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66


Jane

“It’s okay, June. Let me go see him,” I stated, trying to sound braver than I felt. “He won’t try anything stupid with me.”

“No, that’s too dangerous,” June muttered firmly, crossing her arms. “I’m coming with you.”

She looked determined, and I could see there was no point in arguing. Sharon stood nearby, quiet and nervous because of June’s earlier warning to her.

“All right, let’s go,” I said with a sigh.

June smiled and nodded. We walked down the long hallway to Mr. Mark’s office together. My heart was beating fast, but having June beside me made me feel stronger. I knocked on his door and waited for permission to enter.

Silence.

I knocked again, harder this time. Still no answer. Finally, after my third knock, his voice came from inside.

“Yes, come in,” Mr. Mark called out.

I opened the door and walked in with June right behind me. I made sure to close the door carefully. Mr. Mark was sitting at his large wooden desk, staring at his computer screen. The office smelled of expensive cologne and old leather.

“Sir, you asked to see me,” I announced, standing near the door.

He didn’t look up right away. I was getting impatient - I wanted to get this over with and go back to work. Just being in the same room as him made my skin crawl.

When he finally lifted his head, the fake smile on his face disappeared the moment he saw June standing next to me.

“What the hell is she doing here?” he shouted, his face turning red with anger. “Who asked you to come?”

June didn’t flinch, but I could see the fury building in her eyes. Her hands clenched into fists at her sides. Oh no, this was going to be bad.

“Answer me!” Mr. Mark demanded, standing up from his chair. “What are you doing in my office? Who called for you?”

June’s lips curved into a cold smile before she answered. “I thought you wanted to see both of us. Was I wrong?”

“Why would I want to see you?” he snapped, pointing his fat finger at me. “I told Sharon to call her, not you.”

“Oh, really?” June’s voice was sweet but dangerous. “Then I must have misunderstood. Go ahead and tell her what you want. Don’t mind me - I’ll just stand here in the corner. I won’t interrupt your conversation.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” Mr. Mark’s voice got louder. “I want you out of my office right now. Do you understand me?”

“No,” June said simply. “I know exactly what you’re planning to do, and I’m not leaving her alone with a disgusting pervert like you.”

Mr. Mark’s face turned purple with rage. “Do you know who you’re talking to? Do you want to get fired?”

“Are you not Mr. Mark anymore?” June asked innocently. “Or do you think I can’t see you clearly?”

I watched them go back and forth, amazed by June’s courage. She was the perfect example of a true friend - loyal, protective, and fearless.

She was acting exactly like a best friend should. What had I done to deserve someone who loved me this much?

“You’re fired!” Mr. Mark screamed at the top of his lungs. “Get out of my office before I call security to drag you out of this building! And as for you, Miss Jane, I need to speak with you alone.”

“Yes, sir,” I replied quietly, but my eyes stayed on June.

“And what are you still doing here?” Mr. Mark demanded, staring at June. “Why are you still standing there?”

I took a deep breath and stepped forward. “With all due respect, sir,” I said carefully, “I don’t think she’s bothering us. You can go ahead and say whatever you want to tell me with her here.”

Mr. Mark turned his burning, angry eyes on me. For a moment, I thought he might explode.

“I don’t think you understand me, Jane,” he added through gritted teeth. “I said I want to talk to you privately. That means just the two of us, without any third party. Miss June here is the third party, and I don’t want her in my office.”

I wasn’t curious about what he wanted to tell me. I was just eager to put him in his place and get out of there. I walked over to where June was standing, her whole body tense with anger.

I whispered in her ear, “Can you wait outside for just a minute? I need to hear what he has to say.”

She looked at me with worried eyes. “What if he tries to hurt you? What if he tries to force himself on you?”

“I’m stronger than he is,” I whispered back. “He can’t hurt me or force me to do anything. Trust me, June.”

She hesitated for a long moment. “Fine, but if you need help, just scream. I’ll be standing right outside the door.”

“I promise,” I mumbled.

June walked to the door, but before leaving, she turned back and gave Mr. Mark a look that could have melted steel. Then she stepped outside, closing the door behind her.

“Come here,” Mr. Mark said, his voice suddenly sweet and sickening.

I shook my head slightly but took a small step toward his desk. He was definitely up to no good, but I was ready to make him regret whatever he was planning.

“Stop playing hard to get,” he warned, his smile becoming more twisted. “Come closer.”

My patience was running out fast, but I moved a little closer. Suddenly, he reached out and grabbed my hand, starting to stroke it with his sweaty fingers. I immediately tried to pull away.

“What are you doing, sir?” I asked, my voice sharp.

“You’re a grown woman, Jane. Don’t you understand what I’m doing? Or do you want me to spell it out - I like you.”

“You... like me, sir?” I said, pretending to be surprised.

“Yes, I do,” he said arrogantly, tightening his grip on my hand. “You should consider yourself lucky that I’m interested in your body. I can’t wait to get my hands on you. I’ve been dreaming about having you right here in this office.”

I felt sick to my stomach. How could a man in his sixties have such disgusting thoughts about a girl young enough to be his granddaughter? This piece of trash kept trying to kiss my hand.

“Stop!” I snapped, jerking my hand away. “Stop whatever you’re doing. I hate your touch.”

“What did you just say?” he yelled, his face turning red again. “Who do you think you are to talk to me like that? How dare you hate my touch when plenty of girls your age would beg to be with me! You’re more stubborn than I thought, but I’m going to have my way with you whether you like it or not. You have no choice in this matter.”

He started moving toward me, reaching for my shirt, when suddenly the door burst open. June rushed in, followed by someone I hadn’t expected to see - Vishal.

Vishal’s eyes were blazing with fury, and June looked ready to commit murder. They both looked like they wanted to tear Mr. Mark apart with their bare hands.

“Who the hell are you?” Mr. Mark demanded, pointing at Vishal.

Vishal didn’t waste time with words. He launched himself across the room and punched Mr. Mark square in the face. The older man stumbled backward and crashed into his bookshelf.

“How dare you touch what’s mine?” Vishal roared.

Mr. Mark groaned and fell to the floor, blood streaming from his nose. I stared at the pathetic old man writhing in pain on his expensive carpet.

June stormed over to where he was lying and grabbed him by his shirt collar.

“You disgusting pig!” she screamed, punching him again and again. “How dare you try to hurt her!”

She kept hitting him without mercy, her fists landing blow after blow.

“Please, stop,” Mr. Mark begged weakly, his voice barely a whisper. “I’ll die if you hit me again.”

He was right. At this rate, June was going to kill him. But this wasn’t our world - this was the human world, where there were laws and consequences. We couldn’t just kill someone, no matter how much they deserved it.

“Stop!” I shouted when June raised her fist to hit him again. “Please, June! We can’t kill him here.”

She looked at me, her chest heaving with anger, but she slowly lowered her fist. I looked down at Mr. Mark. His face was bloody and swollen beyond recognition. No one would be able to identify him with the way he’d been beaten.

He shouldn’t have messed with me.

“Let’s get out of here,” Vishal said grimly, “before I change my mind and finish what she started.”

I nodded, suddenly feeling exhausted. We had made our point. Mr. Mark would never bother me or any other woman again.

As we walked toward the door, I heard Mr. Mark whimpering on the floor behind us. “I... I won’t tell anyone about this. Please, just don’t come back.”

“You’re right about that,” June said coldly without turning around. “Because if we hear that you’ve bothered any woman ever again, we’ll be back to finish the job.”