I want warn my readers who may find the topic disturbing that in this chapter there is a sexual assault.

Chapter 14: Hyde and Seek

APOV

It's Monday and I have to work late to help Jack get ready for his presentation. I've convinced Christian that since he is soon going to own SIP he doesn't need to keep Sawyer here. Everything has been fine. Jack has been Jack but it's not anything I can't handle.

I'm in Jack's office putting the presentations into boxes. Everyone has already left for the day and Christian is picking me up to take me to dinner. Jack leaves his office to get tape and I keep packing the boxes.

Jack comes back in and shuts his office door. I look up at him and he has a strange look on his face. "Jack, is there something wrong?"

He's walking towards me with the tape in his hands and a sneer on his face. "There's a lot wrong, Anastasia. First of all, you turn me down, someone who can make your career, to fuck Mr. Moneybags. Then you walk around waving your ass in front of my face and let your boyfriend's goons to put spyware on my computer!"

My heart is beating a mile a minute. I'm trapped in here with no one around. "Jack, you've got that all wrong."

"I have nothing wrong you bitch!" Then he back hands my face so hard I see stars. I can feel that my lip has been split and is bleeding, and I will probably have bruises from the force the hit. He takes a piece of tape and puts it over my mouth effectively gagging me. He pushes me onto his desk and pins me down with one arm. I try to wiggle out but he's too strong. "There's no use you little slut!"

I have to get out of here. He pulls at my blouse so ferociously he rips off the buttons. He reaches in front of me and grabs my left breast hard. "These tits should have been mine. Along with that sweet ass of yours." I start to struggle to get out of his hold even more but he is stronger than I am and I can't get away. He has almost a sadistic laugh as he reaches up my skirt and plays with my garters and stockings. Tears pierce my eyes. This is really happening to me. I should have listened to Christian. I should have quit. Hyde palms my ass and starts to pull my panties down. Now I'm sobbing. I can't get out of this. I feel him ease up some of the pressure he has on me to undo his zipper. Ray always told me that if I am in a situation it is important to not panic and stay as calm as possible.

Suddenly I spot a pen on his desk within reach. I quick grab it and jam it as hard as I can behind me and I hit him in the thigh. He screams and lets go of me. "You god damned whore!"

I run. I run as fast as I can to the door only pausing to rip the tape of my mouth. I am sobbing uncontrollably and make my way out the door.

CPOV

I'm waiting in the Audi for Ana to finish working late for a presentation her piece of shit boss is giving tomorrow. I am firing him before the ink is even dry on the papers.

Suddenly I see Ana burst out of the front doors. Her blouse is ripped, her lip is bleeding, and she has mascara running down her face. Within a nanosecond Taylor and I are out of the car. I run to her.

"Ana! Ana! Are you OK? Ana!" Please, something can't happen to her. Not now that I've found her.

She looks up at me and between sobs, is able to choke out "Jack".

I see red. That fucking bastard. I'm going to kill him. I leap up with my fists clenched ready to storm inside when I feel Taylor pull on my arm and hold me back. "Damn it Taylor! Let me go! I'm going to kill him!"

Taylor speaks to me calmly, "Sir, let me handle Hyde. Take care of Miss Steele. Bring her back to Escala and make sure she's OK!" I look down at Ana and back up to Taylor. "Christian! GO!"

I pick up Ana as Taylor runs inside. I bring her to the SUV and put her in the seat. "Ana, honey, are you OK? What did he do to you?" I take the handkerchief out of my pocket and wipe the blood from her lip and the tears from her eyes and cheeks.

She is sobbing again and just hugs me hard. "Christian, please, just take me home."

TPOV

I return to Escala about three hours later with my fists bloodied and my jacket ripped. Gail is going to be pissed.

I make my way up the service elevator and head to the boss' office. "Sir, is Miss Steele OK?" He runs his hands through his hair and I can guess he's been doing that for the last three hours.

He looks up at me with worry etched on his face. "She's sleeping. Gail gave her something to relax her. She wouldn't talk about what happened. She'd just cry harder."

"Sir, Hyde was able to tell me some of what happened." I really don't want to tell him but I know it would be my ass if I didn't. The problem is I don't know how he's going to react.

He takes a drink of the bourbon on his desk, "Taylor, tell me everything." He motions for me to sit and points to the bottle of bourbon asking if I want some. I shake my head.

"Sir…" He looks at me with a crooked smile.

"Taylor, call me Christian." He takes another sip.

"Yes, Sir… I mean Christian… Hyde tried to rape her."

His eyes shine with a mixture of rage, sadness, and maybe relief. "Tried? So he didn't… rape...her?"

"He didn't get the chance. Apparently Miss Steele stabbed him in the leg with a pen and made a run for it." When I was questioning that mother fucker he bragged about how he touched her and felt her and how firm her breasts were. I can't tell boss that or he'd really snap and it's my job to protect him, especially from a lifetime prison sentence for second degree murder.

"What did you do with him?"

"I took care of the problem. A couple of friends are going to make sure he's never able to hurt her again."

He bows his head and for the first time since I've started working for him he cries. He looks up at me with his red rimmed eyes now filled with tears. "Jason, I couldn't protect her. All my money and all my resources and I couldn't keep her safe. What good am I for her?"

For all the things I've witnessed with him I've never seen him this broken. He's lost multi-million dollar deals and acted like he just lost a paperclip. He's hurting for this sweet little woman in the next room. I don't even think he knows it but he's in love. "Christian, as much as you try, you aren't going to be able to protect her 100% of the time. Just be there for her. Show her you care. Be her rock when she needs it."

He looks up at me, nods, and says, "Thank you, Taylor. For everything."

"Of course, Sir. Have a good night."