Boardroom and Heartbeats

Trust on the Line

The days following the gala blurred into a whirlwind of work, tension, and unanswered questions. Lena threw herself into her tasks, trying to keep her focus sharp despite the lingering unease left by Nolan’s warning and Donovan’s cryptic vulnerability. But the unease never quite went away, a gnawing sense that she was treading dangerous ground—both professionally and personally.

Donovan had been colder than usual, his sharp commands delivered with a clipped efficiency that left no room for small talk. It was as if the tension from the gala had bled into their professional relationship, creating a distance she couldn’t bridge.

Lena hated it. Not just because it made her job harder, but because she missed the version of Donovan she’d started to see—the man beneath the polished surface, the one who cared about more than just his empire.

And then, just when she thought the silence between them might suffocate her, Donovan called her into his office.

A Job Only for Lena

“Close the door,” Donovan said without looking up from his desk as Lena stepped inside.

She did as he asked, clutching her tablet a little tighter as she approached his desk. He finally looked up, his piercing blue eyes locking onto hers.

“I need you to handle something discreetly,” he said, sliding a folder across the desk toward her.

Lena hesitated before picking it up. Inside were copies of emails, meeting notes, and financial records—all related to a tech development firm she didn’t recognize.

“This company,” Donovan continued, his voice low, “has been attempting to poach Steele Innovations’ talent for months. Recently, they’ve become bolder, targeting employees involved in our most sensitive projects.”

Lena’s stomach twisted. “You think someone on your team is leaking information?”

“I know someone is,” Donovan said, his tone icy. “I just don’t know who. Yet.”

Lena looked down at the folder again, her pulse quickening. This wasn’t just a task—it was a test. Donovan was trusting her with something that could make or break his company, and possibly his trust in her.

“Why me?” she asked, her voice quieter.

Donovan leaned back in his chair, studying her. “You’re new. Unconnected. No one would suspect you of investigating them. And,” he added, his gaze softening slightly, “you’re good at finding the truth.”

The compliment caught her off guard, and for a moment, she didn’t know how to respond.

“I’ll handle it,” she said finally, tucking the folder under her arm.

“Good,” Donovan said, his voice regaining its usual sharpness. “Report only to me. And, Lena—”

She paused at the door, glancing back at him.

“Be careful,” he said.

Digging Deeper

That evening, Lena sat at her kitchen table with the folder spread out before her. The documents were dense, full of cryptic notes and redacted names, but she’d dealt with worse during her time as an investigative journalist.

She started by cross-referencing the emails, looking for patterns—similar phrases, repeated recipients. Slowly but surely, a picture began to form. A handful of employees from Steele Innovations had been in contact with the same external email address, one that traced back to a dummy account registered under a pseudonym.

Lena frowned, leaning closer to her laptop. Whoever was behind this was careful—there were no obvious connections, no smoking guns. But the more she dug, the more she noticed subtle patterns. Meeting cancellations that lined up with unexplained absences.

Gaps in project timelines that coincided with spikes in activity from the dummy account.

It wasn’t much, but it was a start.

Her phone buzzed, snapping her out of her focus. She picked it up and saw a text from Nolan.

Nolan: “Need to talk. Call me when you’re free.”

Lena hesitated, her thumb hovering over the screen. She hadn’t seen or spoken to Nolan since their conversation after the gala. Part of her felt guilty for keeping him at a distance, but another part of her—the part that had seen the way Donovan reacted to Nolan—knew that involving him would only complicate things further.

Finally, she set the phone down without replying.

The Morning Confrontation

The next morning, Lena arrived at the office early, determined to share her findings with Donovan. But as she stepped off the elevator onto the executive floor, she was surprised to find him already waiting for her near her desk.

“You’re early,” she said, trying to keep her tone light.

“So are you,” he replied, his expression unreadable. “Did you find anything?”

Lena handed him the folder, watching as his eyes scanned the notes she’d added in the margins.

“This is good,” he said finally, setting the folder down. “Better than I expected.”

Lena felt a flicker of pride but quickly pushed it down. “It’s just a start. I still don’t know who’s behind it.”

“You’ll figure it out,” Donovan said, his tone leaving no room for doubt.

“Do you always trust people this easily?” Lena asked, half-teasing.

Donovan’s lips curved into a faint smile, one that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “No. I don’t.”

Before Lena could respond, the sound of an elevator dinging caught their attention. They both turned to see Nolan stepping onto the floor, his presence an unwelcome surprise.

“Nolan?” Lena said, her voice tinged with disbelief.

“I figured I’d drop by,” Nolan said, his gaze flicking to Donovan. “You know, check on my favorite journalist-turned-assistant.”

Donovan’s jaw tightened, his icy demeanor returning in full force. “This is a secure floor,” he said. “Visitors aren’t allowed without clearance.”

“Relax, Steele,” Nolan said, his tone infuriatingly casual. “I’m not here to cause trouble.”

“You’re already causing trouble,” Donovan shot back.

Lena stepped between them, holding up her hands. “Okay, enough. Nolan, what are you doing here?”

Nolan’s expression softened as he turned to her. “I needed to talk to you. In private.”

Lena hesitated, glancing at Donovan. His expression was unreadable, but the tension in his posture was impossible to miss.

“Fine,” she said, grabbing her tablet. “Let’s talk.”

A Private Warning

They found an empty conference room, and as soon as the door closed, Nolan turned to her, his expression serious.

“Lena, I don’t like this,” he said.

“Like what?”

“This whole setup,” Nolan said, gesturing vaguely. “You, working for Steele. That guy—he’s dangerous.”

“We’ve been over this,” Lena said, crossing her arms. “I’m fine, Nolan.”

“You’re not fine,” Nolan insisted. “He’s pulling you into something, and you don’t even see it. This isn’t just about his company, Lena—it’s about control. Guys like him, they don’t give without expecting something in return.”

Lena’s heart twisted, torn between her loyalty to Nolan and the complicated connection she was forming with Donovan.

“I can take care of myself,” she said finally, her voice firm.

Nolan shook his head, his frustration evident. “Just promise me you’ll be careful.”

Lena hesitated, then nodded. “I promise.”