The fallout
949 Words
đź“– Untamed Secrets
Chapter 17 – The Fallout
Serena barely slept. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Vanessa’s smirk. That slim folder in her manicured hands. The photo inside it — grainy but damning — Jeremy’s lips on her throat, his hand claiming her.
It was the kind of image that could ruin everything.
By morning, she was dressed and ready for work long before the sun came up, pacing her apartment, chewing at her nails. Should she confront Vanessa herself? Should she beg?
Her phone buzzed.
Jeremy.
Get in the car. Now.
She swallowed hard. There was no arguing with that tone.
⸻
The Hale Ventures building loomed higher than usual, glass reflecting the pale dawn. Inside, Serena felt the weight of every whisper. Every glance from coworkers felt sharper, heavier, like maybe they already knew.
Jeremy was waiting in his office. Not in his chair — standing, jacket discarded, sleeves rolled up, pacing like a caged predator.
When she entered, his eyes raked over her, sharp with fury.
“Close the door,” he ordered.
She obeyed.
“She thinks she has leverage,” Jeremy muttered, running a hand through his hair. “Vanessa has no idea what she’s playing with.”
“Jeremy—” Serena started.
But he cut her off, stepping close, tilting her chin up. “You’re mine, Serena. No one blackmails me over what’s mine.”
Her throat tightened. “This isn’t just about you. It’s my job on the line. My name. My career—”
His hand tightened on her jaw, not harsh, but firm enough to silence her. “I’ll burn her to the ground before I let her touch you.”
Serena shivered. His promise was both terrifying and intoxicating.
⸻
By mid-morning, Vanessa was summoned.
She swept into Jeremy’s office like she owned it — slim dress, glossy lips, folder in hand.
“Mr. Hale,” she purred, barely glancing at Serena. “You wanted to see me?”
Jeremy didn’t rise from behind his desk. His stare alone was enough to cut glass.
“You’ve been busy,” he said, voice flat.
Vanessa arched a brow. “People talk. I listen.”
“You have something of mine.”
Her smile curved. “Depends. Are we talking about your company’s reputation… or your personal one?”
Serena’s stomach twisted.
Jeremy leaned forward, elbows on the desk. “Be very careful with your next words, Vanessa.”
But Vanessa only tilted her head. “I think a man like you understands negotiation. Maybe I keep this photo safe… in exchange for a promotion.”
Serena sucked in a breath. “You snake—”
Jeremy’s hand slammed against the desk, making her jump. His voice dropped to something dangerous.
“You think you can blackmail me?” His eyes burned into Vanessa’s. “You’ll be out of this building so fast, your heels won’t touch the floor.”
For the first time, Vanessa’s confident smile flickered. But she quickly recovered, clutching the folder tighter.
“Careful, Mr. Hale,” she said softly. “Because if I go down, I won’t go alone.”
She turned and walked out, hips swaying, leaving behind silence that felt like a blade hanging over their heads.
⸻
The door shut. Serena exhaled, shaking. “She’s not bluffing. She’ll do it.”
Jeremy stood, stalking toward her. “Let her try.”
“Jeremy—”
“She doesn’t matter,” he growled, crowding her against the window. “The only mistake I’ve made was keeping you a secret. That ends now.”
Her chest rose and fell rapidly. “You can’t just—”
But his mouth cut her off.
The kiss was rough, desperate, searing. His hand tangled in her hair as his body pressed her into the glass, the city spread wide behind her.
Serena whimpered into his mouth, fingers clutching his shirt.
“You drive me insane,” Jeremy muttered against her lips. “Every time someone looks at you, touches you, whispers about you—I want to tear them apart.”
His hand slid down, grabbing her thigh, lifting it around his waist.
“This isn’t about control anymore,” he rasped, kissing down her throat. “This is about survival. Because I can’t breathe when you’re not mine.”
Serena’s protest melted into a moan as he ground against her, hard and demanding. The office, the risk, the fire in his eyes — it left her undone.
Her hands fumbled with his belt, urgency matching his. He growled in approval, pressing her harder to the glass as he thrust inside her in one brutal stroke.
Serena gasped, nails raking down his back.
The city could see them. Anyone could walk in.
But right then, it didn’t matter.
Because Jeremy wasn’t just claiming her body — he was staking his claim on everything.
⸻
After, she lay tangled in his arms on the office couch, her body trembling from the force of him.
“Jeremy…” she whispered. “This can’t last. Vanessa—”
He pressed a finger to her lips. “She’s a distraction. I’ll handle her.”
But as if fate wanted to prove him wrong, Jeremy’s desk phone buzzed.
He answered curtly, voice low.
Then his expression shifted. Darkened.
“What did you say?”
Serena sat up, heart hammering.
He slammed the phone down, jaw tight.
“What is it?” she whispered.
Jeremy’s eyes burned into hers.
“The photo,” he said through clenched teeth. “It’s not just in Vanessa’s hands anymore.”
Her blood ran cold.
“It’s already been leaked to the board.”
- Writer
