A Billionaire's Love

Chapter 14

Jared stormed out of Dylan’s office, slamming the heavy oak door behind him. His mind was reeling with disbelief, frustration bubbling just beneath the surface. “Dylan has really gone mad!” he muttered under his breath as he briskly walked down the corridor, his footsteps echoing on the marble floor.

This wasn’t like Dylan. Jared had worked with him for nearly a decade, pouring his heart and soul into the F. Newspapers and Magazines Company. He knew the man well—or at least, he thought he did. Dylan had always been sharp, a strategic thinker, and a leader who could handle the intense pressures of the media world with grace. But lately, something had shifted. The decisions he was making were erratic, nonsensical even. He’d become unpredictable, lashing out at staff, making absurd demands, and issuing orders that seemed to contradict every business strategy they had carefully crafted over the years.

Jared paused by the large glass window that overlooked the bustling city below. The late afternoon sun cast a golden hue across the skyline, but its warmth did little to soothe the storm raging inside him. How had things gotten this far? Jared clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white. This wasn’t just about the company anymore. This was personal. Dylan wasn’t just his boss; he was his friend. They had built this empire together, brick by brick. But now, it was as though Dylan was tearing it all down with his bare hands.

It wasn’t just today’s meeting that had set him off, though today had been the tipping point. Dylan had insisted on a reckless new strategy that would alienate their most loyal readers, all to chase a fleeting trend that no one believed in.

Jared had never lied to Dylan, never once deceived him. He had always been loyal, even when others questioned Dylan’s leadership. He had stood by him through thick and thin. So, why was Dylan treating him like an enemy now?

Jared’s thoughts spiraled. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something deeper was going on. This wasn’t just about bad business decisions. It felt like Dylan was unraveling. The signs had been there for weeks—sleepless nights, erratic behavior, sudden mood swings. There were moments when Dylan didn’t even seem to recognize Jared, staring at him with a coldness that was unnerving.

Jared took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. He needed to understand what was really going on. This wasn’t the Dylan he knew. He couldn’t believe that the man who had once led the company with such confidence and vision had become so unreasonable. But what if this wasn’t a matter of choice? What if something else was at play?

A sudden chill ran down Jared’s spine as the thought struck him. What if Dylan was hiding something? Something serious. Something he hadn’t told anyone. Jared knew he had to find out. He couldn’t just stand by and watch everything they had built crumble because of whatever was happening to Dylan.

He pushed away from the window and headed toward his office. If there was something to uncover, he’d find it.

“Jared…”

The sudden voice stopped him in his tracks. He turned around, surprised to see Chloe, the secretary of the F. Newspapers and Magazines Company, standing behind him. Her usually composed face was shadowed with frustration.

“Dylan…” she began, her voice tight with urgency.

“I know,” Jared interrupted her before she could finish. “I know, Chloe.”

Chloe crossed her arms, clearly not satisfied with his quick response. “So that’s it?” she asked, raising an eyebrow. “After all we’ve been through? Jared, this is a big project. You can’t just shrug this off. The cancellation could escalate tension across the entire industry.”

Jared took a deep breath, running a hand through his hair. He could feel the pressure building in every corner of the office. The decision to cancel the publication of Hotel de Montemayor was Dylan’s latest and most controversial move, and the fallout was immediate. The project had been highly anticipated, the kind that could shape their company’s reputation for the next decade. For Dylan to shut it down at the last minute was not only baffling—it was dangerous.

But Jared couldn’t let his emotions cloud his judgment. He had worked with Dylan long enough to know that there was always a reason behind his decisions, even if they didn’t make sense right away.

“I never once doubted Dylan for his decisions, Chloe,” he replied, trying to sound more confident than he felt. “I know he probably had enough reason to cancel the publication of Hotel de Montemayor.”

Chloe scoffed, shaking her head. She didn’t even try to hide her frustration. “Tsk… I just don’t understand how you can say that. This project was monumental for us. We invested months—years, Jared—into this. You know what pulling the plug on this means, right?”

Of course, Jared knew. He wasn’t blind to the ramifications. Pulling the plug on such a large project, one that had garnered attention and speculation across the industry, would ripple far beyond the walls of their office. It would damage their credibility, their relationships with partners, even their stock prices. Chloe was right—it was a huge deal. But Jared still had faith in Dylan. Or at least, he wanted to believe there was a larger plan at play.

“Do what Dylan has asked you to do, Chloe,” Jared said firmly, meeting her eyes. “Don’t make this harder for him. The man’s under more stress than any of us know.”

Chloe paused, biting her lip as if weighing her response. Her gaze softened for just a moment before the frustration returned. “You’ve always had his back, haven’t you?” she said, her tone less accusatory but filled with weariness. “Even now, when he’s being irrational.”

Jared didn’t answer immediately. He wasn’t sure what the right response was. Yes, he had always supported Dylan. But now? He wasn’t blind to the fact that Dylan’s behavior was becoming more and more erratic. Yet, something told him there was more to the story. Dylan wasn’t the type to lose his grip so easily.

“Look,” Jared finally said, “I know Dylan’s not himself lately. But until we know exactly what’s going on, we can’t start second-guessing everything he does. This could be a strategic play. We just don’t have all the pieces yet.”

Chloe sighed, shaking her head again. She was about to say something more, but then stopped. Instead, she turned and walked straight down the hallway without another word. The echo of her heels clicking against the floor slowly faded as she disappeared around the corner.

Jared stood there for a moment, watching her go, feeling the weight of the conversation settle heavily on his shoulders. He was frustrated too, but not with Chloe. With Dylan. With the fact that none of this made any sense.

He slowly began walking toward his office, replaying the events of the past few days in his mind. The missed deadlines, the strange orders, Dylan’s outbursts. And now, the cancellation of Hotel de Montemayor.

What was he missing?