She gave Marcus an irritated stare before storming out of the lounging area in search of her friend.
Marcus and Leo sighed in unison. They were disheartened by the way everything unfolded. By now, the lounging area was already occupied with some other business associates who had attended the meeting with Marcus.
As they exited the meeting room and while descending from the stairs, they stopped upon witnessing Marcus being embarrassed by a strange lady-someone who wasn't even part of the just-concluded executive meeting.
Marcus' gaze was fixated on the ground as he couldn't withstand the shame, prompting Leo to cover up for him.
Leo glared at the small audience and said, "I believe the show is over by now, so we can all go about our activities."
Within about two minutes, the lounging area was empty except for the two of them. When Marcus noticed this, he exhaled a sigh and walked past Leo, even though he was trying to talk to him.
Leo shook his head pitifully and left as well.
*
Marcus was restless in his office. He somewhat regretted how he approached Nina in the lounging area. He should have been gentler with his words, as Leo had suggested.
He quickly went to the window to see Nina for the last time before she left the office premises, only to witness something that provoked him even more.
He caught sight of Philip being clingy to Nina. Firstly, he was grabbing her arm and talking to her, but Nina wasn't paying much attention. They were both leaning on Philip's car.
As Philip noticed Nina wasn't engaged in the conversation, he moved closer to her, almost as if he was going to kiss her.
Marcus couldn't bear to watch this, so he quickly averted his gaze. What was supposed to relieve him only added more pain to what he was already battling with.
Out of frustration, he grabbed a small flower pot on the window and flung it. Coincidentally, it went in the direction of the door, and Leo was just entering. The pot nearly landed on him, but he swiftly avoided it.
Marcus didn't even care that his rage almost injured his gamma.
Leo sighed as he stood at the door entrance. "Why are you so angry with yourself?" he asked Marcus as he closed the door. He didn't even mention the fact that Marcus almost injured him.
He started approaching Marcus, but Marcus backed him off and went to the second window facing the back of the company.
He clenched his lips as he gazed out at the city.
A few minutes later, he turned his head towards Leo and noticed that he was still in the office. He sighed.
"You're surprised that I never left," Leo chuckled.
"Get out of my office, Leo," Marcus responded, his voice coated with gruffness.
Leo, used to his attitude, exhaled deeply and started walking closer to Marcus at the window.
"Do you think I don't know why you're so angry and bitter with yourself?" he chuckled lightly and continued. "You never expected her to move on so easily, did you? You thought she'd want you forever."
At this point, Marcus couldn't take it anymore. He turned and approached Leo face to face, barely three inches away.
"Do you really want me to tell you how it feels to see her with another man, huh?"
"But you were the one who rejected her, accepting the allegations against her. Do you want her to stay without a man all the days of her life?"
Marcus was silent, but his fists were clenched into tight balls, and his facial expression showed fury.
However, Leo wasn't bothered by his facial reaction and went on. "Come on, Alpha. She's not your Luna, neither is she your mate, so let her be. You've..."
Leo was still talking when Marcus lunged at him. He grabbed him by the neck, and Leo struggled to breathe, but Marcus was stronger.
Feeling he had taught Leo enough of a lesson, he tossed him on the floor, and Leo lay there panting heavily, coughing profusely. He never expected Marcus to do that to him.
"Next time, always prioritize minding your business. Ignore them at your own peril." Marcus left him in the office and walked out.
A few minutes later, he returned to find Leo still lying on the floor, but he was starting to get up.
He walked past him and went to the window again, looking for Nina, but neither she nor Philip was still on the premises. This fueled his jealousy.
"What if Philip has offered to take her to his place?" This was the first thought that flashed in his mind. He couldn't bring himself to imagine what would happen in his house if Nina truly followed him to his house.
He breathed a deep sigh and turned to Leo, who was yet to get up.
"I guess you needed a mattress so you'd have a comfortable sleep? Don't anger me further," he declared, causing Leo to slowly raise his head to him and drop it back without saying a word.
"Now you have a task to perform. Go out there and inquire about Nina. Make sure you come back with every detail about her-her occupation and her residential area."
"Also, get details of that man for me-I mean Philip," he instructed, his back resting on the office chair he was sitting on, waiting for Leo to get up and do the assignment.
To his surprise, Leo laughed. "I should do all that on someone you threw out of your pack? I can see that you're not finished with your mission on the poor innocent lady. Do you want to chase all men away from her and watch her languish in loneliness?"
Marcus' face instantly turned cold, and anger intensified in his eyes.
"I can see that you want to die at my hands. Aren't you afraid of me?" he barked, his tone venomous.
Leo sighed. Having no choice, he accepted. "I'll do just that and get back to you in the evening," he commented.
He rose to his feet and exited the office. Marcus breathed a deep sigh, rested his head on his palm, and then buried his mind in deep thoughts.