Novels by Rica Buril

Lena didn’t respond immediately. And that was what made it worse. Because silence, from someone like her— Was never hesitation. It was preparation. By the next morning, the shift was obvious. Not loud. Not explosive. Strategic. Emily noticed it the moment she walked into the office. The atmosphere had changed again. Not chaotic this time. Calculated. Controlled. “Something’s wrong,” she said. Daniel, already inside her office, nodded. “She moved.” Emily didn’t need to ask who. “What did she do?” Daniel handed her a folder. “This just got released.” Emily opened it. And her expression hardened. Internal documents. Emails. Reports. Leaked. Her name was in them. Decisions she had made

The pressure didn’t ease. It built. Quietly. Constantly. Until it became impossible to ignore. By the end of the day, Emily could feel it everywhere. In every meeting. Every glance. Every pause that lasted a second too long. No one questioned her directly anymore. Not after the meeting. Not after the way she handled it. But that didn’t mean they believed her. It just meant they were watching. Waiting. For her to slip. Emily stood in her office, staring at the reports in front of her. Numbers. Data. Proof. Everything she needed to justify her decisions. And yet— It didn’t feel like enough. A knock came at the door. “Come in.” Daniel stepped inside, quieter than usual. “You should take a break,” he said. Emily didn’t look at him. “I don’

Adrian didn’t hear about it from the media.He heard it from his board.And that alone told him everything he needed to know.“She confronted Lena.”The words came from across the table, careful but direct.Adrian didn’t react immediately.He didn’t need to.“Publicly,” another added.A pause followed.“Investors were there.”Silence settled in the room.Not uncertain.Not tense.Measured.Adrian leaned back slightly, his gaze steady.“And?” he asked.The question caught them off guard.“And… she didn’t back down,” one of them said.That—That got his attention.Not because of the confrontation.But because of her.“What exactly did she say?&rd

Emily didn’t wait.She didn’t sit on it, didn’t overthink it, didn’t let the situation grow worse than it already was. If Lena wanted control of the narrative, then Emily would take it back.“Where is she?” Emily asked.Daniel didn’t need clarification. “Conference Hall B. She’s meeting with investors.”Emily nodded once. That was enough.The walk there felt longer than it should have, not because of the distance, but because of the weight behind it. Every step carried intention. Every second built tension.By the time Emily reached the doors, she didn’t hesitate.She pushed them open.The room fell silent.Lena stood at the front, mid-conversation, surrounded by investors and executives. All eyes turned, and just like that, the balance shifted.“Emily,” Lena said, her voice smooth, almost amused. “I didn’t expect you.”Emily walked forward, composed and controlled. “I’m sure you didn’t.”A pause followed, subtle but sharp.Lena smiled slightly and turned toward the room. “Excuse us f

The reaction was immediate.And brutal.By the time Emily stepped into the office the next morning, the story had already evolved. What started as speculation had turned into headlines, and what was once rumor was now treated as fact.Everyone knew.Her name. His name. Their relationship.And now, everyone had an opinion.Emily walked through the lobby, feeling the shift instantly. The looks were different now—more direct, more curious, more intrusive. There were no more whispers.People weren’t pretending not to watch anymore.They were watching openly.“Miss Carter.”She turned as one of the senior staff approached her, his expression careful.“Some of the board members are asking for clarification,” he said.Emily nodded once. “Schedule a meeting.”Her voice remained calm, controlled, even if everything else felt unstable.Inside her office, the door had barely closed before her phone started ringing. Calls, messages, notifications—all at once, overlapping, demanding attention.She

The announcement wasn’t planned.It wasn’t scheduled, and it definitely wasn’t something they had prepared for.And maybe that was exactly why it felt real.Too real.The media was already everywhere. Outside the building, lining the entrance. Inside the lobby, waiting behind barriers. Even across the street, cameras angled toward the main doors.News of the scandal had spread overnight, faster than either of them anticipated. Speculation had turned into headlines, and headlines had turned into pressure.Now, everyone wanted answers.And they weren’t going to leave without them.Inside the car, the world felt quieter, but not calmer.Emily sat still, her gaze fixed ahead. Through the tinted glass, flashes of light reflected in quick bursts, like warnings she couldn’t ignore.Her chest tightened slightly.This wasn’t just another move.This was exposure.“This is your last chance to step back.”Adrian’s voice broke through the silence. Calm. Measured. But real.Emily turned to look at