Chapter 7: Rumors and Reverberation
570 Words
Alexander pov
Rumors have a sound.
the move through a building like static quiet at first then louder until even the walls seem to hum with them.
by the end of the week Vance power was humming.
I could feel it in every passing glance every polite silence that followed me into a room the whispers had found their rhythm and now they played on a loop.
the CEO and his new assistant too close too fast. he's finally showing weakness. I had survived was public criticism, betrayer, scandal, none of it ever touched me because I never let it but this time the problem wasn't the noise outside it was the noise inside.
Elena Rivera had become the variable I couldn't predict every move she made draw eyes every word she spoke was dissected and the more there watched her, the more I found myself watching them calculating which one of my own people will turn on her first.
that wasn't logic that was instinct and instincts was dangerous.
by noon I had head enough I called my operations head into the office.
People are talking "I said.
He didn't deny it thay are".
About what exactly?
he hesitated just long enough for me to know that I wouldn't like the answer.
they think she's too close to you".he said finally.
Too close"do they have proof?
no but in this place proof isn't required perception is currency I dismiss him with a nod but his words said perception is a currency I had built an empire on that truth now I was bleeding it because of a woman I couldn't stop thinking about.
when she came into my office later that day she looked tired not physically something deeper the kind of exhaustion that come from being what too long.
Mr Vance, she said quietly,I needs to ask do you want me reassigned?
the question caught me of Guard
No my answer came, too fast two certain her eyes flicked to mine "because it would make things easier if -"i said no".
The edge in my voice made her stop I took a breath forcing my tone down "you have done nothing wrong you still wear you are.
she hesitated then nodded but there was a distance in her eyes I hadn't seen before a retreat.
when she left, I found myself staring at the close door the silent it left behind almost suffocating.
I turned to the window, veloria retching out beneath the rain. I had spent my life mastering strategy, controlling perception. but this wasn't strategy anymore this was emotion- and emotion was chaos.
letter that night I attended a board dinner the kind of events built on polished life and expensive wine I heard my name whisper twice before I even sat down someone laughed quietly,
Vance finally found his weakness it wears heels.
I didn't respond I didn't even look at them but I remembered The voice, the tune, The smirk.
back at the Tower long after midnight I stood alone in my office again the city lights blurred against the glass lass and my reflection looked like a ghost..
I had worked too hard to be on touchable too long to let something human undo me. but as much as I tried to bury the thoughts one truth kept surfacing
I wasn't angry at the rumors I was angry that they might be right.
- Writer
