CHAPTER 14
1140 Words
It was late.
Maybe past 1 AM.
Honestly, I wasn't even sure anymore—and I didn’t care.
I had no plans of going home just yet.
Not when my mind was a complete mess.
Not when that damn video was still circulating online, threatening to drag my company's name through the mud.
I slumped deeper into the expensive leather lounge, my fingers wrapped around a glass of fine-aged whiskey.
Was this my tenth shot already?
Or my eleventh?
Didn’t matter.
Nothing was working anyway.
The music was loud, the bass vibrating through my chest, but all I could hear was the damn noise in my head.
My eyes drifted to the dance floor, where beautiful women swayed under flashing neon lights.
Some of them had already tried to approach me earlier, offering sweet smiles and empty conversation.
I ignored them all.
I wasn’t in the mood.
Not tonight.
Not when my entire reputation—my company’s reputation—was hanging by a thread.
One scandal was already bad enough.
But if this thing spread?
It could ruin everything.
Future projects. Partnerships. My father’s approval.
And worst of all?
It could reach Triple B—the Build Build Build Corporation—one of my biggest competitors in the industry.
If they caught wind of this?
They’d have leverage.
And they’d use it to snatch my deals away—especially my project with Mr. Darious, a well-known businessman I had been working with for months.
This was exactly what I didn’t need right now.
I let out a heavy sigh and rubbed my temples.
Then, just when I thought my night couldn’t get any worse—
My past came creeping in, like a whirlwind I couldn't resist. You know, the past really were quite hard to escape. Even how much we tried to forget about it, it will keep haunting in every part of ourselves. Probably could hinders our way of facing what reality is.
I gritted my teeth, my fingers tightening around my glass.
Because suddenly, I was remembering something I tried to forget.
A scandal.
Not just any scandal.
My scandal.
The one that almost ruined my entire career.
My father’s company had barely recovered from it.
And me?
I had to claw my way back to the top, proving that I wasn’t just another spoiled CEO who got caught in a mess.
That mess?
Was my last secretary.
She was… someone I was dating back then.
Someone I actually trusted.
Until she set me up.
I clenched my jaw, feeling the familiar sting of anger and betrayal bubbling under my skin.
They framed me.
Filmed a scandalous video—one that nearly destroyed everything.
The media ate it up.
The investors pulled back.
And my father?
He was beyond furious.
It took months to clean up the damage.
To silence the rumors.
To rebuild my image.
And to this day, I still didn’t know who was behind it all.
Who hated me enough to try and destroy me?
I had my suspicions, of course.
But without proof?
I was left with nothing but unanswered questions.
And maybe—just maybe—a lingering fear that something like that could happen again.
Because once a scandal stains you, it never really goes away.
I sighed heavily, bringing the glass to my lips and taking a long sip.
Damn it.
I really hated thinking about the past.
But with this Maurice Miranda situation, I couldn’t help but feel like…
Something was off.
Something felt too familiar.
Like I was being set up again.
Like someone was waiting for me to slip.
And I wasn’t about to let that happen.
Not again.
I exhaled sharply and placed my empty glass on the counter.
I barely noticed Rex still sitting beside me, lazily sipping his bourbon.
That spoiled brat CEO.
Unlike me, he actually seemed to be enjoying himself, his smirk never leaving his face.
"You're awfully quiet," he mused, tilting his head. "What’s got the great Fabian Isidore all broody tonight?"
I glared at him.
He chuckled. "Relax. You’re acting like the world’s ending."
I scoffed, running a hand through my hair.
"Maybe for you, this is nothing," I muttered. "But for me? This could turn into a real problem."
Rex hummed, as if considering my words.
"Well, you’re not wrong," he admitted. "A viral scandal does have a way of ruining partnerships. Would be a shame if Triple B got a hold of it, huh?"
I tensed.
This bastard.
He knew exactly what was at stake.
Rex owned Montague Publications—one of the most influential media companies in the country.
If he wanted to, he could bury this story.
Or…
He could blow it up even further.
I narrowed my eyes.
"You’re not planning to publish anything, are you?"
Rex smirked. "Depends."
"On what?"
He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the counter.
"On whether or not you make it worth my while."
I exhaled sharply.
This was exactly why I never trusted Rex.
He was opportunistic.
Always looking for a way to gain something from someone else’s misery.
And right now?
That someone was me.
I wasn’t about to beg him for help.
But at the same time, I couldn’t afford to have this video blow up any further.
So I forced myself to stay calm.
"What do you want?" I asked, my tone carefully neutral.
Rex grinned.
"There’s a deal I’ve been meaning to propose," he said smoothly. "Something beneficial for both of us."
I raised a brow. "What kind of deal?"
He took another sip of his drink, then leaned in slightly.
"You see, my company has been looking to expand into the architectural publishing sector. And who better to collaborate with than MCC, the most well-known architectural firm in the city?"
I stiffened.
This bastard.
He wasn’t just after some small favor.
He wanted a business deal.
A long-term partnership that would tie our companies together.
And knowing him?
He’d be gaining more than he was giving.
I was about to refuse when—
He smirked.
"Think about it," he said casually. "If we’re business partners, I wouldn’t want to damage your reputation, would I?"
I clenched my jaw.
He was blackmailing me.
And the worst part?
He was damn good at it.
I took a deep breath, weighing my options.
Did I really want to get involved with someone like Rex?
Hell no.
But…
Did I really have a choice?
Not if I wanted to keep this scandal contained.
I exhaled slowly, then gave him a hard look.
"I’ll think about it," I said stiffly.
Rex grinned. "That’s all I needed to hear."
Then he raised his glass in a mock toast.
"To business, Fabian. And to keeping your reputation intact."
I downed the rest of my whiskey.
Damn it.
I needed another drink.
- Writer
