A start

Mikhail's POV

I stared at her from across the table, wanting to say so many things and yet knowing not to say them. For so long, she had always been someone I mentored but this was affecting me way more than it needed to.

Something warned me to stay away but that I couldn't. Even if I wanted to, which I didn't, it involved my reputation as well. One I had carefully curated, making sure there was no stain. My hospitals were the best, including my pharmacies.

If this narrative spread too much, trust would fall greatly. Board members had already begun to call for an emergency meeting and this video had worsened an already horrible situation.

She looked crestfallen, and I could understand her a little bit. Already I could imagine this scenario with her in it. Her playing a role with her father to bring me down, it would sting just as much and it hurt that I couldn't do just anything about it.

There was a knock, it brought her out of her thoughts for a moment, eyes going to the door but she quickly went back into it. I stood up, not wanting to invite anyone in, it felt a little too sacred especially when she was so vulnerable.

Jackson stood at the door, he had a worried look on his face. He was my PR manager, both for me and the hospital. It wasn't a surprise that this had driven him straight to me.

“Good morning sir" he greeted, looking into the office behind me for a minute.

I nodded, stepping out fully and closing the door behind me. The last thing I wanted Adeline to do at that moment was hear us. "Jackson, I expected you much sooner” I teased, hoping the tension would ease which it did when he smiled a genuine smile.

"Yes, I should have been here first thing in the morning but I had to deal with some personal business” he didn't elaborate any further and I didn't ask, "But this”

“I know, it's quite a lot and it is for me as well. The truth is much more complicated than I can explain in just a few words” I gave him a long look, "Why don't we arrange for a meeting later today? Say twelve in the afternoon?” I suggested.

He nodded, "Definitely sir, I'll be ready”

Before he could leave, I stopped him. "I know eventually this will all be public but for now I want this meeting private, none of you team members should be present” I said.

A look of confusion passed his face which he quickly pushed away, he nodded instead, "Alright sir, as you say” and then he was gone.

I took a deep breath before opening the door and walking back into the room. She had remained in the same position I had found her, the same look on her face. I went up to her from behind, an action that she either didn't notice or care for.

My hands lifted as I was about to lay them on her shoulder but I stopped myself before I could. The urge was strong, almost like someone pushing me but it couldn't happen. There were boundaries I needed to maintain and touching her like that would break them.

So even though the action took some effort, I went back to my seat without doing anything. By the time I looked back at her, she looked much better. Her pale face had some color now and her eyes met mine clearly, “Something has to be done" she said.

I smiled, glad that she was seeing exactly what I saw. “Good, I'm glad that you know that," I said to her. “This is the first of his stunts and I know he'll definitely play a couple more before all of this is done” I told her.

She nodded, head wrapped in thought. I watched her carefully.

"I know this is risky but how about suing him? Don't you think if we fought in court, it would bring a lot of advantage especially since we'll prove him wrong?” She asked.

I thought about it for a moment. She had a point but still, "I'm not sure. Something tells me that he might be able to get out of that as well” I said. Even though I knew quite a few judges and could easily make it my case, there was more to it. If we sued him, the public would think we were threatened.

She had fallen silent, her face full of understanding as she knew what I was talking about.

“So what do we do now" she asked.

The answer came to me quickly, “We prove your innocence. We have a meeting with my PR manager in a few hours, in that time you can do whatever. Everything that needs to be discussed will be discussed there”

Her face changed into something else, a moment of confusion, "Your PR manager?” She asked and I understood immediately.

"I know, you might doubt him but trust me. We've worked together for over ten years. I trust him with everything" at least almost everything, “He won't divulge anything that doesn't need to be divulged, not to a single soul." I assured.

She sighed before nodding, “Then I'll be back by twelve" she stood and then stopped, "Thank you so much for your help Mikhail” she said.

I shook my head, stopping her before she could go any further, "You don't have to tell me thank you. I've told you before. Even if I wasn't involved in all this. I would have helped, don't worry about it” it was the truth. There was no situation in which I wouldn't help her when she needed it.

She gave me a small smile before turning around to walk out. I hated how my eyes lingered and that I had to force them away.

Adeline's POV

Once I was out of his office, my hands gripped my phone tightly. I knew what I was going to do. It wouldn't help but I just needed to see it, try it out for myself.

Fara had an I*******m account, one that I had created for her after taking permission from her ‘uncle’ who was her father. She was still on my following when last I checked and as I did so again, she remained there.

I sent a message almost immediately, like an impulse I had to act on. “Fara, how are you?"

As soon as I sent it I began to doubt myself. What had I just done? What if this was later used against me. Yet I couldn't stop myself, I needed to talk to her. Even if her betrayal had cut deep, it was her father who had perpetrated it, not her.

My eyes went to my phone and I saw a reply was being typed. My body tingled with anticipation. Regardless of all I had lost, I valued her.

“Don’t tell me you're being a pathetic woman and sending messages to a young child. Do you want to threaten her?"

The message shocked me, almost pushing me into the wall I leaned on. It wasn't Fara. I shouldn't have expected that it was only her account. Of course he would monitor and have access to it. I realized then what a big mistake I made.

"I'm not the worse of the two of us. Forcing a child to tell lies” I couldn't stop. If he was going to lie on my name then I deserved to talk to him, confront him - something I had never done.

A reply came almost immediately, “Oh please, spare the trash. The world now knows you for what you really are. You shouldn't have ever crossed me Adeline, and now the consequences are yours.”

I stared at the message for a long time, feeling the hate from it. The man I knew was gone, entirely. A monster had replaced him and I had just realized and accepted that.

There was nothing to do other than fight back and now I really would.

"I'll ruin you Conrad” I murmured to myself, resolve hardening.