The Leak
1084 Words
*Chapter 7: The Leak*
The headline hit at 6:14am.
_COLE CEO CAUGHT IN OFFICE ROMANCE WITH STRATEGY LEAD_
_Exclusive Video From Gala Shows Damien Cole Removing Brother’s Ex From Event_
There was a 15-second clip.
Me in the blue dress. Damien’s hand on my back.
Then him grabbing Tyler’s wrist. “Don’t touch her.”
The audio was garbage but the caption wasn’t.
_Sources say Ms. Monroe was hired 6 months ago. Nepotism?_
My phone had 47 missed calls before I even got out of bed.
---
*7:30am. My Apartment.*
Damien: _Don’t read the comments._
Me: _Too late._
Damien: _Car’s downstairs. Don’t answer anyone._
Me: _Damien—_
Damien: _Please. Just get in the car._
He was already in the backseat when I slid in. Same navy suit. Dark circles under his eyes. Laptop open to legal emails.
“Morning,” I said.
He looked up. Closed the laptop. “Morning.”
He didn’t touch me. Didn’t reach for my hand.
The driver was there.
“Are we fired?” I asked quietly.
“No.” His jaw ticked. “But the board called an emergency vote for 10am.”
“Because of me?”
“Because of me.” He finally looked at me. “I should’ve handled it better. Should’ve told them first.”
“It’s not your fault Tyler showed up.”
“No. But it’s my fault I kissed you where there were cameras.”
The car went silent.
---
*Flashback: 2 Years Ago. After I Left Tyler.*
I was deleting photos.
Tyler texted: _Can we talk? Please. Just 5 minutes._
I didn’t answer.
10 minutes later: _You’re going to regret this._
I blocked him.
Damien texted 3 minutes after: _Is he bothering you?_
I didn’t answer that either.
I didn’t know then that he’d been checking on me.
---
*Present: 9:58am. 40th Floor.*
The boardroom felt colder today.
Mrs. Cole wasn’t smiling.
Legal was there. PR was there.
And printed on every chair: screenshots of the article. Comments circled in red.
_“Sleeping her way to the top”_
_“Nepotism”_
_“Fire them both”_
Damien sat down. I sat next to him.
“Before we start,” Mrs. Cole said. “Legal has a statement prepared. You will both sign it. No comment to press. No public appearances together for 30 days.”
Damien didn’t touch the paper.
“No.”
The room went still.
“No?” Mrs. Cole repeated.
“No. I’m not hiding her. I’m not punishing her for my choices.” He turned to the board. “You want to fire me? Fire me. But Ava’s name stays clean.”
“Damien, this is business—”
“This IS business.” He cut her off. “The merger closed because of her. The stock dipped 2% this morning and will recover by noon because she’s leading the integration. You fire her, you lose more than PR.”
He looked at me.
“Your turn.”
My hands were shaking.
I stood.
“I didn’t get this job because of Damien. I got it because I beat 200 applicants. I stayed because I’m good at it. If you fire me for dating, you’re telling every woman in this company that her work doesn’t matter once she’s in love.”
I picked up the legal paper. Tore it in half.
“I won’t sign that.”
Silence.
Mrs. Cole stared at us. Then at the torn paper.
“Then we do it your way.” She stood. “New PR statement in 1 hour. You two front it. Together. No more secrets. But if this tanks us, it’s on you.”
Meeting over.
---
*10:47am. Damien’s Office. Door Closed.*
We closed it this time.
He paced. I sat on the couch.
“They’re going to blame you,” I said.
“They already do.” He stopped. “Ava. I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“For making you choose. Again.”
I stood. Went to him.
“I chose you.”
He pulled me in. No hesitation this time. His arms around me, forehead to mine.
“I don’t care about the stock. I don’t care about the board. I care that you’re here and you’re not scared.”
“I am scared.” I admitted. “But not of them. Of this going bad and you resenting me.”
He kissed me. Hard. Then soft.
“Never.”
His phone buzzed. He ignored it.
“Ava.”
“Yeah?”
“Move in with me.”
I pulled back. “What?”
“Not forever. Just while this is messy. My place has security. No press. No Tyler. And I make terrible pasta every night.”
It was so Damien. Blunt. Possessive. Domestic.
“Yes,” I whispered.
He smiled. Real. Relieved.
“Good. Because I already told my assistant to pack your stuff.”
I laughed. “You didn’t.”
“I did.”
There was a knock.
“Mr. Cole? Press in 10.”
---
*11:05am. Press Conference.*
Cameras. Microphones.
Damien at the podium. Me to his right.
“We are aware of the article this morning,” he started. “Ms. Monroe and I are in a relationship. We disclosed this to the board. We have implemented oversight protocols. She is also the lead on the merger that just saved this company 2.1 billion naira.”
He looked at me.
“Any questions about the company, ask me. Any questions about her, ask me. She’s here to work.”
No one asked about the kiss.
They asked about revenue. About jobs. About the merger.
When it was over, he took my hand. In front of everyone.
And walked me out.
---
*Flashback: The Night Before The Gala.*
Damien texting his assistant: _Get her the blue dress. Size 6._
Assistant: _Are you sure?_
Damien: _Yes. And make sure security knows her face._
He’d planned it.
He knew Tyler might come.
He chose me anyway.
---
*Present: 8:00pm. Damien’s Apartment.*
Boxes everywhere. My books. My coffee mug.
He was in the kitchen. Burning pasta again.
“You’re really bad at this,” I said, leaning on the counter.
“I know.” He turned off the stove. “But I’m good at this.”
He pulled me into him. Kissed me like the world wasn’t watching.
Like it was just us.
My phone buzzed. Unknown number.
---
Coming next
*Chapter 8: Security Footage*
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