He ended the call, already pulling out his phone. "This is my fault. I moved too fast."
"Adrian"
"No." He turned to me, frustration and something like guilt in his eyes. "I put you in this position. I promoted you on day one without considering how it would look."
"But I earned it! You said so yourself!"
"I know that. You know that. But now Marcus has given everyone an excuse to question it." He was texting rapidly, his expression grim.
"I'm calling an emergency board meeting tomorrow morning. We're going to shut this down publicly."
"How?"
He looked up, and I saw the calculating businessman behind the passionate lover. "By showing everyone exactly why you deserved that promotion. I have three months of performance data, client testimonials, and revenue reports with your name on them.
Marcus is about to learn what happens when you come after one of my people."
"One of your people," I repeated. "Is that what I am?"
Something flickered in his expression. "Emma"
"Because five minutes ago, your tongue was down my throat. Now I'm 'one of your people.'" I grabbed my purse, anger and humiliation burning through me. "Maybe Marcus is right. Maybe this is just you protecting your investment."
"That's not fair."
"Isn't it?" I headed for the door. "You promoted me. Now my reputation is destroyed before I even start. Everyone will think I'm sleeping with you which, apparently, I was about to do again like an idiot."
"Emma, wait"
"I need space. I need to think." I yanked open the door. "Thank you for dinner, Mr. Hartley. I'll see you at the board meeting."
"Emma, please"
But I was already gone, calling for an Uber as tears of frustration burned my eyes.
Behind me, I heard something shatter glass against wall and Adrian's voice, rough with fury: "Damn it!"
The Uber ride home was a blur. Riley had screenshots of the Slack channel waiting:
Marcus Fleming: Interesting how some people get ahead. I wonder what Emma did to impress the new boss so quickly.
Anonymous: Are you implying something?
Marcus: I'm just saying, one day with the company and she's got a corner office. Must have been some impressive… performance review.
The comments beneath ranged from disgusted emoji to people defending me to others speculating about what "really" happened.
My phone buzzed. Adrian.
I'm fixing this. Trust me.
I didn't respond.
Another text: I meant what I said. About Friday night. About you. This isn't just business, Emma.
My finger hovered over the keyboard. Part of me wanted to believe him. The other part remembered how quickly he'd shifted into corporate mode, how easily he'd called me "one of his people."
Finally, I typed: Then maybe we should have kept it just business from the start.
His response was immediate: It was never just business. Not from the moment I saw you at that bar.
I turned off my phone.
Tomorrow would be a war. Marcus had fired the first shot, but Adrian Hartley was about to show everyone why he'd built an empire.
And I was caught in the middle, my career and my heart both on the line.
I arrived at the office at 6 AM, two hours before the emergency board meeting. Sleep had been impossible, my mind replaying Marcus's accusations and Adrian's texts on an endless loop.
The executive floor was empty except for one office Adrian's lights were on.
I shouldn't go in. I should maintain distance, professionalism. But my feet carried me to his door anyway.
He was at his desk, tie loosened, hair disheveled like he'd been running his hands through it. Three empty coffee cups sat beside his laptop, and the screens displayed what looked like performance reports, financial data, and legal documents.
He looked up when I knocked, and the relief in his eyes was unmistakable.
"Emma. I didn't think you'd come early."
"Couldn't sleep." I stayed in the doorway, maintaining space between us. "What are you doing?"
"Building your defense." He gestured to the screens. "Every campaign you've led, every client win, every dollar you've brought this company. I'm making it impossible for anyone to question why you deserved that promotion."
"Adrian, you don't have to"
"Yes, I do." He stood, exhaustion and determination warring on his face. "I put you in this position. I was so focused on correcting Gerald's mistake that I didn't consider the optics. That's on me."
"We both made choices last night."
"Did we?" His laugh was bitter. "Because from where I'm standing, I'm the one with all the power. I'm the one who promoted you, invited you to my apartment, kissed you on my dining room table. You were just trying to navigate an impossible situation."
"Stop." I stepped into the office, closing the door. "Stop taking all the blame. I kissed you back, Adrian. I wanted to be there. I wanted you." I took a breath. "And that's the problem. I do want you. But I also want to be taken seriously. I want my work to speak for itself, not be overshadowed by who I'm sleeping with."
"You're not sleeping with me."
"But everyone thinks I am! Marcus made sure of that." I sank into a chair. "Maybe we should just… stop. Whatever this is between us. For my career. For both our sakes."
The silence stretched between us, heavy with unspoken words.
Finally, Adrian spoke, his voice low. "If that's what you want, I'll respect it. After today, we'll keep things strictly professional. But first" his eyes hardened, "I'm going to destroy Marcus Fleming's credibility so thoroughly that no one will ever believe a word he says again."
A chill ran down my spine. This was the "bad boss" everyone whispered about. The ruthless CEO who'd built an empire by crushing competition.
"What are you going to do?"
"What I should have done the moment I saw his performance records." Adrian's smile was cold. "Expose the truth."
The boardroom filled quickly. Gerald sat at the head of the table, looking uncomfortable. The board members seven executives who'd built Hartley & Associates alongside Adrian's father took their seats with varying expressions of curiosity and concern.
Marcus arrived last, looking smug despite his obvious hangover. He winked at me as he sat down.
I wanted to throw my coffee at him.
Adrian entered at exactly 8 AM, commanding immediate silence. He'd changed into a fresh suit, every inch the powerful CEO. No trace of the exhausted man I'd seen earlier.
"Thank you all for coming on short notice." Adrian remained standing, a tablet in hand. "I've called this meeting to address serious allegations made against Miss Emma Carter and, by extension, against my judgment as CEO."
Marcus shifted, his smugness faltering slightly.
"Marcus Fleming has publicly accused Miss Carter of receiving her promotion through inappropriate means. He's suggested I made my decision based on personal bias rather than professional merit." Adrian's voice was ice. "These are serious accusations that damage not only Miss Carter's reputation but also this company's integrity."