“I am really disappointed in you this time, Emery. You have been quite careless with your work for the past few days. I know things have been tough for you but you have to get serious with your work.” Emery’s boss and the senior lawyer of Fortis Legal, Colin Whitaker said to Emery.
Looking down at her fingers once, she tried to get a hold of herself. Most of the people already knew who she was and how she was stripped off from her father’s inheritance. Some people pitied her while others were ruthless.
“Believe me sir. I have done nothing this time. This article is nothing but a complete fake. Someone must be trying to deliberately slander us.” Emery blurted out.
“I know this. But we still can’t deny all the things written in this article. Some of our past clients did get a divorce because of some of the clauses in the contract. So I would still suggest you be vigilant.”
Emery nodded her head. Despite all this, she knew in her heart that she disregarded her job.
“Don’t worry, sir. I will get my team to work on it right away.” Emery replied while looking at him with determination in her eyes.
The man sitting in front of her flared his nostrils and said, "Working on it isn’t good now. The damage has already been done. Our clients are jumping to other firms and we are losing our reputation. Do you understand how much damage it can cause to our firm?"
Emery looked down now realising how much damage had been done just because of her remarks.
Emery’s jaw tightened as she blurted out. “I understand the situation, sir. You don’t have to worry, I will make sure to settle this matter as soon as possible.”
Whitaker sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose. "That’s not all. There’s an event tonight—the Mayor’s Gala. I’ve arranged for you to attend."
Emery frowned, not following. "You… want me to go to a gala? Tonight?"
Whitaker’s gaze turned steely. "Not just any gala. You’ll be accompanying Mr. Harper."
Her heart plummeted. "Darren?"
"Yes. He’s already agreed to it. Think of it as a chance to do some damage control." He waved a hand dismissively. "Smile, charm the room, and make them forget every word of that article. Darren’s a big name, and with his endorsement, you can pull us out of this mess.”
Emery resisted the urge to groan. "Right…"
"Make sure everyone in that room knows that these rumors are fake. And if you see any reporters…" He trailed off, his expression hardening. "You know what to do.”
"Understood," Emery replied, hiding her unease.
"Good." He glanced at her one last time before turning to leave. "Get it done, Emery. Or this could be the beginning of a very different future for you at this firm."
Once Whitaker was out of the office, Emery sank into her chair, her hands gripping the edge of her desk. Her team was scrambling to erase every trace of that article, but she knew the damage was already spreading.
Emery hadn’t even had a chance to catch her breath when Jenna burst through the office door, grinning like she’d just hit the jackpot.
“Oh my God, Emery!” Jenna gushed, bouncing on her toes. “I heard you’re going to the Mayor’s Gala with Darren Harper himself! Do you have any idea how many girls would kill to be in your shoes?”
Emery forced a smile, her fingers tapping against her desk in a calm rhythm to hide the sudden tension. “I… uh, hadn’t thought about it that way, Jenna.”
Jenna leaned in, eyes wide with excitement. “Are you kidding? He’s New York’s most eligible billionaire bachelor! You know what they say about him, right?”
Emery raised an eyebrow, feigning curiosity. “What do they say?”
“Oh, all kinds of things! They call him a heartbreaker, a ruthless businessman… and apparently, he never dates anyone for more than a few months. Rumor is, he’s impossible to tame.” Jenna wiggled her eyebrows. “And yet, every woman still tries.”
Emery nodded thoughtfully, trying not to let Jenna see how much her words stung. She didn’t need to be reminded of Darren’s reputation — she’d lived it, firsthand.
Jenna leaned against Emery's desk, sighing dreamily. “Senior told us to get you something amazing to wear for tonight. We need a dress that’ll knock Darren’s socks off! How about we head to that boutique on Fifth? They’ve got new arrivals, and one of them has your name on it.”
Emery forced a laugh, hoping it sounded as casual as she intended. “I think you’re a little too invested in this, Jenna. It’s just work, you know?”
Jenna scoffed. “Oh, please. Work or not, there’s no harm in turning heads. Besides,” she added with a mischievous smile, “maybe you’ll be the one to break his streak and turn that ‘untamable’ Darren Harper into a ‘one-woman man.’”
“Yeah, right,” Emery replied, barely keeping a straight face. “I’m just there for damage control.”
Jenna looped her arm through Emery’s. “Damage control in a dress that’ll make half the room jealous? Perfect plan. Now, come on, let’s get you ready for the night of your life.”
Emery sighed as Jenna dragged her out of the office with an almost unstoppable force. As much as she wanted to protest, she knew she couldn’t escape. Not from Jenna’s determination, and definitely not from the looming presence of Darren Harper at the Mayor’s Gala.
The boutique Jenna insisted on was nothing short of extravagant. The sleek glass doors opened to a world of sparkling gowns, delicate lace, and bold fabrics that screamed luxury. Emery immediately felt out of place, her simple work attire clashing against the high-end atmosphere.
“Alright!” Jenna clapped her hands, her excitement palpable. “We need something stunning, something classy, and most importantly, something Darren Harper won’t be able to ignore.”
“Jenna…” Emery started, her voice tinged with warning.
Jenna waved her off. “Don’t ‘Jenna’ me. You need to make an impression tonight. It’s not just about the firm; it’s about you showing everyone what they lost when they underestimated you.”
A small smile tugged at Emery’s lips despite herself. Jenna could be overbearing, but sometimes her enthusiasm was contagious.
“Fine,” Emery relented, scanning the racks. Her eyes landed on a sleek, midnight blue gown with a plunging neckline and subtle beadwork along the bodice. It was elegant yet bold, and something about it felt… right.
“Oh, that’s the one!” Jenna exclaimed, snatching the dress off the rack before Emery could second-guess herself. “Try it on. Now.”
Minutes later, Emery stepped out of the fitting room, her reflection catching her off guard. The gown hugged her in all the right places, its tailored fit emphasizing her curves without being overly revealing. The rich blue complemented her skin tone, and the way the fabric flowed as she moved made her feel powerful.
“Wow,” Jenna breathed, her eyes wide. “You look like you just stepped out of a movie. Darren’s not going to know what hit him.”
Emery turned back to the mirror, studying her reflection. She wasn’t sure if she wanted Darren to notice her or not. Their history was complicated, to say the least, and she didn’t want to reopen old wounds. But tonight wasn’t about personal feelings; it was about saving her career.
“I’ll take it,” Emery said, her voice firm.
~ At the Gala:
“Behave.”
Darren’s deep, commanding voice cut through the low hum of conversation as they stepped out of the sleek black car. The sharpness in his tone made Emery stiffen, her fingers clutching her small clutch tighter.
She turned to him, her eyes narrowing. “Excuse me?”
Darren didn’t reply to her after that but tightened his hold around her waist before entering the banquet hall.
All eyes turned toward them as soon as they were inside.
Emery could feel everyone’s eyes at them as they moved across the room, while Darren’s hand still wrapped around Emery’s small back.
“Who is she?” someone whispered from their left.
“She must be someone important if Darren brought her,” another voice chimed in.
Emery’s cheeks burned, but she kept her head high, her heels clicking confidently against the marble floor.
“Seems like everyone here is curious about you.” Emery commented.
But before Darren could respond, one of his business associates came to them with a wide smile plastered on his face. “Mr. Harper, it’s good to see you!”
His eyes then turned towards Emery, as he tilted his head slightly before asking, “And who’s this stunning companion of yours?”
Darren’s nostrils flared slightly, but Emery replied while putting a polite smile on her face. “Emery Hart, lawyer at Fortis legal.”
“Impressive! Beauty with brains.” Jonathan said as he took her hand in his hand, “It’s a pleasure, Ms. Hart.”
Emery smiled graciously before pulling her hand out of his grip, “Thank you, Mr. Reid. It’s a pleasure to meet you as well.”
As the men began chatting, Emery saw her chance. She subtly excused herself and slipped into the crowd before Darren could stop her.
