Chapter Sixteen

Elena

I stare at the message until my hands shake so hard I nearly drop the phone.

Stay away from him. This is your only warning.

Someone is watching me. Close enough to take photos. Close enough to threaten.

I spin around. People walking, talking, laughing. A man in a hoodie watching the traffic. A woman in a car at the curb, engine running.

Any of them could be the one.

My phone rings. Same unknown number.

I force my voice to stay steady. “Who is this?”

“Someone trying to help you,” the voice says, distorted. “You made the right choice. Now stay away from Damien Blackwood.”

“Why? What do you want?”

“That doesn’t matter. You resigned. Stay out.”

“And if I don’t?”

A pause. A quiet threat. “Those photos I sent Marcus were only a preview. I have more. Worse ones. Time-stamped. Proof of an affair.”

“There was no affair—”

“Truth isn’t what destroys reputations. Perception does. And this? This ends Damien Blackwood’s career. The company crashes. Shareholders scream. Headlines everywhere.”

My stomach turns. “You’re bluffing.”

“Check your old college email.”

I open the account I haven’t touched in years.

One new message. Subject: PREVIEW

I open it.

Photos. Dozens. Me and Damien too close in his office. On the rooftop, his hand on my face. In his apartment, through the windows. Some edited. Fake. But good. Good enough to ruin everything.

“These aren’t real,” I whisper.

“Some are. Some aren’t. Doesn’t matter. Once they leak, the damage is permanent.”

“What do you want from me?”

“I already told you. Stay away. Don’t contact him. Don’t try to fix this. You’re gone. Stay gone.”

“Why? Why do you care?”

“Because Damien is about to make some difficult choices. He needs a clear head. Not you.”

“What choices? What are you planning?”

“Nothing that concerns you anymore.” They sigh. “You’re a smart girl. You have a career ahead of you. Don’t throw it away.”

“And if I don’t?” I ask, quiet.

“Then everyone sees these photos. The board. The media. Your grandmother.”

My pulse spikes. “Leave her out of this.”

“Then stay out of Damien’s life. Do we understand each other?”

They wait. I say nothing.

“You don’t have to believe me,” they add. “But remember— you’re only valuable while you're attached to him. Break that, and you disappear from my radar.”

The line clicks dead.

I stand there as the city rushes past me, loud and bright and uncaring.

Whoever they are… they know everything. Security footage. Damien’s schedule. My grandmother.

My phone buzzes.

Sophia: Please tell me you didn’t actually resign.

Another buzz.

Damien: We need to talk. This isn’t over.

No. It has to be.

I turn off my phone and walk.

---

I end up at the hospital. I don’t remember deciding. But I’m here, outside Grandmother Rosa’s room, watching her sleep.

She looks so small. So fragile. The woman who raised me. Fought for me. Loved me more than anyone.

“What’s wrong, mija?”

I look up. She’s awake.

I enter, sit beside her. “Nothing. I just… needed to see you.”

She studies me with soft, sharp eyes. “You look like your world just fell apart.”

The truth finally cracks me open. Tears spill. “I quit my job.”

“The dream one?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

I swallow the words. I can’t tell her about the photos. About Damien. About the threats.

“It wasn’t the right fit,” I say.

“That’s a lie.” Her voice is gentle. “Is there a man involved?”

I nod.

She exhales. “And you gave up everything because of him?”

“I did it to protect him.”

Understanding lands. Slow. Deep.

“He’s your boss,” she says. “The CEO.”

I blink. “How—”

“Because you’re my granddaughter. I know that look. The world shifted under you. You don’t know if you’re falling or flying.”

“It doesn’t matter what I feel.”

“Why not?”

“Because there are people. Watching. Threatening. Ready to destroy us.”

Her expression hardens. “Someone threatened you?”

“Yes. They threatened to ruin his life if I don’t disappear. So that’s what I’m doing.”

“And that’s the right choice?” she asks.

“It’s the smart one.”

“It’s the scared one.”

The word hits hard. The same word Damien used.

“I’m not a coward.”

“You are right now.” She squeezes my hand. “Tell me—do you love him?”

I close my eyes. “Yes.”

“And does he love you?”

“I think so. Maybe.”

“But you left anyway.”

I look at her through tears. “If those photos go public, he loses everything.”

“And if you walk away, what do you lose?”

“Nothing. I’ll be fine.”

“You won’t,” she says. “Because you’ll live wondering ‘what if.’ And that pain lasts much longer than scandal.”

I wipe my face. “I’m trying to save him.”

“And maybe he doesn’t want to be saved from you.”

“He has bigger responsibilities.”

“So do you. To yourself. To love. To fight for something real.”

“I can’t. They’ll destroy him.”

“Then you expose them first,” she says, fierce. “You find who is doing this. You fight back. You win.”

I laugh, broken. “You make it sound easy.”

“It is. Someone is trying to take your happiness. You don’t let them.”

“And if I lose?”

“Then at least you go down fighting. Not running.”

She yawns, settling back. “Now go home. Sleep. Tomorrow, you start finding the truth.”

“I love you,” I whisper.

“I love you too. And if you don’t fight, I’ll call that CEO and tell him he’s a fool.”

“You wouldn’t.”

“Try me.”

I kiss her forehead and leave.

---

In the elevator, I turn on my phone.

Seventeen missed calls from Damien. Eight texts.

All some form of Don’t do this.

Talk to me.

This isn’t over.

The last one:

If you won’t talk to me, I’m coming to you. I know where you live.

My breath stalls.

I call Sophia as I run for the subway.

“Is he still there?” I ask.

“He left the office twenty minutes ago. Elena, what is happening? He’s been terrifying everyone all afternoon.”

“He’s coming to my apartment.”

“And that’s bad because…?”

“Because I’m trying to protect him and he won’t let me.”

“Maybe he doesn’t want protection. Maybe he wants you.”

“There are photos,” I whisper. “Real ones. Fake ones. Someone is threatening to release them.”

Silence. Then she speaks, quiet. “Who?”

“I don’t know. Someone with access. Someone who knows everything.”

“Elena… this is stalking. Blackmail.”

“With what proof? Anonymous call. Edited pictures.”

“Then you fight another way. With Damien. Together.”

“That’s exactly what they don’t want.”

“Whoever they are can’t win if you confront them as a team.”

“I can’t drag him into this.”

“You think not telling him isn’t hurting him?”

I have no answer.

The subway doors open.

“What are you going to do?” she asks.

“I’m going to find out who’s behind this. And then destroy them.”

“That’s my girl. Need help?”

“I need security access logs, anyone who’s handled footage. And anything on Claire Harrison.”

“On it. But Damien will reach your place in twelve minutes. What are you going to tell him?”

I don’t know.

Truth could ruin him.

A lie could ruin us.

Grandmother’s voice echoes in my chest:

The scared choice haunts you forever.

I step off the train.

My fists clench.

I’m done being scared.

Time to fight back.