Brayden’s jaw tightened as he leaned back in his chair, his arms crossed over his chest.
His gaze was sharp, cold, and unwavering as he stared at Ryder, who was sitting across from him, patiently waiting for his response.The air in the room was thick with tension, the weight of the conversation pressing down on them like an invisible force.“No.” Brayden’s voice was firm, leaving no room for argument.Ryder raised a brow, his expression impassive. “No?”Brayden exhaled sharply, his fingers tapping against the armrest. “You heard me. I refuse to take her back.”Ryder studied him for a moment, his dark eyes gleaming with understanding. “Because of Penelope.”Brayden’s eyes flickered with something unreadable, but he didn’t deny it. Instead, he let out a quiet sigh, running a hand down his face before leaning forward, resting his elbows on his knees.“Yes,” he admitted. “Because of Penelope. And because I have no interest in letting Rosa back into myBrayden’s jaw tightened as he leaned back in his chair, his arms crossed over his chest. His gaze was sharp, cold, and unwavering as he stared at Ryder, who was sitting across from him, patiently waiting for his response. The air in the room was thick with tension, the weight of the conversation pressing down on them like an invisible force.“No.” Brayden’s voice was firm, leaving no room for argument.Ryder raised a brow, his expression impassive. “No?”Brayden exhaled sharply, his fingers tapping against the armrest. “You heard me. I refuse to take her back.”Ryder studied him for a moment, his dark eyes gleaming with understanding. “Because of Penelope.”Brayden’s eyes flickered with something unreadable, but he didn’t deny it. Instead, he let out a quiet sigh, running a hand down his face before leaning forward, resting his elbows on his knees.“Yes,” he admitted. “Because of Penelope. And because I have no interest in letting Rosa back into my
Brayden’s breath caught in his throat, his fingers tightening around the edges of the documents as he stared at the words in front of him. His normally composed face was frozen in shock, his sharp blue eyes scanning each line over and over as if hoping the words would somehow change. His heart pounded violently against his ribs, his head spinning with the weight of what he had just discovered. The world around him blurred, the elegant furnishings of his living room fading into insignificance.Across from him, Ryder sat in silence, his posture relaxed, but his eyes never leaving Brayden’s face. He was waiting. Waiting for Brayden to absorb the full impact of the truth. Waiting for the storm that was bound to erupt.Brayden’s hands shook slightly, the papers rustling in the thick silence. He swallowed hard, his throat dry, his body tensing with an unfamiliar mix of emotions. Confusion. Rage. Betrayal. A twisted sense of inevitability.“This can’t b
Brayden leaned back against the plush seat, the city lights flashing past the car window as they drove. His gaze drifted to Penelope, who sat beside him, staring out the window, lost in thought. She had been quiet ever since they left the office, her expression unreadable, her fingers absentmindedly tracing the faint bruises on her arm. “You’re thinking about something,” he finally said, breaking the silence. Penelope blinked, turning toward him. “A lot of things, actually.” Brayden studied her, his jaw tightening. He knew she had been through hell today. The confrontation, the public exposure, the attack—anyone else would be shattered. But she wasn’t breaking down. Instead, she was already thinking ahead. He reached out, gently tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “Talk to me,” he urged. “What’s on your mind?” She hesitated for a moment before sighing. “The money.” Brayden raised
The footage spread like wildfire, igniting a storm of outrage that swept across social media and news channels. The video of Rosa’s brutal attack on Penelope played on an endless loop, dissected by reporters and social media users alike. The horrifying scene—the slap, the kicks, the merciless beating—was displayed for the world to see.The outcry was immediate. News anchors spoke in solemn voices about workplace harassment, about unchecked abuse of power. Commentators debated the consequences Rosa and her employer should face. Viewers flooded the internet with furious messages.“How could this happen in a professional setting?”“Fire Rosa immediately! She deserves to be arrested!”“This company needs to be shut down!”The pressure on the agency was immense. Clients began severing ties, sponsors pulled their support, and employees—terrified of association—started whispering among themselves.In the office, the supervisor’s hands trembled as she
Penelope’s heart pounded as the torn pieces of her submission fluttered to the ground like fallen leaves. The sound of the paper ripping echoed in her ears, each shred feeling like a blow to her dignity. She stood there, fists clenched at her sides, as the supervisor stared her down with cold, unwavering authority.“You think you can just walk in here and talk back to Rosa?” The woman’s voice was sharp, laced with disdain.Penelope swallowed the lump rising in her throat. “I didn’t talk back,” she said firmly. “I defended myself.”The supervisor’s lips curled into a slow, cruel smile. “And now, you will pay the price for your so-called ‘defense.’”Penelope’s entire body tensed. “What do you mean?”The supervisor took a step closer, her heels clicking against the tiled floor. “You will kneel and apologize,” she said, her tone eerily calm, as if she were merely stating a fact.Penelope’s breath caught in her throat. A cold wave of disbelief washed ove
Brayden watched Penelope across the dinner table, his gaze sharp, assessing. The soft glow of the chandelier overhead cast warm light over her features, highlighting the exhaustion she tried to hide beneath a small, practiced smile. She had been quieter than usual tonight, pushing the food around her plate more than actually eating. It didn’t sit well with him.He set down his fork, leaning back in his chair as he studied her. “Penelope,” he said suddenly, his voice cutting through the comfortable silence between them. “Did your employer really bully you?”She stiffened, her hand pausing mid-motion as she reached for her glass of water. Her lashes fluttered briefly before she lifted her gaze to meet his. There was no point in lying, not to him. He was too perceptive. Too sharp.She nodded. “Yes.”Brayden’s jaw tightened, his fingers curling into a fist on the table. “And you let them?”Her throat went dry at the restrained anger in his to