Rushes around company and curses (8)
I believe the answer is:
scourges
'curses' is the definition.
('scourge' can be a synonym of 'curse')
'rushes around company' is the wordplay.
'rushes' becomes 'surges' ('surge' can be a synonym of 'rush'**).
'around' indicates putting letters inside.
'company' becomes 'co' (abbreviation).
'surges' going around 'co' is 'SCOURGES'.
'and' is the link.
(Other definitions for scourges that I've seen before include "Flogs, lashes" , "Whips" , "punishing cats" , "Flogs or afflicts greatly" .)