Chapter 7: Keep Him on a Short Leash

Words : 1776 Updated : Oct 17th, 2025

"Keep a close eye on Lewis Casson. He went to great lengths to get into Elle Group as my bodyguard, which means he's up to something. Find out his background and what he wants," Elle Cutmore said, each word measured as she fixed her gaze on Maddie Zimmerman. "Ah!" Maddie couldn't help letting out a small yelp. She had never imagined the CEO would assign her this. "What, is there a problem?" Elle's eyes sharpened. Startled, Maddie waved her hands and replied, "No problem, no problem. I'll take care of it." She said the words, but her heart was racing, and she was simmering with anger. She'd clashed with Lewis several times yesterday and lost every time. Now the task landed on her desk again, which meant they'd be going at it again. Who knew who would come out on top? "If there's no problem, get to it. You've never let me down. I trust this won't be any different." "Yes, CEO." Maddie gave a small nod and left. Elle sat quietly for a moment, then took out her phone and dialed. "Hey, are you busy right now, Esme Waller?" "Elle Cutmore, spare me the niceties. Out with it. What do you need from me?" A warm flush crept over Elle's cheeks. Her best friend had always been blunt, saying exactly what crossed her mind. No point beating around the bush. "Help me look into a man named Lewis Casson. I'll have his file sent to you in a bit." "Ooh, are you crushing on him? That's news. Tell me everything about this Lewis." Elle's cheeks flushed even more. For no good reason, Lewis's wicked grin flashed through her mind; she shivered slightly. She laughed and said, "Esme, I'm serious. I don't have time to joke around." "I'm serious too. We've known each other forever, and this is the first time you've asked me to dig into a man. If there wasn't something special here, would you be doing this?" Elle pressed her lips together and sighed. She bit her lip. "Are you helping or not? Give me a straight answer." "Oh, someone's in a hurry. Sounds big. Since you asked, how could I say no? Send me what you've got. I'll dig up everything, all the way back to his family tree." "Thanks." Elle hung up and murmured, her expression conflicted, "Lewis Casson, I don't care who you are or what you want. I won't let you get your way." Maddie had been run ragged. As soon as she cleared her desk, she went to look for Lewis and found him at a computer, hollering while he played League of Legends. Fury rose hot in her throat. She strode over, face dark as a storm. Lewis flicked her a glance and kept playing. "Push! Man, do you even know how to play? What are you, in elementary school?" A few colleagues smothered their laughter. Plenty of them thought Lewis had guts. Playing games on the clock, caught red-handed by the CEO's assistant, and he still kept going. Does he have a death wish? "What are you laughing at? Get back to work!" Maddie barked and slammed her palm on his desk three times. "Lewis, this is work hours. Who gave you permission to play games?" "The CEO did. So what? She hasn't said a word. Why are you blowing a fuse?" Maddie felt her lungs about to burst. Hands on hips, she glared at him. "No way the CEO lets you game at work. Explain yourself." Lewis grinned as if it were obvious. "I'm the CEO's personal bodyguard. She told me to find a seat. How could I disobey?" "She told you to sit, not to play games and distract everyone else." "What a joke. I'm not a statue-I can't just sit there doing nothing." He turned back to the screen and resumed yelling at the players. The chubby guy beside him looked at Lewis in total awe. He had worked at Elle Group for years and had never seen anyone like this. He wanted to tell Lewis, Man, I'm not worthy. Maddie trembled, on the verge of blowing her top, when a commanding voice cut in from behind her. "Assistant Zimmerman, why waste your breath? A black sheep with no respect for his superiors should be fired on the spot." Lewis set his mouse down very slowly and turned. A handsome man in a tailored suit with a sharp buzz cut was walking over. "VP Ed Mabre is here. That guy is toast." "Keep showing off and you'll get what's coming. Ha!" "…" Maddie offered a polite greeting. "Good afternoon, Mr. Mabre." Ed smiled and pointed at Lewis with casual arrogance. "This the bodyguard you hired for the CEO yesterday?" "Yes." Ed gave Lewis a once-over, then sneered. "No offense, Assistant Zimmerman, but your judgment used to be decent. How did you end up with this one? First day on the job and he's gaming during work, loud enough to disrupt the whole floor. A bad apple like this needs to be fired immediately. We can't let one rotten apple spoil the bunch." Maddie stayed silent. If she hadn't received Elle's order, she would have raised both hands in agreement. Now, though, if she failed this assignment, she had no idea what punishment would follow, and it wasn't worth letting Lewis take the fall. Oh, so if I stay quiet they'll think I'm a pushover? Lewis's smile turned playful. Under the crowd's gloating stares, he stood, fished out a cigarette, and lit it. He took a drag, blew a smoke ring toward Ed, and asked mildly, "On what grounds can you fire me?" Ed's face tightened with anger. "I'm the vice president of Elle Group. Don't I have the authority to fire a bodyguard?" Lewis's mouth quirked. "Not really. I'm CEO Elle Cutmore's bodyguard. She's the only one who can fire me." Ed's chest heaved. "Fine. A lowly bodyguard thinks he can walk all over me now. I'll call the CEO out here and have her fire you in front of everyone." Lewis waved. "Be my guest." Ed shot him a fierce glare and stormed off toward the CEO's office. Lewis glanced around, then let his gaze settle on Maddie. "What are you staring at me for? Blown away by my swagger? Careful, don't fall for me. I'm just a legend." Maddie almost laughed in spite of herself. Did he really not grasp how much trouble he had stirred up? Still so full of himself. Shameless. Aside from a few people, everyone else regarded Lewis as if he were an idiot. In the whole of Elle Group, of all people to offend, he'd managed to offend Ed Mabre. Besides being vice president, Ed was the second-largest shareholder. Once, a senior executive had crossed him and ended up fired, couldn't find work in Melville, and it ended badly for him.

Chapter 7: Keep Him on a Short Leash

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