Tangled in Silence

ined, lips painted in defiance, heels clicking like gunfir

spe

ar

ced wit

still

believe t

nt. Guess sleeping with

at she had before som

't waver. Her eyes stood forward. But her

mind herself - and them - that she was still capabl

bout potential "fraternization concerns." Her team had gone eerily

idn't

inted

wed strat

endu

ti

crossed

a

arcoal that made his skin look sharper, cleaner, like sin in d

s all

g here?" she asked

l me they were

my life," she muttered, e

lower. "They're sa

n't c

d

stopp

look

le - but his eyes flickered

andle it,

his for me, I become the story they alread

by the way his jaw tensed, the way

ong pause, he

ing," he said. "And

ll do what? Fire

ged at his lips.

st as fast

thing ha

time... she realized h

protect

he of

ticed t

onday strategy meeting

ey murmured politely, some scrolled through their phones, others kept their eyes on their lapt

rs pressing against the

rtunist. D

her tablet on the table, and c

le

ke cough.

bers again?" said Jerry from Marketin

y, they didn't sink in - because you

snapped up.

end of the table,

tie, and a quiet intensity that made people sit st

n. "Your campaign lost traction two weeks in. Engagement dropped 42

ed. "You're not on the

ad. I know this company better than any of you - beca

le

av

ar

th

sm

bar

subtle tilt of pride at

s sleeves. "She's right. Impleme

dy a

dy d

blet, head held high, she knew

n carrying th

a woman

s a f

d

es, chin high, power at every step

kind of woman

he kind y

ing at the city skyline, bu

ad nothing left to lose and everything to protect-it had carv

sp

ira

rr

he said she would-fighting h

t didn't make

ed. A message

eekend. Don't even think about a

sig

gi

ashed from a news notification - "CEO's Assistant Allegedly

en locked in meetings, pouring herself in

erestima

st her

fe

t she looked like when she wasn't on de

he tablet

. Her phone was vibrating again - her sister, asking about the father of the baby.

most l

he meeting, and it was better th

eeded

eeded

al waiting near her desk, hands in his pockets, eyes

talk?" h

"You mean without PR w

miled. "I d

a lot more,"

the private lounge near the top floor. She s

ly. "I need you to come

ed. "Exc

you. And before you say no-th

You think meeting the par

hey need to see the woman who made me-" he

ked, lip

't even

to think tha

idn't

hat was t

ing to think

parents' estate w

ach churned, and she couldn't tell if it was the nerves from the upcoming meeting or

was an entirely different person behind the wheel: less CEO, more just...

ing me to this," she finally

rming. "You're not the one who has t

what you

the gearshift, the only indication that he was feeling anything at

ora n

was a stately mansion, its marble pillars gleaming in the sunlight. A sprawling lawn with mani

lent, his presence a reassuring shield by her side. But she coul

a knowing smile. Her platinum blonde hair was pulled into a n

d, arms outstretched. "

e tight, but there was a fli

Nora. She scanned her from head to

ith an air of something between po

it felt like a mask. "T

said, ushering them inside. "