The fallout from Vanessa's betrayal rippled far beyond the walls of Black Enterprises. Greyson had expected resistance inside his company, but what came next was something darker — whispers of competitors circling, rivals emboldened by the chaos, and enemies who saw Amanda as his greatest vulnerability.
Amanda noticed it first in small ways. A stranger lingering too long outside the building. Anonymous emails questioning her competence. A journalist calling her directly, fishing for scandal. Each incident seemed minor, but together they painted a picture: someone wanted to undermine her, and by extension, Greyson.
One evening, Amanda confronted Greyson in his office. "They're targeting me," she said, her voice steady despite the fear pressing against her chest. "Not just Vanessa. Others. They think I'm your weakness."
Greyson's jaw tightened, his eyes darkening. "You're not my weakness. You're my strength. But they'll never stop testing that."
Amanda swallowed, her voice trembling. "And if I can't handle it?"
Greyson stepped closer, his presence grounding her. "Then I'll carry it for you. But I don't think you'll break, Amanda. You've already proven you're stronger than they know."
The silence between them was heavy, charged with both fear and defiance. Amanda realized then that being with Greyson meant more than love — it meant standing in the line of fire, facing enemies who would exploit any crack in their bond.
Later that night, Amanda left the office under Greyson's escort. His car cut through the city streets, headlights slicing the darkness. She glanced at him, noticing the tension in his posture, the way his hand gripped the wheel.
"They'll come harder now," he said quietly. "Because they know I'll fight for you. And that makes you the most dangerous part of my life."
Amanda's heart raced, but she met his gaze, her voice steady. "Then let them come. I'm not afraid anymore."
Greyson's lips curved faintly, though it wasn't quite a smile. "That's what they'll never understand. Fear doesn't control you. It fuels you."
The city lights blurred past, but Amanda felt something sharpen inside her. She wasn't just Greyson's assistant, or even his lover. She was becoming his partner in a war that stretched beyond boardrooms and contracts — a war of loyalty, power, and love.
And for the first time, she welcomed the fight.