Dangerous Contract:Taming Evil Boss

If you had told Elise a month ago that she would appear on the evening news and become the new Cinderella, she would have thought you were crazy. Now, she felt like she was on the brink of insanity. “Good evening, viewers. Welcome to this episode of Urban Focus. Tonight, we interrupt your regular programming to bring you breaking news. Arthur Locke, president of Locke Group, and Elise Harper, a designer, have officially announced their engagement.” The news anchor's voice boomed as the screen shifted to the luxurious lobby of the W Hotel, where crystal chandeliers sparkled overhead and the society's elite mingled with reporters. The main character of the news, Elise, stood nervously at the back of the stage, wringing her hands. She scanned the crowd, hoping to catch a glimpse of Arthur, but found nothing. Time ticked away, and the announcement was about to begin, yet Arthur was still nowhere to be seen. “Where is he? The time is almost up,” Elise asked her secretary in a hushed tone, pacing in her elegant white dress. Henry glanced at his watch and replied quietly, “The boss is handling an urgent matter; he should be here soon.” “Urgent matter?” Elise felt a surge of irritation, unable to suppress a bitter laugh. If she hadn’t seen that anonymous letter in the lounge this morning, she might have believed such excuses. The letter, found in a corner of the vanity, contained only one line: “You think you’ve won? You’re just another substitute. The one Arthur truly loves will never be you.” Attached were several suggestive photos, showing Arthur in intimate settings with different women, mirroring the tabloid gossip she had read about him. Those images flashed before her eyes, making her stomach churn. In fact, she was well aware of the rumors surrounding him—as the heir to Locke Group, he was a wealthy playboy. Almost every article about him mentioned his entanglements with numerous women. Initially, she didn’t care; after all, their relationship was a contract, and she only needed the money. His affairs were irrelevant to her. She had always believed that to truly know someone, you couldn’t rely on external gossip. But now, she found it hard to ignore the unease that letter had instilled in her. And Arthur’s continued absence only validated the rumors—he was indeed an unreliable “fiancé”. For this engagement announcement, she had repeatedly reviewed the process with her secretary and even learned about etiquette to ensure there were no slip-ups. Even if it was all an act, she couldn’t let Arthur down in front of so many people. But now, all her preparation seemed wasted. Even the “star” of the show was missing. It felt like all her efforts and rigor had been ruthlessly trampled, heightening her anxiety. Unable to bear it any longer, Elise excused herself to the restroom and quickly slipped out of the venue. ***** Standing in the empty corridor, the cacophony that had surrounded her moments ago faded away. Elise finally let out a sigh of relief, feeling the weight on her chest lift slightly. Suddenly, a faint cry for help broke the silence from nearby. Elise froze, her heart racing. She held her breath, straining to confirm whether she had heard wrong. But the voice came again, laced with fear and desperation. “Help!” This time, she was sure she hadn’t misheard. The cry sent her nerves into overdrive. Without thinking too much, she followed the sound, walking quickly toward its source. As she got closer, she saw a waitress and a drunken guest. The man, swaying unsteadily with a greasy smile, was pressing in on the waitress, his hand firmly gripping her wrist like a vise, making it impossible for her to escape. The waitress looked terrified, struggling helplessly, her lips quivering as she tried to speak through her sobs. Seeing this, anger surged through Elise. Without hesitation, she strode forward and shouted, “Let her go!” The man’s actions halted immediately. He turned to Elise, confusion etched on his face, seemingly unsure of what this sudden woman wanted. Seizing the moment of his hesitation, Elise swiftly pulled the waitress behind her, shielding her protectively. “Who are you?” the man slurred, his flushed face revealing irritation. The stench of alcohol made Elise wrinkle her nose in disgust as she covered her mouth, saying, “It doesn’t matter. Just stop and get lost, right now.” The man paused for a moment, then stumbled closer, pointing a finger at Elise. “How dare you talk to me like that? Do you want me to—” Before he could finish, Elise kicked him hard in the abdomen. He staggered back, clutching his stomach, his earlier disdain replaced with pain and fury. He glared at her, seething, “You filthy bitch...” Before he could say more, he lunged at Elise, trying to grab her by the neck. Instinctively, Elise dodged, but his movements were swift, his fist nearly landing on her face. Her heart stopped for a moment, but the expected impact never came. Elise opened her eyes wide to see a strong hand gripping the man’s fist, halting it just in front of her. Following that hand upwards, she recognized the familiar, stern face. It was the other protagonist of today’s engagement announcement—Arthur Locke.