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Amanda was halfway through typing an email when her phone buzzed—twice, then again, then again.
Samantha:
GIRL.
Answer your phone.
Why is your ex posting old photos of y'all??
Amanda blinked. "What?"
Another message came through immediately, this time with a screenshot.
A public Instagram story.
Sierra's username.
A photo of Amanda and Sierra from years ago—Amanda's arm over Sierra's shoulder, both smiling at a festival.
But the caption?
"Crazy how life brings certain people back around...
Some things unfinished stay unfinished for a reason ??"
Amanda stared.
Blinking.
Heart dropping and boiling at the same time.
"What the hell?" she whispered.
Two more screenshots came in:
Samantha:
And THIS??
Why she acting like y'all rekindling??
You better get your wife.
A second Instagram post.
A close-up of Amanda's hand on Sierra's waist—cropped tight to look way more intimate than it actually was.
Caption:
"Funny seeing you yesterday...
Reminded me of everything."
Amanda dropped her head back.
"Oh my god."
Her phone buzzed nonstop now.
Leah (work group chat):
UMMM why is there a picture of you and some girl going around??
Jean (HR):
Amanda... please tell me this is not a thing while the PR team is already on fire today???
Maria:
Not to be messy but...
Amanda??
This looks bad.
Amanda shoved her chair back and marched straight into Ericka's office.
She didn't even knock.
"Baby—"
Ericka looked up from her computer.
Her jaw was clenched so hard Amanda could hear the tension.
"You saw it?" Amanda breathed.
Ericka slowly turned her screen around.
A gossip site.
One of the big ones.
TREND.MAG
Breaking:
Is Mathews Co.'s rising campaign about to be overshadowed by scandal?
Sources say Amanda Parker—face of the chemistry-filled interviews—may not be as single as previously thought.
Below it?
THE PHOTO.
The cropped waist photo.
Uploaded by Sierra.
Reposted by a gossip page.
And below THAT:
"Rumors suggest a past relationship may have reignited."
Amanda's stomach dropped.
"Oh hell no."
Ericka stood up from her chair.
Her eyes were bright—not angry bright.
Hurt bright.
"Amanda... she tagged you."
"I know."
"She posted another one."
"I know."
"People online think—"
"I KNOW."
Ericka took a breath—shaky, barely controlled.
"Why is she posting those pictures, Amanda?"
Amanda stepped forward and cupped Ericka's face gently. "Baby, they're YEARS old. I swear—I haven't talked to her since the coffee shop yesterday. I ignored her texts. I blocked her before you even asked."
Ericka softened. Just a little.
Then her phone buzzed angrily.
She glanced down.
PR TEAM:
We need both of you in a call ASAP to discuss narrative control.
Samantha FaceTimed next.
Amanda answered.
Samantha didn't even say hello.
"Why your ex acting like she about to reclaim her spot in the Amanda Cinematic Universe? FIX IT."
Amanda dragged a hand down her face. "I'm trying."
Ericka stepped closer. "Samantha, she's trying—but this is turning into something bigger."
"Oh, I KNOW," Samantha said. "People from high school texting me. Like I'm the PR rep."
Amanda sighed. "Look... we'll handle it."
Samantha nodded. "I'm available to fight at any moment. Just send location. Bye."
She hung up.
Amanda turned back to Ericka—who took the phone gently from Amanda's hand and placed it on the desk.
Her voice lowered.
"Amanda... this isn't your fault. But it DOES affect the company. And us. And everything we've built."
Amanda swallowed.
"I know. Let me fix it."
Before Ericka could respond, Amanda's watch buzzed again—this time with a different notification.
@TeaUnfiltered (400K followers)
Anonymous Tip:
"The CEO at Mathews Co. and her assistant are more than coworkers...
and the assistant is CHEATING on someone from her past."
?? developing story...
Amanda froze.
Ericka froze.
"Amanda..." Ericka whispered. "She sent that. She's trying to ruin you."
Amanda lifted her chin. "No. She's trying to ruin you. She knows I don't care about my name being dragged—but she knows the company matters to you."
Ericka looked like she might break down or flip a desk—maybe both.
Amanda grabbed her hands.
"Hey. Look at me."
Ericka did.
"We are going to handle this. Together. This doesn't win."
Ericka exhaled shakily.
"Okay."
Her watch buzzed again.
Work group chat:
Leah:
Update us NOW
My popcorn is ready
Maria:
Is the girl crazy?? Posting old pics like she's the "main character"??
Carter:
If this ruins tonight's game night part 2 I volunteer as tribute to go handle her.
Jamie:
Omg PLSSS don't let Carter go to jail.
Amanda:
Y'all.
STAY OUT OF IT.
We're handling it.
Maria:
Bestie... we literally work in media. We ARE in it.
Leah:
Did you see the waist picture??
Girl if that were CURRENT I woulda fainted.
Amanda:
It's from YEARS ago.
Carter:
Years ago but people online acting like y'all filmed it yesterday.
Maria:
Tell Ericka I said breathe before she goes Scorpio mode.
Amanda smiled sadly at her phone—but looked up at Ericka immediately.
"You okay?"
Ericka blinked. "No. But I trust you."
Amanda stepped into her arms. "Good. Because I'm about to protect you so hard Sierra never tries anything again."
Ericka leaned into her, whispering:
"Don't make me jealous, Amanda. I can't handle that right now."
Amanda held her tighter.
"You never have anything to worry about. You're my wife. Sierra is just a glitch in the system."
Ericka exhaled, softer now.
"Then let's fix the glitch."
Amanda kissed her forehead.
"Together."
The conference room felt too bright for how tense the air was.
PR dashboards glowed across the screens, crisis alerts piling faster than anyone could process. Jasmine from PR paced with her tablet. The legal counsel, Mr. Howard, entered with a thick folder under his arm.
Ericka and Amanda sat side by side — professional, composed, but both carrying the weight of the morning.
"Alright," Jasmine began. "We're dealing with a situation."
Amanda already had her tablet open. "These are the original photos."
She projected them onto the screen — the festival photo, Ericka's waist photo — each one clearly time-stamped from years ago.
"These were from 2018 and 2019," she said calmly.
"And this," Amanda continued, "is Sierra — my ex."
Ericka's jaw tightened... just once.
Amanda placed her phone on the table next.
"She texted me yesterday. I ignored the first one. Then she sent more."
The PR and legal team leaned in.
It was nice seeing you.
Seeing you made me realize how much I miss you.
We should catch up.
...followed by the unsolicited nude.
Jasmine grimaced. "This is blatant harassment."
Amanda nodded. "I didn't respond. I blocked her. And then this morning she posted old photos to get attention."
She took a steady breath.
"And she showed up here today," Amanda added, voice sharper now. "Unannounced. Walked right into the building like she belonged here. Ericka kicked her out."
Ericka's expression didn't change — but the steel in her eyes deepened.
"That alone," Jasmine said, "is a massive boundary violation."
Mr. Howard tapped his folder. "We now have:
Misleading, defamatory posts.
Implying an active relationship.
Workplace intrusion.
Attempts to weaponize public attention."
Jasmine nodded. "And the speculation about you two is getting louder. Headlines. Threads. Body language analysis videos. People assuming you're dating."
Ericka resisted the urge to roll her eyes.
"We need a plan," Jasmine continued. "Fast."
Mr. Howard set down the folder. "First step: cease and desist. She must stop posting, implying, or contacting either of you."
Ericka nodded once. "Approved."
"Second," Jasmine said, "you two need a sit-down interview with a reputable outlet. Vogue, Elle, The Cut — somewhere controlled. Somewhere with integrity."
Amanda leaned forward. "We can do that."
"And in that interview," Jasmine said carefully, "you will be asked about your relationship. Your closeness. The rumors."
Mr. Howard folded his hands. "Which means you two need to decide something right now."
Ericka glanced at Amanda.
Amanda exhaled slowly. "Do we disclose... anything? Or keep it private for now?"
Jasmine added, "The tone of the interview changes depending on your choice."
Mr. Howard nodded. "If you stay quiet, speculation will continue. If you lie, it'll backfire. If you tell the truth..." He hesitated. "It becomes national news."
Amanda took a breath, then said the words out loud:
"So... do we tell them we're together? Or not yet?"
Silence settled over the room.
The weight of the decision pressed heavy between them.
Silence hovered over the conference room like a held breath. PR screens flickered quietly, the hum of the air conditioning the only sound. Amanda felt Ericka's hand graze hers underneath the table — a small, grounding touch that passed like a secret.
Ericka inhaled, sat up straighter, and looked around the room with that unmistakable CEO poise... except this time, there was something softer beneath it. Something human.
"Well..." she began, her voice calm, deliberate. "Before we make any decisions about that interview... there's something else you should know."
Jasmine paused mid-scroll on her tablet.
Mr. Howard lifted his pen but stopped writing.
The room stilled.
Amanda's stomach fluttered — not with nerves, but with the quiet awareness of what was coming. Ericka didn't break eye contact with the team.
"This is sensitive," she continued. "And it cannot leave this room until we strategize. But it will matter for how we handle everything moving forward."
Everyone leaned in subconsciously.
Ericka reached over and placed her hand on top of Amanda's — openly this time.
Amanda's breath caught.
Ericka looked directly at the PR team and legal.
"Amanda and I..." Her voice softened just an inch. "We're married."
Total silence.
Not shocked silence — stunned silence. The kind where the world temporarily forgets how to move.
Jasmine blinked so slowly it looked like she froze mid-animation.
Maria's eyes widened.
Carter's jaw dropped open.
Mr. Howard actually lowered his glasses.
"And..." Ericka continued, her hand brushing lightly over her stomach, "I'm pregnant. With Amanda's child."
The room went dead still.
Then—
"Preg—pregnant?" Jasmine whispered.
Ericka nodded once, unapologetically composed. "Yes."
Amanda felt emotion swell in her chest watching her wife — her calm, brilliant, beautiful wife — say it out loud with no shame, no hesitation, no fear.
Mr. Howard blinked and sat back, processing. "This... changes the entire legal landscape. Public perception. Media strategy. Everything."
Jasmine slowly lowered her tablet onto the table like she might drop it otherwise. "Ericka... congratulations, first of all, but—this means the narrative isn't 'rumors of dating' anymore. It's—"
"—a real love story," Maria whispered, misty-eyed.
"It's stability," Carter said, finally finding his voice. "It's not scandal... it's commitment."
Mr. Howard cleared his throat. "It's also protection. Once the truth is disclosed properly, no ex, no rumor, no misinterpretation can weaponize anything against either of you."
Jasmine nodded rapidly. "This could actually HELP the company if we handle it right. You two are already a beloved duo online. The public loves authenticity and strong leadership built on trust."
Amanda looked at Ericka, surprised.
Ericka just exhaled slowly. "That's why I told you all now. We can't build a strategy around half-truths or speculation."
Mr. Howard folded his hands. "Then the question becomes... do you disclose all of this during the interview?"
Jasmine added, "Not the baby unless you feel comfortable — but the marriage? Yes. Because the world will find out eventually."
Amanda squeezed Ericka's hand. "Whatever you want... we decide together."
Ericka smiled softly, then turned back to the team.
"We tell the truth," she said. "On our terms. Not Sierra's. Not the internet's. Ours."
"Okay," she said, leaning forward. "If you two are open to public disclosure... then we need to control how it happens. Not reactive. Not defensive. Intentional."
Ericka nodded, listening closely.
Jasmine's eyes lit up. "I have an idea. And honestly? It could be huge."
Everyone glanced her way.
Jasmine swiped her tablet and tilted it so the room could see. "We stage a proposal photoshoot."
Amanda blinked.
Ericka's brows lifted.
Maria gasped softly.
Carter whispered, "Oh damn—PR genius."
Jasmine continued, her voice rapid with excitement.
"The interview is scheduled for next week — right? That gives us about seven days. If we release teaser imagery beforehand—tasteful, romantic, intentional — it builds hype. People will tune in SPECIFICALLY to hear your story."
"And the public sees it as love," Maria said quietly. "Not scandal."
"Exactly," Jasmine affirmed. "We promote the interview widely. A 'special exclusive sit-down with Mathews Co.' People love behind-the-scenes love stories. You two already captivate them without trying. This interview? With proposal photos priming the audience? It will explode."
Mr. Howard adjusted his tie. "Legally speaking, this is smart. It turns your truth into branding — and defangs Sierra's noise before it even starts."
Ericka nodded slowly. "Photographs. Interview prep. Narrative ownership. I like it."
Amanda squeezed her hand under the table.
"Then it's settled," Ericka said. "We do it."
Jasmine beamed. "I'll handle rollout strategy, captions, and timing. You two just need the shoot done before Monday so we can soft-launch the teasers."
Amanda's heart raced. Because she knew exactly what that meant.
She needed Samantha.
As soon as the meeting ended and the hallway cleared, Amanda slipped her phone out and typed fast:
Amanda → Samantha:
Emergency update. PR wants proposal photoshoot THIS WEEKEND. Please tell me you have a photographer.
Three dots appeared instantly.
Samantha:
Girl WHAT?! I knew chaos was incoming but DAMN.
Yes. I already booked one just in case ??
We're good. Just send me the time. And wear something photogenic.
Amanda exhaled a breath she didn't realize she was holding, relief washing over her.
She typed back:
Amanda:
You're a lifesaver. And I owe you... big.
Samantha:
You owe me your firstborn AND an iced coffee.
Now go pretend you're not planning the most dramatic proposal in company history.
Amanda snorted out a laugh at her phone, earning a curious glance from Ericka.
She slid the device into her pocket, stepped beside her wife, and murmured softly,
"We're really doing this."
Ericka's hand brushed her lower back. "We are."
And the world outside the conference room door had no idea what was coming next.