Chapter 15: Everyone Is Watching Now
1349 Words
Elena sensed that something was off the moment she stepped inside.
The building felt different.
Not in any physical way.
But—
The energy.
Conversations quieted as she walked by.
People’s gazes lingered a second too long.
And it was obvious they weren’t even trying to hide it.
Her chest tightened.
Great.
She hadn’t even reached her office yet.
Two assistants huddled by the elevator, their voices hushed—
Until they noticed her.
Then it was dead silent.
One of them managed a polite smile.
“Good morning.”
Elena nodded just a bit.
“Morning.”
She carried on.
Didn’t slow.
Didn’t react.
But her heart was already racing.
Fast.
Sharp.
Because she knew.
No confirmation needed.
No words required.
She could feel it.
Something had spread.
By the time she got to her desk—
Her phone buzzed.
Once.
Then again.
Then again.
Her fingers hovered over the screen for half a second.
Then she grabbed it.
An unknown number.
A message.
She opened it.
And her stomach sank.
“So it’s true. You and him? That’s how you got in?”
She tightened her grip.
Another message came through right after.
“Didn’t take you long. Impressive.”
Her jaw tightened.
One more.
“Careful. These things don’t last.”
Her chest constricted sharply.
There it was.
Clear.
Ugly.
Exactly what she expected—
But harder to face when it was real.
“Rumors travel fast.”
She didn’t need to look up.
She already knew.
Adrian.
Of course.
Elena locked her phone and placed it down.
A bit harder than needed.
“You knew this would happen.”
A pause.
Then—
“Yes.”
Her jaw locked.
“And you didn’t think to tell me?”
“I did.”
She shot up her gaze.
“When?”
His eyes didn’t waver.
“Yesterday.”
Her breath caught.
Because—
He had.
In his own way.
Her frustration flared once more.
“That wasn’t a warning. That was—”
“Accurate.”
Naturally.
Always that.
Her fingers curled against the desk.
“They think I slept my way into this.”
The words were flat.
Controlled.
But they still landed hard.
A moment of silence.
Then—
“They think a lot of things.”
She shot a sharp look at him.
“And you’re okay with that?”
“Yes.”
Her breath hitched.
Anger surged.
Hot.
Immediate.
“That’s not your reputation at stake.”
“No,” he said calmly. “It’s yours.”
Silence.
That—
That stung more than anything else.
Because he didn’t sugarcoat it.
Didn’t soften the truth.
Didn’t pretend it wasn’t happening.
Her chest tightened.
“You’re unbelievable.”
“And yet, you’re still here.”
Her jaw clenched.
“That’s getting old.”
“It’s still true.”
Her pulse quickened harder.
Because it was.
Again.
Always.
She turned away, rubbing her hand through her hair.
“This isn’t just chatter,” she said. “This is damage.”
“It’s noise.”
“No,” she retorted, turning back. “It’s perception.”
A pause.
Then—
“Then change it.”
Her breath caught.
“That’s not something I can just—”
“You already did.”
She blinked.
Thrown off.
“What?”
“The meeting,” he said. “You changed perception.”
Her chest tightened.
“That was different.”
“No,” he replied calmly. “It wasn’t.”
Silence.
Because—
Because part of her acknowledged he was right.
Again.
And she hated him for it.
Her pulse faltered.
“That doesn’t stop this,” she said.
“No,” he agreed. “It doesn’t.”
“Then what does?”
A beat.
Then—
“Consistency.”
Her brows knitted slightly.
“That’s it?”
“That’s everything.”
Her breath eased up a bit.
Not calm.
But steadier.
“You expect me to just ignore it?”
“I expect you to outlast it.”
Her jaw tightened.
“That’s not the same thing.”
“It is here.”
Silence.
Because this—
This world—
It didn’t work how she wished it would.
It didn’t care about fairness.
Or truth.
Only perception.
Only strength.
Only who remained standing.
Her fingers curled again.
“I didn’t sign up for this,” she murmured.
“You signed up for me.”
The words landed heavy.
Unavoidable.
Elena’s pulse raced.
“What does it say?” she asked.
The assistant swallowed.
Then—
“It claims she falsified credentials to get hired.”
Her breath caught.
“What?”
The word slipped out before she could stop it.
Her chest tightened.
Hard.
“That’s not true.”
“Of course it’s not,” Adrian replied calmly.
But his eyes—
They had sharpened.
Dangerously.
“Who sent it?” he asked.
“We’re tracing it,” the assistant said.
“But it’s spreading quickly.”
Elena’s pulse thudded.
Too fast.
Too loud.
Because this—
This wasn’t just a rumor anymore.
This was an attack.
Deliberate.
Targeted.
Aimed to dismantle her position.
Her credibility.
Her place here.
Her chest tightened sharply.
“They’re out to get me,” she said.
“Yes.”
No hesitation.
No denial.
Her fingers curled into fists.
“They think I don’t belong.”
“They see you as a threat.”
The words hit differently.
Stronger.
Sharper.
Her breath wavered.
Before she could reply—
Adrian turned to the assistant.
“Shut it down.”
“Yes, sir.”
“And find the source.”
“Already on it.”
“Faster.”
The assistant nodded quickly and left.
The door clicked shut.
And suddenly—
The room felt smaller.
Tighter.
More dangerous.
Elena exhaled slowly.
Her chest still tight.
Thoughts racing.
“This is because of last night.”
“Yes.”
Her jaw clenched.
“And because of you.”
A moment of silence.
Then—
“Yes.”
She let out a small, incredulous breath.
“You really know how to complicate things.”
“I simplify them.”
Her eyes shot back to his.
“How is this simple?”
A beat.
Then—
“They made a move.”
Her pulse quickened.
“And?”
“Now we respond.”
Her chest tightened.
“This isn’t a game.”
“It is to them.”
Silence.
Because—
Because she understood that.
Already.
Her fingers curled again.
“What’s the plan?” she asked.
His gaze locked onto hers.
Steady.
Unyielding.
“We don’t deny it.”
Her breath caught.
“What?”
“We don’t defend.”
Her pulse raced.
“That’s insane.”
“No,” he said calmly. “It’s strategic.”
“They’re calling me a liar.”
“And we let them.”
Her chest tightened sharply.
“That ruins me.”
“No,” he replied. “It exposes them.”
Her breath faltered.
Her mind scrambled.
Trying to catch up.
Trying to understand.
“How?” she asked.
“They’re expecting a reaction,” he said. “A defense. Something they can twist.”
A pause.
Then—
“We don’t give it to them.”
Her pulse pounded.
Too fast.
Too intense.
“What do I do?” she asked.
His gaze remained firm.
“You work.”
Silence.
Heavy.
Unavoidable.
Her chest rose slowly.
Then fell.
“Like nothing’s happened?”
“Yes.”
Her jaw tightened.
“That’s a risk.”
“Yes.”
A beat.
Then—
“But so are you.”
Her breath caught.
Because—
Because that felt different.
Something more.
And she wasn’t sure how to respond.
Not yet.
Elena straightened a bit.
Her pulse still heightened.
Her chest still tight.
But her mind—
Clearer now.
Focused.
“They want me out,” she said.
“Yes.”
“Then I stay.”
A pause.
Then—
Adrian nodded.
“Good.”
And just like that—
The game shifted again.
But this time—
She was ready.
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD