Chapter5
895 Words
ARIA
"You think I did it?"
Kade's voice echoed down the glass conference room like a slap.
I didn't answer. It wasn't necessary really as I didn't have to.
The flash drive sat on the table between us like a ticking time bomb. Leo hadn't said anything
since we got here. He just stood against the window, his arms folded, staring at the horizon as if
it was safer than the truth.
"I didn't handle that file," Kade repeated, grinding his teeth. "Yeah, I have the access code. So do
three other guys in my department. You ever think about that?"
You also have a history of disregarding rules," Leo stated coldly, finally standing to face him.
"And a need to do whatever you can to attract attention."
"That was at school—"
"This is my business."
Kade ran a hand through his hair, his annoyance bleeding through his smirk. "You want someone
to blame? Fine. Blame me. Just know I didn't take the photo."
Leo didn't blink. "If I discover that you're lying—"You'd do what?" Kade shouted. "Fire me? Again?"
The air cracked with tension.
"Both of you, stop." My voice startled me as much as theirs did.
They turned to face me, two pair of eyes looking at me with different kinds of anger.
"We don't know if he did it," I said. "Not yet. The server logs only show access. Not intent."
"You're defending him?" Leo asked, cold creeping back into his voice.
"I'm stating facts," I said matter of fact.
He moved back to the window. "Leave us," he said to Kade.
Kade's face turned red as if he'd sooner throw something at someone. He pushed his chair back
and strode away, slamming the door behind him.
Leo didn't move.
"So you don't trust anyone?" I whispered. “Even your own brother?”
"No."
I nodded, unsurprised. "Not even yourself?"
"Especially not myself." He turned. “Not after I made the stupid decision of falling for you.”hmm oh I see
Later, as we were in his private office alone, the lights were dimmed and tension curled itself like
smoke in the corners.
I lingered near the coffee bar, pretending to be interested in his ridiculous collection of imported
teas while his silence followed me like a shadow.
"You believe I'm paranoid," he said finally.
"I believe you're scared."
He didn't argue.
"You didn't want me working here," I said. "You wanted me here. Close. So you could see me fail."
"I wanted to know if you could still hurt me," he whispered.
"And?"
His eyes met mine. "You can.”
A knock on the door, hard, way too hard, interrupted whatever moment was happening between
us.
Then Eliana was standing there, file in her hand and an icy smile on her face.
"I thought you'd want to hear it in person," she said.
Leo took the folder, opened it up and then, he froze up
"What is it?" I snapped.
He didn't speak. He just handed over the folder.
I took it from him, my hands trembling slightly,
Photos, Scanned documents, Legal records,
My name.
It stood out as clear as day on a marriage license application.
To Gregory Alden — Titan Technologies' CEO.
I hadn't heard that name in years.
Eliana's voice pierced the tension but all I could hear was my loud pulse. "Your assistant didn't tell
you that she used to be engaged to our biggest competitor."
My throat went tight.
"It was a long time ago," I answered quickly. "We didn't get married. It lasted six months—"
"You didn't think that was something you needed to tell me?" Leo asked, his voice booming
across the room.
"It has nothing to do with this," I said back to him.
His eyes were cold. Cutting. "Did he send you?"
"No!"
"Are you still in contact with him?"
"No!"
Fuck. How the hell did she get hold of that certificate?
Eliana stood with her arms crossed. "Well, this certainly complicates things, doesn't it?”
Leo gazed at me as though I were a different person.
"I trusted you," he said.
"No, you didn't," I whispered. "You wanted to have a version of me that you could control unfortunately you can't control me I only work for you,
He stepped back. "You're fired."
The air was kicked out of my lungs.
"You don't want an explanation?"
"So what?” He seethed. “So you can lie to me again? That's all you're ever good at. Lying.”
Don't talk to me that way, and then, not willing to take anymore, I started to walk away.
But before my hand could shut over the doorknob, I said softly, "There's a letter. In my desk
drawer. I wrote it years ago. After I went away. You never read it. But it says everything you
wouldn't ask."
He didn't say anything.
He didn't even stop me as I left and honestly, I don't know why I thought he would.
When I reached the door, I turned to face Eliana, and the vindictive smile on her face was enough
to disarm me.
I ignored her and left BlackWall for the second time in my life. The first time I did so out of love.
This time, I did it out of anger.
But both times, it was hell.
- Writer
