Chapter 22: The First Leak
374 Words
The victory over Marcus Thorne lasted exactly four hours. By noon, the "exclusive" headlines began to drop, and they weren't about corporate fraud. They were about Elara.
“The Auditor in the Attic: Is Killian Blackwood’s New Partner a Corporate Spy or a Lover?”
Elara stared at the tablet in the breakroom, the grainy photo of her and Killian on the balcony from the night before splashed across the front page of a major tabloid. The caption implied she had used her position to blackmail her way into the firm.
"They’re fast," a voice said from the doorway.
Elara turned to see Killian standing there, his expression unreadable. He wasn't wearing his suit jacket, and his sleeves were rolled up, revealing the veins in his forearms. He looked like a man ready for a physical fight, not a PR battle.
"Julian Vane didn't go into the night quietly," Killian continued, walking toward her. "He couldn't beat us in the server room, so he’s trying to beat us in the court of public opinion. He’s the one who leaked the photo. He wants to make you toxic to the board so they’ll force me to fire you."
"Is it working?" Elara asked, her voice steady despite the tremor in her hands.
Killian stopped inches from her, taking the tablet from her hand and locking the screen. "It would work on a weaker man. But I’ve already contacted our legal team. We’re filing for defamation by the end of the hour."
He leaned down, his voice dropping to a whisper. "But there’s something you should know. To stop the rumors, the board has a 'suggestion.' They want us to make a public statement. A formal one."
"About the fraud?"
"No," Killian said, his eyes locking onto hers. "About us. They want to know if this is a 'frivolous workplace romance' or if you’re the future Mrs. Blackwood. They want stability, Elara. And in their world, stability means a ring."
Elara’s breath hitched. "You’re talking about a fake engagement to save the stock price."
"I'm talking about whatever it takes to keep you by my side," Killian replied. "But only if you say yes."
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