The Silent Collapse

Callum's POV

"Mr. Bronson, we just received word."

I looked up from the papers on my desk. My secretary, Denise, was in the doorway, looking worried. She held an envelope.

"What notice?" I asked.

She inched closer and handed it to me. "Rutherford & Co. They're terminating their contract with us. Right away."

My chest tightened. "That's the fifth this week."

Denise nodded. "Yes, sir."

I ripped open the letter. It was just like the rest of them—courteous words, but no real explanation. "Unstable market conditions," "temporary withdrawal," "will reconsider in the future." Excuses.

"Leave me," I said softly.

Denise stood up and departed from the office. I reclined in my chair, staring at the ceiling. Five clients within a week. Something was amiss. I had done everything according to the book. Why were they all pulling out simultaneously?

The phone on my desk rang. I picked it up.

"Callum, it's Stanton." One of my directors. His voice was abrupt. "We have to meet. Investors are in a panic. We can't keep waiting."

"I know," I told him. "Call the others. Meeting in an hour."

---

The boardroom was electric. Nine directors ringed the table. Papers rustled, phones were answered. No one smiled.

Stanton slammed a folder onto the table. "That's the fifth contract we've lost. What the bloody hell is happening, Callum?"

"I'm working on it," I replied bluntly.

"Working on it?" another director, Harris, snapped. "We're hemorrhaging, and you tell us you're working on it? We've lost more in one week than in the last two years altogether."

I ground my teeth. "You think I don't know that?"

"Then fix it," Harris retorted. "Before this ship goes down."

The room fell silent.

I pushed the file away. "This is not the end. I will get fresh backing. Inform your investors to hold on."

The others exchanged glances. Doubt was written across their faces.

The meeting ended with mutterings and groans. I stayed back, holding the edge of the table. Something was happening behind my back. It was intentional, like someone was pulling strings to deny me backing.

---

That evening, as I flipped through yet another set of reports, there was a knock on the door to my study at home.

"Come on in," I said without looking up.

Perfume smell wafted before I even saw her.

"Evangeline," my voice was rough.

"You look exhausted." She muttered

I looked up. She stood there in a pale pink colored dress, eyes full of sympathy.

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

"I heard about the contracts." She stepped closer, her heels clicking on the ground. "I just wanted to be sure you're okay. I was worried."

I leaned back, studying her. "Everyone's worried."

She sat down next to me without invitation. "I don't like seeing you like that."

I gave a dry laugh. "Don't pretend."

She let her head drop, her voice soft. "I do care. You might not think so, but I want to assist."

I studied her face. Her lips trembled, her hands folded neatly in her lap. She looked sincere.

"Assist?" I answered.

"Yes," she said quickly. "You could employ me. Officially. I can talk to my father. He still owns Wilder Group. If I can persuade him, he might be willing to invest. That would reassure the other investors. It might even bring some back."

I frowned. "You want me to give you a job?"

She nodded. "Yes. I know people judge me, but I can show them. Let me do this for you."

I slowly shook my head. "And why would you? What do you get out of it?

Her eyes filled up. She leaned forward barely an inch. "Because I love you, Callum. Always have. Even if you don't love me the same way… I want to be with you. I can't sit around and watch you suffer."

There was a moment of silence between us.

Evangeline was my first love. Six years back, those words out of her mouth would have sparked something within me, maybe even made me feel safe.

But now?

I felt nothing. No relief. No warmth. Just a hollow emptiness in my chest, like the words were less than the space between us.

".Fine," I said finally, ending the hesitation abruptly. "Do whatever. Convince your father. If he invests, I'll keep you."

She smiled softly, relief creasing her face. "You won't regret it."

---

Two days later, Evangeline came back with papers. She presented them to me with pride. "My father has consented to consider investing. He will review the numbers, but he believes in me."

At the next board meeting, she stood by my side as if she’d always belonged there.

“Gentlemen,” she said politely, “Wilder Group is willing to extend bridge funding to Bronson Corp. This will secure our cash flow for the next quarter.”

The board members exchanged glances, and one of them, Stanton, nodded approvingly. “That’s good news. Very good news. Miss Wilder, you’ve done us a great service.”

Others chimed in with congratulations. Harris, who had previously snapped at me, also smiled. "Well done."

I said nothing, sitting there. Relief poured over me, but I did not smile.

Later, following the meeting, Stanton came up and ruffled me on the back. "You've got a good woman working for you, Callum. Don't let her slip away."

I could manage a smile. "We'll see."

As the room emptied, I noticed Evangeline standing singly by the window. She wasn't smiling at the board anymore. She smiled to herself quietly, eyes glinting with victory.

I raised an eyebrow. Wondering what that was about.

---

That night, as I poured a glass of whiskey in my office, I couldn't help but remember Zephyrine. I thought about her cold gaze at the gala, the way she swept past me like an ice sculpture. My chest tightened.

And then the face of Evangeline appeared before me, smiling naively at the board, sneering behind my back.

For now, she had rescued the company. For now, the downfall of my company had stopped.

But I knew her all too well. Evangeline never did anything for nothing.

And I wasn't sure that I was ready to pay.