The sense of accomplishment from their victory at the board meeting lingered, but it was overshadowed by the knowledge that Jonathan Reed was still out there, scheming. For every step forward, there seemed to be another battle waiting in the shadows.
Emma awoke to a flurry of messages on her phone. As she sat up, scrolling through the notifications, her blood ran cold. Social media was abuzz with rumors about Alexander—allegations of misconduct, shady deals, and accusations of favoritism in the company.
“Alexander,” she whispered, already dialing his number.
He answered on the second ring, his voice heavy with exhaustion. “I’ve seen it.”
Emma’s heart sank further. “How bad is it?”
“They’re all lies, of course,” Alexander said, though his tone lacked conviction. “But perception is ofte
