“What do you mean, frozen?” Bob asked slowly.


    “Their legal office cited a use on reputational damage from


    the partnerpanies… they’re initiating a reassessment.”


    “What reputational damage?” Madeline snapped.


    “The press conference,” I muttered. “The smearing. The public


    disaster your side caused.”


    The room imploded into murmurs and panic.


    Amelia clenched the edge of the table. “They can’t do this


    without notice. We’re halfway through the groundwork!”


    “It’s Alexander,” <b>I </b>said. “He’s behind this.”


    The silence that followed was thick and fearful. Even Felix


    looked troubled now.


    From behind the hallway, I heard heels clicking. Then Chole


    appeared, perfectly dressed, though her mascara was slightly


    smudged.


    She walked up to me with a cruel smile. “So that’s it, huh? You’d


    rather destroy two families than be with me?”


    I didn’t respond.


    “You still think Olivia’s worth it?” Her voice rose. “After


    everything? After she spread her legs and had Alexander clean


    up her mess like some rich sugar daddy?”


    My hands curled into fists.


    “There’s nothing going on between them,” I muttered. “He only defended her because he’s not a scumbag!“”


    She snorted. “Keep telling yourself that. He took her in. She left


    you and went straight to him. Do you think she’s sitting at home


    crying over you?” She stepped closer. “He’s everything you’re


    not–powerful, loyal, clean.”


    Her words hit harder than I expected. I did doubt it. Deep down,


    part of me wondered if Olivia had moved on. After what I did,


    she had every right. I remembered her eyes when I betrayed


    her. And maybe, she could be impressed by Alexander’s recent


    activity. If not earlier, maybe now she could fall for him.


    Chole’s voice pierced the moment. “She deserves a man like


    Alexander. You? You destroyed her. And now you’re trying to


    make it look like you care?”


    I looked away.


    Chole’s voice softened, dangerously sweet. “But if you walk


    away from me now… I’ll really have nothing left.”


    She reached for the knife on the dinner table. It wasn’t sharp-


    but it was pointed.


    “Don’t. Felix warned from across the room.


    But she ignored him. With trembling hands, she held the de


    against her wrist and stared at me.


    “I’ll do it,” she whispered. “Right here. I’ll end it.”


    Amelia gasped. Madeline screamed. Felix moved forward.


    But I stood there.


    Unmoved.


    I looked at her–not with fear, not with pity–but with a calm numbness that came from finally running out of energy.


    “You’ve pulled this card too many times,” I said, my voice t.


    “Do what you want.”


    Her eyes widened, as if shocked that her trick no longer


    worked.


    I turned away.


    Olivia’s POV


    I stared at my phone for a long time before finally tapping the


    call icon. My thumb hovered for a few seconds. I didn’t want to


    ready to show my face at work yet. Not when my name was


    smeared all over the tabloids.


    When the call connected, Alexander’s voice came through,


    sharp and low. “Yes?”


    I cleared my throat, nerves tightening in my chest. “Alpha


    Alexander. I—I was wondering if I could speak to you for a


    minute.”


    Silence.


    Then, “You already are.”


    Right. Breathe.


    “I was scheduled to return to work the day after tomorrow,” I


    began, trying to sound professional. “My injuries have mostly healed, but due to a family emergency… I was hoping to request


    a short extension. Just another week.”


    There was a pause. I could almost see him, sitting somewhere


    calm, back straight, one brow raised in annoyance.


    “You want another week?” he repeated slowly. “Olivia, are you


    nning to milk that leg injury forever?”


    His voice cut through me. I flinched.


    “No–no, sir,” I said quickly. “I’m not trying to ck off. It’s just… everything with the divorce is messier than I expected, and-


    “I need people who show up when they’re needed,” he said


    coldly. “Not excuses.”


    “I’ll be back after five days,” I pleaded. “I just need a few more days to handle the fallout. If I rush back now, it might make things worse–not just for me, but for you too. You saw what’s happening online.”


    Another long silence.


    “Your mess is yours, not mine,” he said, but his voicecked the


    bite from earlier.


    “I understand that,” I said, softer this time. “But if I walk into Green Group headquarters with paparazzi still chasing me and rumors swirling, it’ll be your mess too. You’ll be seen as the boss defending his scandalous female assistant. And we both


    know how that’ll be spun.”


    There was a long breath on the other end.


    “Then what’s your n?” he asked finally. “How do you intend


    to clean this up?”


    I exhaled. “I’m going to make a scene,” I said tly. “Go to the


    Windsor housé. Demand things. Negotiate.”


    <b>Chapter </b>