Chapter 18 The Lion's Protection
A palpable silence filled the cramped space inside the car carrying them to the location where the union members were staging their protest.
Elliot sat in the back seat, ramrod straight, his arms crossed over his chest. His gaze was fixed forward, but his mind was clearly miles away.
Beside him, Audrey was quiet, busy trying to regulate her own heartbeat, which was somehow erratic, and seeking comfort in the situation that had grown tense since the journey began.
The awkwardness between them was even more pronounced when they were alone like this. After what happened a few days ago—the incident where Elliot accidentally discovered more about Audrey's family's 'surprises'—their relationship had begun to shift.
"So... this is my father and uncle's way of testing my leadership," Elliot suddenly murmured, breaking the silence.
Audrey glanced briefly at her boss. "It seems they know you're capable of handling this situation."
Elliot scoffed, a thin smile that looked more like a sneer appearing at the corner of his lips. "Capable? They just want to see if I'll bend the knee or stand tall when attacked from all sides."
Audrey didn't answer right away. She sensed a hint of frustration in the man's tone. Elliot rarely expressed his emotions, but this time, he couldn't hide it completely.
"Sometimes it’s not about what they want... It’s about what you need to prove to yourself."
Elliot's gaze shifted to her, his expression unreadable. “You always seem to have an answer, don’t you?”
Audrey gave a small, understanding smile. "Not answers. Just thoughts."
Silence returned, but this time it wasn't as suffocating as before. They continued their journey without many more words, accompanied only by the noisy sounds of traffic outside.
Upon arriving at the protest location, as their car approached the company entrance, the loud commotion immediately grew clearer.
Dozens—perhaps hundreds—of workers were gathered in front of the main gate, holding banners and posters filled with their demands. Some of them began to move closer to the car once they realized the vehicle belonged to management.
"Sir, we can't go in like this," the driver said, trying to keep the car safe amid the crowd.
Elliot frowned, his eyes sharply assessing the situation outside. "Keep going. Don't stop here."
However, before the car could move forward, a group of workers had surrounded their vehicle. They pounded hard on the car windows, some of them shouting angry words.
"Get out! Face us directly!"
"We demand justice, not empty promises!"
Audrey clutched her bag in her lap, her eyes widening as she realized how dangerous the situation was. "Mr. Harrington, we should wait until the condition is safer," she suggested worriedly.
Elliot scoffed softly, his patience wearing thin. ""If I wait, they'll think I'm backing down. We have to go through. There's no point in hiding!"
The man impulsively reached to open the car door, causing the workers to grow even more agitated.
But before he could step out, Audrey gently pulled his jacket sleeve. "Sir! Please think this through. Not just for your safety, but for theirs too. Don't make the situation worse!"
Elliot paused for a moment, looking at Audrey. There was something in the woman's gaze that made him reconsider.
Before he could answer, the sound of cracking glass shifted their attention. Audrey let out a small gasp of surprise.
One of the workers was trying to smash the car window, causing the driver and the security officers nearby to panic. Immediately, security moved to hold back the crowd, but the situation spiraled further into chaos.
Realizing nowhere would be safe except inside the company building, Elliot quickly pulled her toward him as his protective instincts kicking in. "Stay close."
Their first steps were immediately met with shouting and pushing from the crowd trying to close in. The security officers formed a barricade, but their numbers were too few compared to the increasingly heated mob.
In the chaos, a worker pushed through the crowd and collided with Audrey. She stumbled, falling to the concrete with a sharp gasp as her ankle twisted beneath her.
Elliot immediately turned back, his gaze locking on her as she struggled to get up, her face contorted in pain.
The man immediately knelt beside her, unhesitatingly pulling Audrey into his arms. "Are you hurt?"
Audrey nodded slowly, though a look of pain evident on her face. "Just a little sprain, Sir... I’ll be fine."
Elliot’s jaw tightened as he saw the pain in her expression. Without a word, he knelt down, quickly but carefully lifting her into his arms, ignoring the rising tension from the crowd around them.
“Hold on,” he said, his voice firm but calm. "We’re getting inside."
Audrey’s breath hitched in surprise as she instinctively gripped his neck, the world around her spinning with the suddenness of the situation.
It wasn’t romantic or tender. It was purely about survival.
Elliot moved through the crowd, scanning the mob as he made his way toward the building. The workers tried to approach again, but Elliot’s commanding presence stopped them in their tracks.
His voice rang out, cutting through the chaos. “Clear the way!”
The workers hesitated, surprised by the force of Elliot’s voice. Some of them stepped back, giving way as security officers quickly moved in to clear the path. The mob parted, and Elliot managed to get Audrey into the safety of the building.
Once in the lobby, he immediately ordered the security staff to call the medical team as quickly as possible.
“Stay here,” he told her, with commanding tone. “I’ll have someone check your ankle.”
Audrey, still shaken, nodded but tried to sit up. “I’m fine, really. You don’t need to-”
“I told you to stay put,” Elliot cut in, firmly. “You need to be checked.”
Audrey looked up at him, a little surprised by his intensity, but she didn’t argue. "Thank you, Mr. Harrington," she whispered softly, her voice still shaky.
Elliot didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he turned to the window, his eyes narrowing as he surveyed the workers outside. His thoughts were focused, calculating. The protest wasn’t over, and neither was the battle he had to face.
The man didn't realize he was being quietly watched by his secretary...