The truth came out two days later.
An internal audit revealed that the clause in question had been added by a junior associate who panicked under pressure and submitted the wrong draft. The associate confessed, in tears, during a closed-door meeting with Marcus and the compliance team.
Lila was cleared. Her name exonerated. Her work reinstated.
But the damage had been done.
Luca hadn't spoken to her since the confrontation. Not a word. Not an email. Not even a glance in the hallway.
Lila didn't care. Or at least, that's what she told herself.
Saturday morning arrived with sunshine and the smell of pancakes.
Lila padded into the kitchen in her robe, hair a glorious mess, only to find Amara flipping pancakes like a Food Network pro while Pearl danced to a 2000s throwback playlist.
"Okay, what is happening?" Lila asked, blinking.
Amara grinned. "Sister intervention. You've been brooding all week. It's time for a reset."
Pearl tossed her a mimosa. "Drink. Eat. Dance. Repeat."
Lila caught the glass. "You two are ridiculous."
"And you're grumpy," Amara said. "So we're fixing it. Spa day. Mani-pedis. Then karaoke. You're not allowed to say no."
Lila sighed. "Fine. But I'm not singing."
By noon, they were at a spa with cucumber slices on their eyes and Enya playing softly in the background.
Pearl peeked from under her eye mask. "So... Luca."
Lila groaned. "No."
Amara smirked. "Yes. Spill."
"He accused me of something I didn't do. Then had me escorted out like I was a criminal."
Pearl winced. "Yikes. I've heard the story before but it sounds worse than before"
"But then he found out the truth, right?" Amara asked.
"Yeah. But he hasn't said a word."
"Typical man," Pearl muttered. "Emotionally constipated."
Amara laughed. "He probably wrote you a long apology email and deleted it twelve times."
Lila snorted. "Good. Let him stew."
That night, after a round of karaoke that included a very off-key rendition of Beyoncé's "Irreplaceable" and a surprise rap battle between Pearl and Amara, Lila collapsed onto her bed, cheeks sore from laughing.
She was just about to drift off when her phone buzzed.
Incoming Call: Luca Elion
She stared at the screen.
He never called. He emailed. Brief, cold, efficient.
She let it ring twice before answering.
"Hello?"
A pause. Then his voice, low and hesitant. "Hey."
"Luca?"
"Yeah. I... I wanted to call. Not email. For once."
Lila sat up. "Okay."
"I owe you an apology."
"You do."
"I was wrong. I should've believed you. I let my pride get in the way."
"You think?"
He sighed. "I deserved that."
"You deserved worse."
"I know. I just... I'm not used to being wrong. Or being challenged. And you—"
"Don't say 'you're different.'"
He chuckled. "I wasn't going to. I was going to say you're... infuriating. And brilliant. And I respect you. A lot."
Lila was quiet.
"I'm sorry, Lila."
She exhaled. "Thank you."
Another pause.
"So... what are you doing?" he asked.
"Recovering from a traumatic karaoke session."
He laughed. "Please tell me there's video."
"There is. But it's classified."
"I'll trade you. I have a video of Marcus trying to do the worm at the holiday party."
Lila laughed. "Tempting."
"Maybe we could... I don't know. Start over?"
She smiled. "We'll see."
"Fair."
"Goodnight, Luca."
"Goodnight, Lila."
She hung up, heart lighter than it had been in days.
Pearl burst into the room. "Was that him?"
Lila nodded.
"And?"
"He apologized."
Pearl gasped. "A man? Apologizing? In this economy?"
Amara poked her head in. "Did he cry?"
"No."
"Shame," Pearl said. "I was hoping for tears."
Lila laughed. "You two are the worst."
"And you love us," Amara said.
Lila smiled. "Unfortunately, yes."
And for the first time in a long time, she felt like maybe—just maybe—everything was going to be okay.
The Next Day
Lila arrived at the office with a spring in her step and a plan in her head. She walked straight to the legal department's shared lounge, where Marcus was pouring himself a cup of coffee.
"Morning, Marcus," she said sweetly.
He looked up, wary. "Morning, Lila."
She pulled out her phone. "So, I heard you're quite the dancer."
He froze. "What?"
She tapped her screen. "I believe this is you... attempting the worm?"
Marcus's eyes widened. "Where did you get that?"
"Let's just say... I have sources."
He groaned. "Luca."
She nodded. "And in exchange, I may have shared a certain video." she didn't exchange with Luca the video of her and her sister but a different one.
Marcus looked horrified. "You didn't."
"Oh, I did. And let's just say, your rendition of 'Irreplaceable' is now very replaceable."
He covered his face. "I'm never going to live this down."
Lila patted his shoulder. "Don't worry. I only sent it to the partners' group chat."
Marcus looked up, panicked.
She burst out laughing. "Kidding! Just to my sister Pearl. But she might've forwarded it to my other sister Amara. And Amara has no filter."
Marcus groaned again. "I need a new job."
Lila grinned. "Or a new dance coach."
As she walked away, she heard him mutter, "I knew I should've stuck to the electric slide."
And just like that, the tension of the past week cracked open—replaced by laughter, mischief, and the slow rebuilding of something that looked suspiciously like trust.