How my EX-HUSBAND became my BOSS

Chapter 19: Tom defends Mary from attacks

Tom could feel his anger boiling up inside him as he learned of the new rumors and gossip surrounding Mary. He knew that his relationship with Mary wasn't just an affair, it was a fight for their shared future, and he couldn't let public opinion ruin what they'd worked so hard to build.

Every day Tom watched Mary try to maintain her composure and dignity, despite the sidelong glances and whispers behind her back. It pained him to see her suffer because of unfair accusations. He decided it was time to take matters into his own hands and protect her from attack.

The first thing Tom did was get all the key employees together for an unscheduled meeting. The atmosphere in the room was tense, and Tom immediately sensed that many people had already formed a preconceived opinion about his relationship with Mary. But he was firm and determined.

He began by highlighting Mary's professionalism and contribution to the company's development. Tom listed all her achievements, complex projects that she successfully implemented, and praised her ability to find innovative solutions. He spoke sincerely and emotionally, trying to convey to everyone that Mary was not just his ex-wife and the subject of gossip, but also a valuable employee who deserved respect.

"I understand that my relationship with Mary can cause different feelings," Tom said, looking directly into the eyes of his subordinates. - But I want you to remember that here in the office, we must all be guided by the principles of professionalism and respect. Mary is one of the best employees I've ever met, and I won't let her reputation suffer because of gossip and speculation."

Some of the employees were impressed by Tom's words. They began to wonder how biased they were against Mary, and questioned the truth of the rumors that were being spread in the office. However, there were also those who remained in their opinion, continuing to believe that the relationship between Tom and Mary is a violation of professional ethics.

However, after this meeting, the atmosphere in the office changed a little. The sidelong glances became less frequent, and the whispers less pronounced. Mary noticed the change and was deeply grateful for Tom's support.

But Tom didn't stop there. He decided to go ahead and give an interview to one of the major business publications, in which he openly talked about his relationship with Mary. In an interview, he stressed that their love is not an affair, not a calculation, but a deep feeling that survived the divorce and was revived in new circumstances.

Tom spoke honestly about his mistakes in his first marriage, how he and Mary broke up, and how fate brought them together again in new roles - boss and subordinate. He explained that at first he tried to suppress his feelings, but soon realized that it was useless to fight love.

"Mary and I spent a lot of time thinking about how our relationship would be perceived by others," Tom said in an interview. - But in the end, we decided that our love was more important than someone else's opinion. We are prepared to be judged, but we also hope that people will understand that love is not subject to rules and stereotypes."

The interview caused a wide response. Some readers supported Tom and Mary, noting that love is the most valuable thing in life, and it is worth taking risks for it. Others continued to condemn them, saying that professional relationships should be strictly separated from personal ones.

Despite the mixed reaction, Tom was happy with the result. He showed that he is ready to fight for his relationship and is not going to hide it from others. His support gave Mary the strength to move forward, knowing that she was not alone, that she had someone who loved her and was ready to protect her from any attacks.

At home, alone with Mary, Tom once again expressed his love and devotion. They talked for a long time about what they had experienced recently, about how important it was for them to maintain their relationship no matter what. Mary felt happy and safe around Tom, but at the same time, she had the feeling that there were new challenges ahead of them.

But they were prepared for these challenges. Together they could overcome everything, because their love was stronger than any prejudice and gossip. Tom and Mary looked forward to the future with hope and confidence, knowing that as long as they had each other, they had nothing to fear.

With each passing day, they grew closer, learned to trust each other even more and appreciate every moment they spent together. Tom continued to defend Mary from all attacks, and Mary responded with mutual support and love. Their relationship grew stronger despite all the external obstacles, and they firmly believed that they could build a happy future together.

Richard felt the ground give way beneath his feet. His intrigues, which he so carefully constructed, did not bring the desired result. He hoped that he could destroy Tom and Mary's relationship, undermine their reputation, and bring everything back to normal. But now it became clear: his plans were falling apart, and he was losing control of the situation.

With each passing day, Richard became more and more aware that his actions not only did not bring him closer to his goal, but also made things worse. Tom was much stronger and more determined than Richard had expected. His defense of Mary was so firm and uncompromising that it was clear: Tom will not back down and will fight for their relationship to the end.

Richard began to analyze his mistakes. He knew that he had underestimated the depth of Tom and Mary's feelings, their willingness to stand up to public opinion and fight for their own happiness. His attempts to denigrate Mary in the eyes of others were futile-Tom skillfully parried all attacks, emphasizing the professionalism and dignity of his beloved.

Richard's stomach churned with a mixture of anger, frustration, and powerlessness. He couldn't accept the thought that all his efforts had gone to waste. Richard continued to look for new ways to influence Tom and Mary, but each new plan seemed more absurd and unrealistic.

His relationships with colleagues and partners also began to suffer. People felt its instability and uncertainty, began to avoid direct communication and be cautious in business interactions. Richard's reputation was slowly crumbling, and he knew that he could soon lose both his position and influence in professional circles.

Still, Richard didn't give up. He decided to use the last reserve-to appeal to old connections and try to organize a large-scale campaign against Tom and Mary. But here, too, he failed: many of those he approached refused to participate in his plans, considering them unethical and unpromising.

With each passing day, Richard became more withdrawn, immersed in the world of his frustrations and resentments. He stopped paying attention to his appearance, appeared less often in public, and spent more and more time alone, going over his failures in his head and thinking about where he made a fatal mistake.

His home had become a place of despondency and melancholy. His wife tried to support him, but Richard waved her off, lost in his own dark thoughts. The children felt the tension in the family, but did not understand its causes, and this further aggravated the atmosphere in the house.

Richard was beginning to lose sleep. At night, he tossed and turned in bed, reliving his failures over and over again, trying to find a way out of this situation. But the more he thought about it, the clearer it became: there was no way out. His plans have failed, his influence is fading, and Tom and Mary seem invincible.

Things were getting worse at work. Colleagues began to ignore his instructions, and some even openly expressed their dissatisfaction with his leadership. Richard felt his authority dwindling before his eyes, and he knew that soon he might simply be removed from his post.

In the back of his mind, he began to wonder: was it all worth it? Was it worth destroying other people's lives and reputations to get back at Tom? But his pride and stubbornness kept him from admitting defeat. He continued to cling to the remnants of his plans, even though he already knew in his heart that the game was up.

One day, sitting in his office and looking out the window at the gray city landscape, Richard suddenly realized that he had lost not only control over the situation, but also a part of himself. His life had turned into a series of failures and disappointments, and once clear goals now seemed meaningless and distant.

He closed his eyes and tried to imagine what his life might have been like if he hadn't gone down the path of intrigue and revenge. Perhaps he would have had more friends, a stronger family, and he would have felt happier and more satisfied. But the past could not be brought back, and now he had to live with the consequences of his decisions.

Richard knew he was going to have a tough time ahead of him. He will have to rethink his values, perhaps even change the way he lives and thinks. But now he felt empty and lost, like a rudderless ship on a rough sea.

Nevertheless, there was a spark of hope in the back of his mind. Richard knew that all was not lost, that he could start all over again, build new relationships, find new goals in life. But to do this, he needed to let go of the past, admit his mistakes and open up to new experiences.

In the meantime, he remained trapped in his frustrations, slowly sinking into the depths of despair. Richard was losing control of the situation, not only professionally, but also in his personal life, and he had to make a difficult choice: either continue the path of destruction, or try to build something new and better.