Chapter 15- The Leak
315 Words
Monday morning felt like walking into hell.
The moment Clara stepped into Beaumont Enterprises, conversations immediately lowered around her.
Employees stared openly.
Phones buzzed nonstop.
Whispers followed her through the lobby like shadows.
“She’s the girl from Velvet Room.” “So the rumors were true.” “She slept with the CEO.”
Clara’s chest tightened painfully.
The leaked photos had spread everywhere overnight.
Pictures of her dancing with Jace. Leaving the club with him. Entering his car.
Every employee in the building had seen them.
Even worse?
The media had started posting articles online.
Mysterious Woman Seen Leaving Exclusive Club With Billionaire CEO Jace Beaumont.
Clara wanted the ground to swallow her whole.
As she entered the elevator, Sophia looked her up and down coldly.
“Looks like someone got promoted quickly.”
Several interns laughed quietly.
Clara clenched her jaw but stayed silent.
The elevator doors opened onto the executive floor, and immediately Adrian approached her.
“Mr. Beaumont wants to see you.”
Of course he did.
Inside Jace’s office, the atmosphere felt tense instantly.
Jace stood near the windows with his phone in one hand, jaw tight with anger.
The second he saw Clara’s expression, his eyes softened slightly.
“You shouldn’t have come in today.”
Clara laughed bitterly. “And hide while everyone destroys me online?”
Jace’s expression darkened immediately.
“I’ll handle the media.”
“That doesn’t fix what people think about me.”
His gaze locked onto hers.
“I don’t care what they think.”
Easy for him to say.
He was a billionaire.
Powerful. Untouchable.
Clara was just an intern people already judged for being beautiful.
The pressure finally cracked something inside her.
“I’m tired, Jace.”
His expression shifted instantly.
Not cold anymore.
Concerned.
And somehow…
that made things worse.
Because Clara realized she was beginning to trust him.
- Writer
