingertips.
His touch was gentle as he examined my neck. The tenderness in his actions contrasted sharply with the fury still evident in his expression.
“Does it hurt when you swallow?” he asked.
I tested it. “A little.”
“We should get you checked out,” Liam said, his thumb brushing away a tear from my cheek.
“I’m really okay,” I insisted, embarrassed by my emotional display. “Just rattled.”
The door opened, and Damian stepped in with a glass of water. Security has escorted Julian out of the building”
He handed me the water, his normally playful expression replaced with genuine concern. “You alright, sweetheart?”
I nodded, taking a small sip. The cool liquid soothed my throat. “Thank you.”
“That bastard,” Liam muttered, rising to his full height. He paced the length of his office. “I should fire him.”
“The board would have questions, Damian pointed out, leaning against Liam’s desk. “Julian’s been here forever (
“I don’t give a damn,” Liam snapped. “He put his hands on Hazel”
The protectiveness in his voice made my heart skip. This wasn’t just a boss concerned about workplace violence. This was personal.
“I’m sorry,” I said, wiping my face. “I should have handled it better?
Both men turned to me with identical looks of disbelief.
22 The Boss’s Protective Decree
“Are you apologizing?” Damian asked incredulously.
“Hazel,” Liam said firmly, returning to crouch before me. “You have nothing to apologize for. Julian was completely out of line.”
“But I-”
“No.” Liam’s tone left no room for argument. “You did exactly what you should have done. You protected my privacy and stood your ground professionally.”
Damian nodded. “Most people would have crumbled under that kind of pressure.”
“Your job is safe,” Liam assured me, his hand covering mine. “More than safe.”
The warmth of his touch spread through me, calming my nerves. I took a deep breath and
forced a smile.
“Thank you both. For stepping in when you did.”
“Speaking of stepping in,” Damian said, his familiar mischievous glint returning, “that was quite the knight–in–shining–armor moment, Liam.”
Liam shot him a warning look, but his ears turned slightly pink. “Any decent person would have
intervened.”
“Mmmhmm,” Damian hummed knowingly. “And the way you pulled her against you? Very heroic
“Knight?” I couldn’t help but ask, curiosity momentarily overriding my distress.
“Oh, our boy here practically kicked down his own door to rescue you, Damian explained with obvious delight. “One second he was on a call, the next he was flying across the room like a man
possessed.”
“Don’t you have work to do?” Liam asked pointedly.
Damian grinned. “Nothing as important as watching you blush, boss.”
Despite everything, I laughed. The sound surprised me, breaking through the tension that had gripped my body.
Liam’s expression softened at my laughter. He stood and adjusted his tie. “Since you seem to be feeling better, perhaps we can discuss dinner plans for tomorrow”
“You’re still planning to come, right?” Damian asked me. “Alexis has been planning the menu all week
I nodded. “Of course. I wouldn’t miss it.
“Good,” Damian said. “Because Liam hasn’t stopped talking about-”
“About reviewing the quarterly reports,” Liam interrupted smoothly. “Which we still need to
finish.”
22 The Boss’s Protective Decree
I caught the subtle exchange of looks between the men. There was clearly something I was missing.
“Well, I’m especially looking forward to dessert,” Liam said, fixing me with an intense stare that made my cheeks warm. “I hear chocolate cake is on the menu.”
My blush deepened at the reference to our earlier encounter. Damian looked between us, eyebrows raised.
“There’s a joke here I’m not getting,” he observed.
“Inside joke,” Liam replied, a hint of smugness in his voice. “Right, Ms. Vance?”
“Very inside,” I murmured, unable to meet his gaze.
The door opened again, and Evelyn stepped in, a concerned expression on her elegant face. “I Jjust heard what happened! Are you alright, dear?”
She hurried to my side, her motherly concern washing over me like a balm.
“I’m fine, Evelyn, I assured her, touched by her worry.
“Julian Clairemont is a menace,” she declared indignantly. “This isn’t the first time he’s intimidated staff, though he’s never gotten physical before.”
Liam’s head snapped up. “What do you mean, not the first time?”
velun sighed. “He’s been warned twice by HR for aggressive behavior toward administrativ
staff. Always women, always when he doesn’t get his way.”
Liam’s jaw tightened visibly. “And I wasn’t informed because?”
“The complaints were withdrawn, Evelyn explained. “The women feared retaliation.””
The room fell silent as this information sank in. I could practically see Liam processing it, his expression darkening by the second.
“That ends today, he finally said, his voice steel. He reached for his phone and dialed. “Security? This is Sterling. I want all executive floor access restricted immediately. New elevator passcodes, effective within the hour.”
We all watched as he issued instructions, his CEO persona firmly in place.
“The only people with unrestricted access will be myself, Damian Knight, Evelyn Reed, and Hazel Vance. Everyone else needs an escort or direct approval.” He paused, listening. “Yes, that includes board members and department heads. No exceptions.”
He ended the call and looked at each of us in turn. “No one threatens my people. Not in my building”
The protective decree made my heart swell. I wasn’t just an employee to him. I was his to
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22 The Boss’s Protective Decree
protect.
“Well, that’ll certainly send a message, Damian remarked, looking impressed.
“Good,” Liam replied. “It’s about time people remembered who runs this company.”
Evelyn smiled approvingly. “I’ll have HR pull Julian’s personnel file. If there’s a pattern of behavior, we’ll have grounds for more permanent action.”
The conversation shifted to security protocols and the logistics of the new restrictions. I sat quietly, watching Liam take command of the situation. There was something incredibly attractive about seeing him in action, fierce and protective.
Our eyes met across the room. The intensity in his gaze sent a shiver down my spine–not of fear, but of something much more dangerous.
“So, Damian clapped his hands together, breaking the moment, “who’s hungry? I vote we order in and celebrate Hazel standing her ground against that jerk
“I second that,” Evelyn said. “I could murder some Thai food.”
As they debated restaurant options, Liam moved to sit beside me on the couch. His thigh pressed against mine, warm and solid.
“You’re sure you’re okay?” he asked quietly, just for me to hear.
I nodded, suddenly very aware of his proximity. “Thanks to you.”
“No,” he countered, his voice low. “You were handling it before I got there. You’re stronger than. you look, Hazel Vance.
The compliment warmed me more than it should have. Before I could respond, Damian. launched into a dramatic retelling of the confrontation, making us all laugh with his
embellishments.
As I sat surrounded by their support, Julian’s attack faded into the background. What remained was the certainty that I belonged here, in this circle of protection Liam had created–just for me.
415
