The headlines had teeth.
Thorne’s Pet Exposed.
CEO’s Dirty Secret: Elevator Tryst Caught on Tape.
From Intern to w***e—How Alina Crossed the Line.
Alina stared at her screen, blood pounding in her ears. The photos were blurred but unmistakable. Her face turned toward the glass. Her body pressed against Nicholas. The city as their witness.
And the captions? Vicious.
She hadn’t cried yet.
But her hands were trembling.
Across the room, Nicholas was a statue of silence. His jaw clenched so tightly she thought it might snap.
“I can fix this,” he said finally, voice like cold iron. “I’ll destroy whoever leaked it.”
Alina looked up, eyes shining. “They already destroyed me, Nicholas.”
He walked toward her slowly. “You’re not destroyed. You’re mine.”
She stood, fists clenched. “I’m a s
