Chapter 21

Jonathan’s POV

The conference room felt smaller than usual.

I sat at the head of the table, I couldn’t help but feel bored while the three lead investors sat across from me with matching looks of disapproval. Lisa stood near the window, her arms crossed, her face was blank.

On the screen mounted to the wall, the video played on loop. Me, dragging a man from a car. Me, hitting him over and over while he lay defenseless on the ground.

It looked bad. But did I give a shit? Nope.

“Mr. Hart,” Mr. Chen said, his tone cold and formal. “Can you explain this?”

“I was protecting my employee,” I said calmly. “That man kidnapped her. He locked her in his car and assaulted her when she tried to leave. What you’re seeing is me ensuring her safety.”

“By beating him nearly unconscious?” another investor, Mrs. Tan, asked sharply. “This is not how professionals handle conflicts, Mr. Hart. This is vigilante justice.”

“Would you have preferred I called the police and waited while he drove off with her?” I asked. “Because I can assure you, she didn’t have that kind of time.”

“That’s not the point,” Mr. Chen said. “The point is that this video makes you…and by extension, this entire project…look reckless and violent. If this gets out to the press…”

“It won’t,” Lisa interjected smoothly. “I’ve already ensured the footage is contained. But we need to discuss damage control.”

“Damage control,” I repeated, looking at her. “Is that why you showed this to the board? To protect me?”

Her eyes met mine, cool and calculating. “I showed it to them because they deserved to know what kind of liability this project is facing.”

“And what about Elena?” I asked. “Did she deserve to be put in danger in the first place?”

“With all due respect, Mr. Hart,” Mrs. Tan said, “your Personal Manager’s poor decisions are not our concern. What concerns us is your judgment. This woman seems to be a distraction…”

“Careful,” I said, my voice dropping to a dangerous level. “Choose your next words very carefully.”

The room went silent.

“Elena Rivers is one of the most competent professionals I’ve ever worked with,” I continued. “She’s brilliant, dedicated, and has contributed more to this project in two weeks than some people do in months. What happened to her was not her fault, and I will not sit here and listen to anyone imply otherwise.”

“Jonathan,” Mr. Ethan said, his tone softening slightly. “We’re not saying she’s incompetent. We’re saying that perhaps your… attachment to her is clouding your judgment.”

“My judgment is fine.”

“Is it?” Lisa asked quietly. “Because from where I’m standing, it looks like you’re willing to jeopardize a two-hundred-million-dollar deal over one employee.”

I stood, my hands flat on the table.

“Let me make something very clear,” I said. “I will not sacrifice the safety and wellbeing of my team for any deal, no matter how lucrative. If that’s a problem for any of you, then we can end this partnership right now.”

The investors exchanged glances.

“Mr. Hart,” Mr. Ethan said carefully, “we’re not asking you to…”

“Yes, you are,” I interrupted. “You’re asking me to treat Elena like she’s disposable. And I won’t do that. So either we move forward with the understanding that my people are my priority, or we don’t move forward at all.”

The silence stretched.

Finally, Mr. Ethan sighed. “Very well. But no more incidents like this. Understood?”

“Understood.”

The investors filed out, leaving just Lisa and me in the room.

She closed the door and turned to face me.

“You’re making a mistake,” she said.

“How so?”

“She’s twenty-seven, Jonathan. And young enough to be your daughter. Practically the same age as Daniel.” She stepped closer. “And yet you’re willing to throw away everything…your reputation, this deal, your professional relationships…for her. Why?”

“I’m protecting my employee.”

“Bullshit,” Lisa said bluntly. “This isn’t about her being your employee. This is about you having feelings for her.”

I said nothing.

“Do you?” she pressed. “Do you have feelings for Elena?”

“What I feel is none of your concern.”

“It is when it affects this project,” she shot back. “When it affects your judgment, when it makes you reckless…”

“I wasn’t reckless. I was doing what needed to be done.”

“And what about the video?” she asked. “What if it had leaked? What if the press got hold of footage of Jonathan Hart beating a man in the street? Do you have any idea what that would do to your company? To your reputation?”

“I would handle it.”

She shook her head. “You’re not thinking clearly, Jonathan. And it’s because of her.”

“Leave Elena out of this.”

“I can’t,” Lisa said. “Because she’s the reason you’re like this. She’s the reason you’re willing to risk everything.”

“That’s enough,” I said sharply.

We stared at each other, the tension crackling between us.

“I’m trying to protect you,” Lisa said finally, her voice softer. “From yourself, if necessary. But you need to wake up and see what’s happening here. This girl is going to destroy you if you let her.”

“She’s not going to destroy anything.”

“Then prove it,” Lisa said. “Put some distance between you. Reassign her. Send her back to DC. Do something before this gets worse.”

“I’m not doing that.”

“Why not?”

“Because I need her.”

The words hung in the air between us.

Lisa’s expression shifted…hurt, anger, resignation all at once.

“I see,” she said quietly. “Well. I hope she’s worth it.”

She walked out, leaving me alone in the empty conference room.

When I got back to the suite, it was too quiet.

“Elena?” I called out.

I got no response. I walked into the bedroom and stopped.

Her things were gone. The closet was empty, her laptop missing from the desk, her shoes no longer lined up by the door.

My chest tightened.

I pulled out my phone and called the front desk.

“Yes, Mr. Hart?” the receptionist answered.

“Did Miss Rivers check out?”

“No, sir. She requested a different suite. She’s been moved to room 2304.”

I hung up and headed straight for the elevator.

When I reached her new suite, I knocked on the door.

“Elena. Open the door.”

No answer.

“I know you’re in there. We need to talk.”

“Go away, Jonathan,” her voice came from the other side, muffled but firm.

“Elena…”

“I don’t want to talk to you.”

“We need to discuss what happened…”

“Leave me alone.”

I pressed my forehead against the door, closing my eyes.

“Please,” I said quietly. “Just let me explain.”

“There’s nothing to explain. Good night, Mr. Hart.”

I stood there for a long moment, listening to the silence on the other side of the door.