The conference room was drenched in soft daylight, the glass walls framing a striking skyline. The long matte-black table shone under the recessed lighting as Ezra took his place at the head, his dark suit sharp and his shirt unbuttoned just enough to project confidence.
His fingers tapped against the folder in front of him. Silence fell, heavy but charged with expectation.
"Is the concept ready?" he asked, his voice calm yet commanding, slicing through the tension.
The creative director straightened. "Yes. The campaign is titled 'Power Undone.' It's intimate, bold—raw edges meet clean luxury. You and Evie—"
Ezra's brow arched. "Keep it tasteful. This story isn't about sex; it's about strength."
The creative director nodded quickly.
The PR head leaned forward. "We propose a teaser drop next week—just enough to stir the press. However, some platforms are still referencing the old scandal. Should we redirect?"
Ezra's jaw tightened, his demeanor shifting. "No one uses her past to sell this line. Anyone who does is out."
The room fell silent, the air thick with tension.
"Understood," the PR lead murmured.
Ezra stood, closing the folder decisively. "Schedule the shoot. Keep it tight. If I arrive and it's chaos, we're not shooting. Is that clear?"
A chorus of "Yes, sir," followed as he exited, the light catching his suit coat—just as it did the man wearing it.
As he strode through the corridors toward the elevator, his assistant cut in front of him, rushing to catch up. Ezra pressed the elevator button as Tom adjusted his glasses.
"What's the matter, Tom?" Ezra asked, stepping into the elevator with Tom at his side, the assistant holding a pad.
"Miss Evie..." Tom began.
Ezra's brow lifted. "What's happening with her?"
"She's holding a live stream, and your relationship with her is being discussed," Tom said, handing over a tablet as Ezra reached for it.
Ezra's gaze locked onto the screen, watching Evie handle questions with remarkable poise.
"Since it relates to you, I thought you might want to see it," Tom added, pushing his glasses up.
Ezra straightened, nodding slowly. "She's handling it well," he said, returning the tablet. Tom nodded in approval. "I'll be in the showroom," Ezra informed him as the elevator dinged and the doors opened, stepping out confidently.
The private showroom was silent, accentuated only by the soft hum of ambient jazz from concealed speakers. Spotlights glimmered off polished surfaces—glass display cases, brushed metal racks, and glossy black marble floors.
Ezra Thorne entered, his presence both calm and imposing.
The staff immediately straightened at his arrival.
"Mr. Thorne," the brand manager, Leona, greeted, clipboard clutched tightly, tension radiating from her.
Ezra's assessing gaze roamed the room before landing on a display of limited-edition timepieces. "What's going on?" he asked, his voice low and unwavering.
"We have a slight issue with the final batch of the Noir Chrono series. The dial color is three shades lighter than approved," she explained, extending a sample.
He took the watch, his fingers brushing over the surface as his jaw flexed. "This doesn't convey 'precision.' It screams 'careless.'"
Leona swallowed hard. "We've contacted the supplier. A corrected batch will be ready in five days."
"Three," Ezra corrected firmly, not looking up. "We don't miss deadlines."
Leona nodded quickly, her voice a mere whisper. "Yes, sir."
He handed the watch back and shifted his focus to the display of his latest fragrance line. "And the campaign visuals?"
"Final edits will be sent tonight. We'll have them for your approval by morning," she replied.
Ezra gave a firm nod of approval. "Then that'll be all" He stated.
"Yes, sir."
As the staff dispersed, Ezra checked his watch and turned for the door.
****
Once Ezra arrived home, entering the mansion, the butler was prepared to take his suit. "Welcome, master," he said, and Ezra acknowledged him with a nod.
"Is Evie at home?" Ezra inquired.
"Yes, she's in her room," the butler reported.
Ezra was about to leave when the butler continued, "I noticed she seemed worried when she returned." Ezra's gaze sharpened, his eyes narrowing as he considered the man's words. "Just thought you should know," the butler added, and Ezra nodded.
"I'll check up on her," he said firmly before striding up the staircase. Once he reached her door, he knocked twice, but met only with silence. Undeterred, he knocked again, and the door swung open to reveal Evie. She stood there in a t-shirt, her hair tousled and unkempt.
"Hi," Evie greeted him, her brow furrowed as she wondered why he was staring.
"Hi," Ezra replied, his gaze steady as it met hers. "I saw your live this morning. You handled it well." His eyes lingered on her, taking in the signs of her distress—the disheveled appearance and the heaviness in her eyes.
"Thanks," she replied, her tone lacking enthusiasm.
"You didn't mention you were going back to work," he observed, tilting his head slightly. "Are you sure you're ready for it?"
A small smile flickered across her lips. "Yes," she replied slowly. "But weren't you the one who left for work early this morning? I meant to tell you, it's been on my mind."
"I had an urgent meeting," Ezra stated matter-of-factly.
Evie nodded, understanding. "Yeah, Sam told me. I hope everything is alright."
"Everything is under control," he assured her, his certainty unshakeable.
She chuckled lightly. "Of course. You're Ezra after all," she teased.
The corners of his lips twitched into a knowing smile. Evie then said, "Thanks for checking in. I need to get going now."
Ezra nodded, maintaining eye contact. "By the way, if you need anything or want to talk, I'm available."
Her eyes narrowed in disbelief, questioning his sudden concern for her. "Did you get emotional after watching the live? I never thought Almighty Ezra would say something like that," she muttered.
"I'm serious. You look worried, and while I don't want to pry, if anything is troubling you about all of this, you should let me know," he insisted.
"Oh" she thought. Evie pressed her lips together, contemplating his words, and finally gave him a nod.
"Goodnight then," he said, turning on his heels to leave. As she closed the door behind him, she walked into her room and flopped onto the bed, her eyes fixated on the ceiling. Memories of her conversation with Derek from earlier that morning flooded back to her mind.
"Why are you calling me? I can't believe your audacity after everything you've done," Evie said, her jaw set and fists clenched.
Derek laughed dismissively. "Didn't you overcome it? The way the world is fawning over you now—tell me, are you actually with Ezra, or is that just a cover-up? Last I checked, we were a couple."
"Don't you dare," she spat, her teeth grinding. "I want nothing to do with you. After everything, you still have the nerve to call me? And yes, I am in a relationship with Ezra."
Derek scoffed, "That's not even possible. Were you seeing him while you were with me? Does he know you've been two-timing? How on earth did you land someone like Ezra?" His grip on his own emotions tightened, igniting Evie's frustration. How could she have thought she loved him? After everything that had happened, her eyes were finally open.
"Why do you care about what's happening in my life? We're finished, and I regret ever being with someone like you. So don't ever contact me again," Evie declared firmly.
His chuckles turned menacing, and though she couldn't see him, his voice dripped with malice and disdain. "We need to meet, Evie. There are things we need to discuss face-to-face."
"Why would I do that?. You said you wanted to bring me down, and now that it hasn't worked out in your favor, you want to meet? Do you really think I'm that foolish to listen to you?" She crossed her arms, resolute.
"I don't care what you think. We are meeting, and that's final. If you refuse to see me, Evie, I'll do much worse than I did" Derek threatened.
Evie narrowed her eyes. "What else do you think you can do to bring me down? Is it a crime for me to have been with you?"
"We'll see how this plays out. Just know that if you don't follow my instructions, you won't recover from this," Derek replied coldly before abruptly ending the call.
Evie's jaw tightened in disbelief. He actually had the nerve to hang up on her.
"Derek? Derek!" she called out, her fist clenched tightly as she took a deep breath to steady herself. Evie paced back and forth, her heart pounding. She knew that he would follow through with whatever plan he had, especially after he had the audacity to send that video out online. She wasn't about to let him ruin her life. Not again.