CORPORATE SEDUCTION

CHAPTER 7

Lisa's POV

A shutter clicked out of nowhere and I was taken aback. Alec stopped in his tracks, and I took a moment to catch my breath. Alec walked in the direction of the sound. He didn't find any trace of a camera, nor the camera person.

It happened so quickly that I felt it must have been part of my imagination. Alec walked back to me. He looked into my eyes for any sign of worry.

"Are you alright?", he asked.

"Yes, I am", I replied to him, avoiding his gaze.

He smiled and took me by the hands. He gently carried me off the table and I settled in his arms.

"You need to sleep now,", he said.

Alec's POV

I sat at my desk, the fluorescent lights overhead, casting a harsh glare on the stack of papers that seemed to multiply by the hour. The office was unusually quiet, a stark contrast to the usual hustle and bustle. The silence was broken occasionally by the tick tock of the grand clock just above the wall.

Then, the ping of an email notification echoed through the silence. I glanced at the screen, and my heart skipped a bit when I saw the sender’s name.

"Diana.", I sighed, rubbing my temples.

The subject line read, "We need to talk." A cold sweat broke out on my forehead. I knew I shouldn’t open it, but the curiosity got the better of me. I took a deep breath, steeling myself for whatever lay ahead, and clicked it open.

The moment the images loaded, my stomach twisted in a knot. There they were—intimate moments of me and Lisa, captured in a way I had never wanted anyone to see. The photos were explicit, showcasing our vulnerability and passion, now twisted into a weapon against me. My hands shook as I scrolled through the images, each one a dagger to my heart.

My mind raced as I read Diana's message.

"If you don’t want these to go public, you know what I want."

The words were like ice water coursing through my veins, freezing me in place. Diana had always been unpredictable, but this felt like a new low. The threat was clear: she was willing to destroy everything I had built with Lisa, and the thought sent waves of panic crashing over me.

"This is a scandal that must not get out to the public."

I leaned back in my chair, trying to gather my thoughts. The office felt stifling, the walls closing in on me. I had fought hard to move on from my past with Diana, to build a life independent of her and her antics.

The memories of my relationship with Diana flooded back, each one sharper than the last. She had always known how to push my buttons, how to manipulate me when it suited her. The thrill of our initial romance had quickly soured into something toxic, filled with jealousy and control. I had thought I was free from her grasp, but this was a stark reminder that the past had a way of creeping back in, uninvited and destructive.

I knew I had to think fast. I couldn’t let Diana win this time. I glanced around the office, searching for a distraction, anything to pull him from the spiral of despair. But the reality was inescapable. My heart raced as I considered my options. I could confront Diana, but that could escalate the situation. I could try to reason with her, but I know her too well—she thrived on chaos and manipulation.

Taking a deep breath, I opened a new email, fingers hovering over the keyboard. I started typing, attempting to craft a response that would convey both strength and resolve.

"Diana, this isn’t the way to handle things. I won’t be blackmailed."

But as I typed, doubt crept in. What if she didn’t care? What if she released the photos anyway? The fear of losing whatever he had with Lisa paralyzed him. The thought of risking the company's future through a scandal like this weakened my knees.

I paused, running a hand through my hair, frustration mounting. I needed a plan. I thought of Lisa’s face, her smile lighting up his world. She is innocent and doesn't deserve whatever Diana was plotting. She could even loose her job and her reputation. I can't let that happen.

Suddenly, an idea sparked in my mind. I could gather evidence against Diana, document her threats, and take it to the authorities if necessary. It was a risky move, but it might be the only way to protect Lisa. I quickly jotted down a list of everything I could recall—dates, messages, and the context of our relationship. I had to be meticulous; this had to be foolproof.

With renewed determination, I decided to confront her. I would meet her in person, away from the prying eyes of the office. Somewhere public, where she couldn’t make a scene. I knew it was a gamble, but I had to show her that I wouldn’t be intimidated any longer. I typed a quick reply, suggesting we meet at a coffee shop downtown. I hit send, my heart racing with anticipation and fear.

As the minutes ticked by, Alemind raced with possibilities. What if she refused to meet? What if she showed up with the photos? He shook his head, trying to dispel the negative thoughts. He had to.