16. Confronting the Enemy
Chapter sixteen
Confronting the Enemy
E llie
I sink into the conference room, the sleek table shining under the unforgiving fluorescent lights. It’s too bright, too sterile, and way too stuffy with all the body heat from my coworkers. They’re buzzing like a hive, whispering, glancing around, and I can feel the tension thickening the air. I catch Alexander at the front, pacing like a lion waiting to pounce. His jaw’s tight, and I know he’s about to explode.
“Alright, everyone, listen up!” His voice slices through the chatter like a knife. Silence falls immediately, and all eyes snap to him. “I need to address this nonsense with Vanessa and the rumors swirling around.”
There’s a collective intake of breath, the kind you’d expect right before a roller coaster drops. I shoot a look at Jamie, whose brows are knitted together in a frown. She’s checking my reaction. Just peachy.
“I’ve kept my personal life private for a reason,” Alexander continues, pacing like a trapped animal. “I’m dating Ellie, and that’s not up for discussion. I won’t sit here and listen to slander about either of us.”
Jamie leans forward, arms crossed, skepticism etched on her face. “Is that why Lena got fired? After working here for years?”
“Lena was fired because she shared company information,” Alexander snaps back, his voice a notch louder, like he’s trying to reign in the room. “This isn’t about gossip; it’s about protecting this company and our work. Everyone here is under NDA, and I expect you to take that seriously.”
The room shifts, chairs creaking as people squirm in their seats. I feel heat creeping up my neck. “God, why’s everyone so nosy?” I mumble, hoping no one hears me.
“Look,” he continues, voice steady but firm, “we’re here to work. That should be everyone’s primary concern. Keep your heads down and focus on what’s important.” His gaze scans the room, locking eyes with a few of us. “If you have questions or concerns about my decisions, you come to me directly. I’m not playing games.”
Some heads nod, and I catch a couple of sheepish looks, like they’ve just been caught with their hands in the cookie jar. I’m definitely one of them. Alexander means business, and while I love his protectiveness, damn, he’s intimidating as hell.
“Alright then, meeting adjourned,” he finishes, and I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding as everyone starts to filter out.
I push myself up from the chair, adrenaline still pumping. Jessica from marketing catches me as I’m about to escape. Her expression is unreadable, like she’s trying to solve a puzzle. “So, you and Alexander, huh? This is serious?”
“More serious than I expected,” I admit, glancing back at Alexander, who’s still at the head of the table, gathering his things. He looks intense and focused, and a wave of affection washes over me. “He’s protective, which is kind of nice, but everything’s a mess right now.”
She raises an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at her lips. “Nice? Sounds more like he’s ready to throw someone out of a window. You good with that?”
I laugh a little. “I think so. It’s not like he’s wrong about Lena, but it’s just so sudden. I don’t want people thinking we’re some kind of scandal.”
“Oh, please,” Jessica shakes her head, her ponytail swinging. “You’re dating a billionaire. If that doesn’t scream scandal, I don’t know what does. But at least you have someone who’s got your back.”
I glance back at Alexander, still brooding at the table. “Yeah, he’s definitely got my back.”
“Just make sure you’ve got yours too,” she warns, giving me a pointed look. “Keep it professional, Ellie. This could get messy.”
“I know,” I reply, biting my lip. “But he’s not like I expected. He cares, and that means something.”
Jessica shrugs, a knowing smile playing on her lips. “You do you. Just be careful.”
“Thanks,” I tease, rolling my eyes. “I’ll be fine.”
I head back to my office, feeling a rush of adrenaline. Closing the door behind me, I lean against it for a moment, trying to process everything. My phone buzzes, pulling me from my thoughts. It’s a text from Jenna.
Jenna: Everything okay? Heard the rumors. You good?
I type back quickly. Yeah, just had a meeting. Alexander’s dealing with it, but it’s chaotic here. You wouldn’t believe the drama.
I hit send and start pacing my tiny office. The walls feel like they’re closing in on me. I just need to breathe.
Jenna: Drama? Like what?
I pause, contemplating how much to spill. Lena got fired for leaking info, and now everyone’s whispering about me and Alexander. It’s a shit show.
A moment later, my phone pings again.
Jenna: Damn. You need a drink? I’ll be flying in this weekend. We can sort this mess out.
I can’t help but smile at that. Jenna always knows how to lighten the mood. Yes, please! I could use your sass right about now. But no drinks. Pregnant, remember?
I hear a knock at my office door and look up to see Alexander peeking in. “Hey,” he says, stepping inside. “You okay?”
“Yeah, just… processing,” I reply, pushing my phone aside. “That was intense.”
He leans against my desk, arms crossed, studying me like I’m some kind of puzzle he can’t solve. “You sure? I don’t want you to feel overwhelmed.”
“I’m good,” I insist, forcing a smile. “You were great out there, by the way. Seriously, I felt like I was watching a superhero.”
He chuckles, his expression softening just a bit. “Superhero, huh? I might start wearing a cape.”
“Or a mask,” I tease, trying to lighten the mood. “You know, to keep your identity safe.”
He shakes his head, laughing more easily now. “Yeah, because that’ll solve all our problems.”
I glance at the clock on the wall. “So, what’s next?”
“I’ve got a meeting with the lawyer. We need to strategize about the fallout,” he says, his tone serious again. “But you can take the rest of the day off if you want. I don’t want you to stress over all this.”
“What? No,” I say, waving my hand dismissively. “I can’t just leave. I want to help.”
“Ellie,” he says, his tone firm, “you need to take a step back. I’ll handle the mess. Just focus on you for a bit.”
I chew my lip, caught between wanting to support him and wanting to scream at the chaos swirling around us. “Fine. I’ll take the day, but only because you insist.”
“Good. I’ll see you later?” He steps closer, and I can feel the warmth radiating off him.
“Definitely,” I say, my stomach doing a little flip.
He leans in, pressing a quick kiss to my forehead. “Take care of yourself, okay?”
“I will,” I promise, even though my mind is racing.
As he leaves, I lean back against my desk, letting out a slow breath. I pull out my phone again, scrolling through notifications, trying to distract myself from the madness. I catch my reflection in the computer screen. My hair’s a bit wild, and my eyes look a little too bright.
Jenna texts again, and I quickly reply, sharing the latest about the chaos. He’s meeting with the lawyer soon, and I’m kind of freaked out.
Jenna: You’ll be fine. Just breathe, and remember, I’m coming to visit!
I smile at that, the thought of her here brightening my mood. Can’t wait! We’ll have a girls’ night.
Jenna: Absolutely! Sounds like you need it.
“Hell yes,” I say out loud, grinning at my phone. Now I just need to handle all this business with Deborah and everything else swirling around.
Because clearly, when it rains, it pours.
****
I glance at the clock on the wall. Three-fifty. Time feels like it’s dragging, each second creeping by as I wait for Deborah to arrive. My stomach twists with a mix of nerves and anticipation. I can’t believe I’m about to meet the woman who claims to be my mother yet again. She’s been a stranger for so long, and now I’m supposed to pretend we’re close—right in the middle of this media circus.
The doorbell rings, and I practically jump out of my skin. I take a deep breath, smoothing my hair back and adjusting my sweater. No big deal. Just a casual meeting with my estranged mom, no pressure. I open the door, and there she is. Deborah looks exactly like she did yesterday—maybe a bit older now, but the resemblance is undeniable. She has my eyes. I can see that now.
“Hi, Ellie,” she says, a smile breaking across her face. “I’m glad you could meet with me.”
“Yeah, uh, me too.” I step aside, letting her in. “Thanks for coming on such short notice.”
Deborah walks in and takes a look around like she did that first time too. Everything feels so weird.
I wish my mother was here to hold my hand through this.
We settle on the couch, the silence stretching uncomfortably. “So,” she begins, fiddling with her hands. “How are you? I’ve seen your name all over the news lately. The mistress of billionaire Alexander Blackwood.”
Ugh. There it is. I can’t help the heat creeping up my cheeks. “I’m okay, I guess. Just… trying to navigate everything.”
“I can’t believe you’re in the middle of all that drama. It must be intense.” She studies me, her eyes sharp. “I thought you’d want to keep your life private.”
I shrug, suddenly feeling small under her gaze. “It’s complicated. Look, I know we’re supposed to talk about getting to know each other, but this is embarrassing.”
“Embarrassing?” Deborah raises an eyebrow. “You’re dating a billionaire, Ellie. That’s not embarrassing. That’s—”
“—a fucking circus?” I cut her off, frustration bubbling to the surface. “Look, I didn’t plan any of this. I just want to be out of the press. That’s why I asked you to come.”
“Okay…” she echoes, her tone softening. “I’m guessing you want to tell me to keep mine and your identity silent.”
“Yes,” I swallow the lump forming in my throat.
“I can do that.” No questions asked. No ifs, ands or buts.
I blink at her, the tension in my shoulders easing a bit. “Really? You’d be willing to do that?”
“Of course. I won’t tell anyone. This is your life, and it’s your choice.”
“Thanks.” I lean back, a wave of relief washing over me. “I just need some space from all the bullshit.”
She nods, but there’s a weight in her expression. “Can I give you some advice, though?”
“Sure,” I say, half-expecting her to say something motherly and cliché.
“You need to be careful dealing with a billionaire and all those rich folks.” She leans in, her voice serious. “They only care about themselves.”
“Deborah,” I interject, my tone sharp. “You don’t know Alexander. He’s not like that.”
“I’m just saying, you’ve got to watch your back. I’ve seen how they operate. I have been in your shoes remember?”
“Yeah, but you don’t know him. You don’t even know me, and You haven’t seen how he treats me.” I can’t hold back the defensive edge in my voice. “He cares. A lot.”
Deborah raises her hands, surrendering. “Okay, okay. I’m not trying to attack you. Just… be cautious.”
“Fine.” I take a deep breath, trying to steady my rising irritation. “I get it. Can we change the subject? I just want to focus on—”
Suddenly, a wave of dizziness hits me like a freight train. The room spins, and I clutch the edge of the couch. “Whoa, what the hell…”
“Ellie?” Deborah stands, alarm flashing across her face. “Are you alright?”
I try to nod, but my vision blurs. “I’m… just need some water.” I push myself up, but my legs feel like jelly. I stagger toward the kitchen, my head swimming.
“Sit down!” Deborah rushes over, her hand on my arm, steadying me. “You look pale.”
“I’m fine, really. Just a bit lightheaded,” I insist, but the words come out slurred, and I can hear the concern in her voice.
“Ellie!” she exclaims, panic creeping into her tone as I stumble. I try to shake it off, but the world tilts beneath me. I can’t keep my balance.
Then it happens. Darkness washes over me, swallowing everything. I collapse, and I can hear Deborah screaming, her voice fading into the void.
“Ellie! No! Oh my god!”
And just like that, everything goes black.