I walked out of the café with my heart still pounding in my chest, Alex’s words playing on repeat in my mind. “Lucas is dangerous.” Could it really be true? Was I blind to everything Alex claimed Lucas was? The questions swirled in my head like a tornado, but something in me resisted accepting his version of the truth.
I wasn’t a pawn in their game. Not anymore.
By the time I got home, my resolve had hardened. I wasn’t going to let Alex dictate how I viewed Lucas, and I certainly wasn’t going to let him control me like he had in the past. I had come too far. Over the past few years, I’d built my life, my career—hell, I had built me. I wasn’t about to let that go because of some old rivalry I barely understood.
The next morning, I woke with a sense of clarity I hadn’t felt in days. Lucas might have his secrets, and Alex… well, Alex had his agenda. But I was going to figure this out on my terms. No one else’s.
At work, things were as hectic as ever. Our team was preparing for the launch of our latest project, and tensions were high. I threw myself into the work, determined to prove, if only to myself, that I was capable of handling whatever came my way. If I could get through this week, I could get through anything.
As the day went on, I noticed some of my coworkers exchanging glances, whispering just out of earshot. Normally, it wouldn’t have bothered me—I was used to office gossip—but today, it grated on my nerves. I knew what they were thinking. They still didn’t take me seriously, even after all the work I’d done, all the late nights I’d put in.
It wasn’t the first time I’d felt like an outsider in this place. Being one of the few women in a male-dominated industry meant constantly having to prove myself. Every success was met with skepticism, every decision questioned twice as much as my male counterparts. But I didn’t let that stop me. If anything, it fueled my drive to succeed.
Around midday, I was in the middle of reviewing some last-minute details for the project launch when my boss, Aethan, called me into his office. I could feel the eyes of my coworkers on me as I walked across the room, their silent judgment hanging in the air.
Aethan was a tall, imposing figure, the kind of guy who rarely showed any emotion but not to me. As I stepped into his office, he was leaning back in his chair, his hands folded over his chest. His expression was unreadable, but there was something in his eyes that set me on edge.
“Aria,” he began, gesturing for me to sit down. “We need to talk.”
I sat down slowly, trying to calm the sudden flutter of nerves in my stomach. “What’s going on?”
Aethan didn’t waste any time. “There’s been some concern about your involvement with Mr. Lucas Reyes  situation.”
My heart sank. Of course, this was about Lucas.
“I’ve heard the rumors, Aethan,” I said, keeping my voice steady. “But that’s all they are. Rumors.”
He nodded, though his expression didn’t soften. “Be that as it may, people are talking. You know how this business works. Perception is everything. If people think you’re compromised—”
“I’m not,” I interrupted, more forcefully than I intended. “Whatever’s going on between Lucas and Alex, it has nothing to do with my work here. I’ve kept everything professional.”
Aethan leaned forward, his gaze sharp. “I believe you, Aria. But you need to understand, this kind of thing can snowball quickly. I need to know you’re in control of the situation.”
I met his gaze head-on. “I am. And I’ll prove it.”
Aethan studied me for a moment longer before nodding. “Good. Because if you can’t, there are plenty of people waiting for you to slip up.”
I left his office feeling a mixture of anger and determination. How dare they question my capabilities just because of my personal life? I had worked too hard to let this define me.
The rest of the day passed in a blur of meetings and preparations. My team was counting on me to lead this project to success, and I wasn’t about to let them—or myself—down.
By the time I left the office, the sun had already set, casting long shadows over the city. I walked to my car with a sense of satisfaction, knowing I had done everything in my power to keep things on track. I was proving to everyone, including myself, that I could handle whatever came my way.
As I reached for my car door, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out, expecting a message from one of my coworkers, but what I saw instead made my blood run cold.
It was an email from our company’s legal department. The subject line was simple, but the words hit me like a punch to the gut.
URGENT: Notice of Lawsuit Filed Against Your Company
I blinked, my mind racing as I opened the email. My eyes skimmed over the words, my stomach tightening with every line.
The lawsuit wasn’t just a small claim. It was a major one—targeted at our entire company, threatening to undo everything we had worked for.
I leaned against my car, my heart pounding in my chest. This wasn’t happening. Not now. Not when everything was finally falling into place.
But it was real. And as the cold night air pressed against me, the weight of what was at stake settled over me like a dark cloud.
This was more than just business. This was my future. And now, it was on the line.
***