Room For One More

CHAPTER NINE : No Such Thing As Private

My fingers clutched my phone hard.

Aiden saw. "What is it?"

I held the screen out to him.

He scanned the message, jaw set. "Cassandra."

"She knows," I said. "Maybe she always did."

"She won't tell," he said, too quickly.

I raised an eyebrow. "You're sure."

"She doesn't scare me."

"Well, she scares me."

He sighed and moved to the window, hands in his pockets. The city lights reflected off the glass like blinking eyes.

“I’ll handle it,” he said finally.

I stepped back. “How? She could ruin both of us.”

His eyes flicked to mine. “Let her try.”

But his voice wasn’t as steady now.

My heart was racing. Not with desire this time, but with fear. We were no longer two strangers. We were colleagues. I was his employee. And Cassandra? She had motive, means, and no conscience.

"I should go," I stated, grabbing for the door.

He didn't stop me. Maybe he knew it was prudent.

But when I stepped into the corridor, guilt stung my heart. That wasn't how I pictured my ideal career. I didn't want to ascend while hiding.

My phone buzzed once more.

Another text.

Unknown Number: "Look at your inbox. Thought you'd be interested in seeing what's circulating."

Pounding heart, I opened my email.

And there it was.

Subject: "ColeTech CEO Sleeps with New Hire – Room 408 Scandal"

There was an image.

Of me and Aiden.

In his room.

Frozen. Laughing.

Just before it all changes