Lexi

I woke up on Mia's couch to the sound of my phone buzzing incessantly. Sunlight streamed through the windows, and for a blissful moment, I forgot why my chest felt like it had been carved out with a rusty spoon. Then reality crashed back down.

Lucian. The board meeting. Walking away from everything.

My phone showed seventeen missed calls from numbers I didn't recognize, plus another dozen texts from Lucian that I still couldn't bring myself to read. But it was the notification from my news app that made my blood run cold.

"CROSS MEDIA ENTERTAINMENT IN CHAOS: CEO FACES BOARD REVOLT"

My hands shook as I opened the article. The headline was bad enough, but the content was worse. Someone had leaked details about the board meeting, about the vote of no confidence, about the ultimatum they'd given Lucian. And my name was splashed across every paragraph like a scarlet letter.

"Sources close to the company confirm that Cross's relationship with former employee Lexi Carter has created a crisis of confidence among investors and board members..."

"The board is reportedly demanding Cross choose between his position and his controversial relationship..."

"Industry insiders suggest this scandal could permanently damage Cross Media Entertainment's reputation..."

"Oh God." I dropped the phone like it was on fire. "Oh God, oh God, oh God."

"Lexi?" Mia appeared in the doorway, already dressed for work. "What's wrong?"

"I made it worse." I pointed at my phone with a trembling finger. "I thought walking away would fix everything, but I made it worse."

She picked up the phone and read the article, her face growing paler with each line. "This is... this is really bad."

"He's going to lose everything because of me." I stood up, pacing frantically. "His company, his career, everything he's worked for. And I'm not even there to stand by him."

"Lexi, calm down..."

"I can't calm down! Don't you see? I did exactly what she wanted. I walked away like a coward and handed her the victory." I grabbed my hair, pulling at it. "Giselle Laurent is probably popping champagne right now."

My phone rang. This time it was a number I didn't recognize.

"Don't answer it," Mia warned.

But I was already sliding to accept the call. "Hello?"

"Is this Lexi Carter?" The voice was crisp, professional.

"Who's asking?"

"Rebecca Martinez from Channel 7 News. I'd like to ask you a few questions about your relationship with Lucian Cross and the current crisis at Cross Media Entertainment."

I hung up immediately, but the phone started ringing again within seconds.

"They found my number," I whispered. "The reporters found my number."

"Okay, we need to get you out of here." Mia was already moving, grabbing my things. "My apartment isn't safe anymore. They'll figure out where you are."

"Where am I supposed to go? I can't go home, I can't go to work, I can't even go to a coffee shop without someone recognizing me from those awful photos."

"You could go to your parents'."

"In Ohio? And drag them into this mess?" I shook my head. "I won't do that to them."

My phone buzzed with a text from an unknown number: *"We know you're at 1247 Maple Street, Apt 3B. Come outside for a statement or we'll wait."*

"They're outside," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "The reporters are outside."

Mia went to the window and peered through the blinds. "There are three news vans out there. And photographers."

I sank onto the couch, pulling my knees to my chest. This was my life now. Hiding in my best friend's apartment while reporters stalked me like a criminal. All because I'd fallen in love with the wrong man.

"I should call him," I said suddenly.

"Lucian?"

"He's facing a vote of no confidence because of me. The least I can do is..."

"Is what? Apologize for existing?"

"Support him. Stand by him. Show the world that we're not ashamed of what we have."

"Had," Mia corrected gently. "You ended it, remember?"

The words hit me like a slap. I had ended it. I'd walked away when he needed me most. What kind of person did that make me?

"I'm a coward," I said, the realization bitter on my tongue. "I'm everything those articles say I am. Not a gold digger, but something worse. A coward who abandons the people she loves when things get difficult."

"You're not a coward. You're human. And you're scared."

"Being scared isn't an excuse for being selfish."

"Selfish? Lexi, you gave up the man you love to protect his career. How is that selfish?"

"Because I didn't ask him what he wanted. I made the decision for both of us." I stood up, sudden clarity cutting through the fog of self-pity. "I was so focused on protecting him that I forgot the most important thing."

"Which is?"

"That he gets to choose too. He gets to decide what's worth fighting for."

My phone rang again. This time, it was Lucian's number.

I stared at it, my finger hovering over the answer button. Outside, car doors slammed as more reporters arrived. Inside, my heart hammered against my ribs.

"Answer it," Mia said softly.

"I don't know what to say."

"Start with hello."

I took a deep breath and swiped to answer. "Lucian?"

"Thank God." His voice was rough, like he'd been awake all night. "Lexi, where are you? I've been trying to reach you for hours."

"I'm at Mia's. But there are reporters outside. They've been calling all morning."

"I know. I'm handling it."

"Are you? Because the news is saying you're about to lose your company because of me."

There was a pause. "Is that what you think this is about?"

"Isn't it? Your board wants you to choose between me and Cross Media Entertainment."

"They do."

"And?"

"And I already made my choice."

My heart stopped. "Lucian, no. You can't give up everything for me. I won't let you."

"You won't let me?" His voice carried a hint of the steel I'd heard in boardrooms. "Since when do you get to decide what I sacrifice for love?"

"Since I'm the one you'd be sacrificing it for. Since I'm the one who walked away to prevent exactly this from happening."

"And how did that work out for you?"

I looked around Mia's apartment, at the reporters waiting outside, at the chaos my attempted sacrifice had created. "Not well."

"No, it didn't. Because you can't protect people by abandoning them, Lexi. Love isn't about running away when things get hard. It's about standing together when everything falls apart."

Tears burned my eyes. "I'm so sorry. I thought I was doing the right thing."

"I know you did. But we're a team, remember? We make decisions together."

"Even when those decisions might cost you everything?"

"Especially then."

I closed my eyes, letting his words wash over me. "What do you need me to do?"

"I need you to trust me. I need you to believe that what we have is worth fighting for."

"It is. God, Lucian, it is."

"Then come home."

"I can't. The reporters..."

"Will be gone in an hour. I'm handling it."

"How?"

"The same way I've handled every crisis in my career. By controlling the narrative instead of letting it control me."

I looked at Mia, who was watching me with hope in her eyes. "Okay. But if this backfires..."

"It won't."

"How can you be so sure?"

"Because I'm not fighting for just me anymore. I'm fighting for us. And that makes me a hell of a lot more dangerous than they realize."