There were three men in casual clothes, crossing accross the narrowed road, one was heavily built, another one was skinny and had a scar on his cheek, and the other one was wearing a bright floral patterned shirt.
'They look like gangsters.' Pheonix roughly guessed. 'Why are they here?'
The three men approached her in a short time.
When seeing them, something was bugging her heart, she had a bad feelings.
The heavily built one asked her since the narrow road was only occupied with the four of them. 'Yo, pretty boy, did you see a man about this tall, he was wearing glasses, he worked in that building?'
The man description did match Jerry Cox. Were they his friends? Pheonix Lou furrowed her well shaped eyebrows.
'Um... do you mean, Mr. Jerry Cox?' Pheonix Lou kept her composure.
Deep in her heart, she was hoping they would say that she was wrong.
'Ah, yes, that's his name! Where is he?' The heavily built man gave a sly grin.
So, they were really Jerry Cox's friends! Was he acquainted with gangsters?
Pheonix Lou didn't like the atmosphere she was in, but he had promised Jerry Cox to inform his friends. She brushed off her negative conviction.
'He took an early leave, he didn't feel well.' She said. 'He asked me to inform you, guys.'
'You're his friend?' The skinny one scoffed.
Pheonix Lou truly didn't feel secure facing them, her hands are sweating. She should have asked her colleague what kind of friend he had wanted her to meet.
Her legs stepped backward a little as she planned to go back to the studio immediately. 'I'll leave first!'
A strong grip on her shoulder stopped her from leaving.
'That bastard didn't tell you? He owed us some money, he didn't show up on purpose today, it's the third time!' The man in floral shirt said. 'As his friend, I'm afraid I should give you a nice gift to remind him. After all, he had given you to us!'
Pheonix Lou was astonished, she didn't expect that Jerry Cox would throw her to these hooligans deliberately, involved her in his problems, while she sincerely lending a hand. She blamed herself for being very stupid.
The heavily built man sneered, 'You have a beautiful face! If you were a girl, we would surely let you enjoy a good time with us. Unfortunately, you're a man, we settle it as a man!'
'Blame that bastard if you want to blame someone!' The skinny guy added.
Their talks ended with a punch flew towards Pheonix Lou, but she managed to avoid it. They surrounded her, gave her no room to escape.
She ruthlessly kicked one of them, made him fall. Regretfully, it wasn't enough, the man on the ground stood up again, tried to attack her once more, while the two others were also attacking her non stop.
She wouldn't let herself being beaten to death!
At times, she would also throw a punch and a kick. She used her arms and knees to block some kicks and punches too, they would cause her some minor bruises, but she ignored the pain.
She was also able to dodge many major attacks, but her clothes had already messed up, her cheeks flushed red, and she could feel her sweat dripped from her forehead. Furthermore, she was only a girl with minor skill in martial art, fought against three man like them was really exhausting. Her defense weakened. She was cornered, her back touched the wall.
A hard punch once again directed to her face, she closed her eyes. She was scared and she had no more strength. She thought, this time the punch would land on her face mercilessly.
She screamed helplessly at heart for a help.
Suddenly, before it reached her face, a lightning speed attack completely knocked out the three men at once. Men in black speedily, held them up.
A towering figure with his long coat hung on his masculine shoulders, stood like a shield in front of her, his back facing her. He had an alpha aura, very powerful, yet charismatic.
Opening her eyes, she felt relieved instantly. His presence affirmed her to feel secure. Unknowing the cause, her heart thumped uncontrollably.
Desmond Claude? Why was he here?
Another two men in black ran hurriedly from the corner of the street to where Desmond Claude had been standing.
'You know what to do, take them!' The cold deep voice came out from the alpha.
The men in black proceed what they were instructed.
The other two man in black from the corner of the street hid their faces as they got scolded very hard by the alpha man that he fired them afterwards by the time they stood before him. The man was extremely infuriated, his usual calm demeanor was no where to be found.
Pheonix Lou had just learnt that Desmond Claude placed two bodyguards secretly for her safety. When she was working, the bodyguards he assigned for her would be standing by a few meter outside the studio, she never noticed their presences.
She felt bad for them. The bodyguards might not know there was a back door at the studio, both of them didn't think she would be here during her working hours, and even involved in this kind of incident.
'Desmond...' Pheonix Lou called. 'Don't be angry at them, it's my fault.'
She really meant what she said, she got tricked by her friends easily, and she should have run away before those guys came to her as they were suspicious.
Desmond Claude spoke in cold tone. 'If they can handle their job well, you wouldn't be fighting with those hooligans!'
He didn't see any wounds on her, but he believed a minor bruised must have been on her, for she had been on their attacks before he came, it made him pissed off. Those bodyguards were really useless!
Her bright pheonix eyes stared at his sullen face. Her heart filled with indescribable feelings, it was her first time to experience this weird feelings. It was pleasant, yet suffocating. She opened her mouth as if she was going to say something, but she closed it again.
She took a deep breath, then let out a sigh, and she uttered jokingly to put off his anger, 'It's alright now! I got to see you your heroic action too, it was rare! I feel like a princess being saved by a knight! I'm delighted that I almost think you are giving me a hope!'
Well, half of her words was not a lie.
Desmond Claude averted his gaze to Pheonix Lou, just the time she finished her words, he pulled her into his warm embrace.
Her face was on his firm chest, her delicate body was fully wrapped by him, her arms were stiffen beside her body.
She was staggered, being in his hug, It was as if an electricity ran through her veins, yet it was comfortable.
Why he hugged her? Was it a pretense?
Desmond Claude was glad at what she had said. His man pride lifted up when his doing was recognized. On top of that, she was fine now, it really put him at ease. The last punch he saw was almost hit her, if he was late, he wouldn't forgive himself.
When she said about giving her a hope, he wasn't sure of himself either, but he couldn't bear himself not to protect her, as he got close to her more and more. It was hard to explain! Maybe because she was a girl, maybe she was different, maybe she protected him before, maybe she resembled his first love, and so many maybes in his head that he couldn't define.
'Desmond Claude, let go of me! If people see us, it won't be good for your image.' Pheonix Lou hid her reddened face. 'You don't want another headline of you being a gay.'
She was in her male disguised, people around would freaking out seeing them hugging. Not to mention those creative reporters, they certainly put on the headline if they managed to capture the moment.
Realizing what she said, he loosened up his arms from her. For a second, his eyes looked intently on her, like checking on his precious thing which was touched by other.
'Go home! I will call your company to let you take an early leave!' He commanded in overbearing tone. 'I will call the doctor to check on you.'
Like the weather in the middle of the sea, the atmosphere between them changed drastically. Pheonix Lou scoffed lightly when hearing his tone.
Who was Desmond Claude in her life? What gave him the rights to command her? He wasn't her boss anymore nor her boyfriend! Why did he decide for her what to do? He didn't forget that they were only a contract made couple for public image, did he? At best, they were just good partners or ex-employee and ex-employer.
Even if Claude Corporation had so much influence that it could settle things in different company for her, she didn't want it. In fact, She never wanted any special treatment, especially in doing her job. She wanted to be independent, facing problems she supposed to face and be strong from her own experiences. That was one of the reason she resigned from Claude Corporation.
She was still a new employee in 101 Studios, just because a small matter, she wouldn't take an early leave. It would leave a bad impression for her.
'No! I don't need to take an early leave!' She firmly said and turned to leave. 'I'm fine, I can still work like usual.'
This girl! Did she have to be so stubborn?
The interaction between Desmond Claude and Pheonix Lou had been more friendly over time, they acted more like themselves to each other, which was better in some cases and worse in other cases. For that reason, Desmond Claude often faced with her stubborness and disobedience. When she was still his secretary, she was truly submissive, though.
Her wrist was grabbed by Desmond Claude, he was being authoritative. 'Pheonix Lou!'
'Thank you for your help, CEO Claude! I'm sure you are busy.' Her tone was cold and distant.
His face darken at her addressed him as such. To be honest, he worried about her that he rushed here and stuffs, but he couldn't say it to her due to his uncertainty in his heart.
If it was the previous days, he definitely tried to make an excuse and teased her. Today, however, was a little different, he was not in the mood.
He let go of her small wrist without saying anything.
Even though there are lots of questions in her mind, she kept silent and returned to her office without looking at him.
She was quite upset with his overbearing attitude, but at the same time, he showed some gentleness, warmth, and care towards her again and again. His random actions stirred her crazy. She was eager to know who she is to him, why he did things that might cause her to misunderstand his actions?
Like a stone was thrown into the water, it caused ripples in her heart. Perhaps, this pretense had cause something she dare not to mention. She felt as if she was trapped in a dangerous game. Slowly but surely!
In the french restaurant where previous meeting with Anderson took place several weeks ago, Ariana Anderson was disappointed to see only Luke Tyson to follow up the project.
The restaurant was situated not far from 101 Studio. Since Pheonix Lou worked at 101 Studio, Desmond Claude frequently set his meetings around this area, if not in his office.
A few hours ago, before the arrival of Ariana Anderson, Desmond Claude didn't receive Pheonix Lou's reply, he smelled something fishy about her situation. Nowadays, if you couldn't meet your friend, you could always called or texted him. Why had to trouble someone? Unless, there was something! Maybe it was only his exaggerate thoughts, but then he checked on her location through the GPS, he installed on her phone without her knowing, he found her in that quiet road. He became uneasy and wanted to make sure. He abruptly told Luke Tyson to stay in the restaurant and handle the project as he left.
Luke Tyson had never seen his boss uneasy face and left his work out of sudden. Still, he dared not to ask.
He did his work and handle the follow up with Ariana Anderson. He might not be as sharp as Desmond Claude, but his work was in high quality as he was his boss most trusted right hand man.
Ariana Anderson showed a polite and friendly attitude, but Luke Tyson could sense she felt the opposite.
She asked his boss's private number last time, yet didn't get it. Now, she couldn't meet him, she must have been really unhappy, just like the other women, who desperately tried to approach Desmond Claude. Luke Tyson saw many of them, that he recognized their extra intention easily.