THE INTERVIEW(Damien's POV)The morning of the interview Eleanor had arranged for me felt like the morning of my execution. I sat at the breakfast table, staring at food I couldn't eat while Eleanor briefed me on exactly what I was supposed to say to the cameras."You deeply regret the poor judgment you showed in getting involved with that woman," Eleanor said, reading from notes she had prepared. "You acknowledge that your actions reflected poorly on the Blackwood name and family values. You confirm that the relationship is completely over and that you're focusing on your responsibilities to the company."Victoria sat beside her, practically bouncing with excitement. "Oh, this is going to be perfect," she said. "The final nail in Serena's coffin. When people see Damien publicly disowning her, it will complete her humiliation."I felt sick. "What if I refuse?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.Eleanor's smile was cold. "We've been through this, Damien. You won't refuse. Becau
THE FINAL STAND(Serena's POV)Three days had passed since our decision to fight back, and those three days felt like three years. I had barely slept, barely eaten, barely left the office as we worked around the clock to gather evidence against Eleanor and try to save what remained of my company.Lucas had been our lifeline, digging through financial records, tracing money transfers, following digital breadcrumbs that might lead us to proof of Eleanor's corporate misconduct. His laptop never seemed to shut down, and his eyes were permanently bloodshot from staring at screens."I found something," he said suddenly, his voice cutting through the exhausted silence of our makeshift war room.We all rushed to his desk. Elena brought coffee that had gone cold hours ago, Jason abandoned his spreadsheets, and Adrian stopped pacing long enough to look over Lucas's shoulder."What is it?" I asked, my heart pounding with desperate hope.Lucas pointed to his screen, which showed a complex web of
ON THE BRINK(Serena's POV)The morning after the interview felt like waking up in a nightmare that wouldn't end. I arrived at the office at six AM, hoping to beat the media circus that was sure to be waiting outside the building. But even at that early hour, there were photographers camped on the sidewalk, their camera flashes going off like lightning as I hurried from my car to the lobby."Ms. Vaughn! Can you comment on the photos?""Serena! Do you regret your relationship with Damien Blackwood?""Is it true you're stepping down as CEO?"I kept my head down and walked quickly through the lobby, grateful when the elevator doors closed behind me and blocked out their shouted questions.When I reached the office, I found my team already there, huddled around Jason's computer like survivors of a shipwreck trying to figure out how to signal for rescue."How bad is it?" I asked, though I could tell from their faces that it was worse than bad.Elena looked up at me with exhausted eyes. "Th
THE BROKEN MAN(Damien's POV)The ride back to the Blackwood mansion felt like a funeral procession. Eleanor sat beside me in the back of the luxury car, scrolling through her phone with the satisfaction of a general who had just won a decisive battle. Every few seconds, she would show me a new headline, a new social media post, a new comment tearing Serena apart."Look at this one," Eleanor said, holding up her phone. "CEO Serena Vaughn: From Boardroom to Bedroom Scandal. The media is having such fun with this."I stared out the window at the city lights, each one a reminder that somewhere out there, Serena was dealing with the aftermath of what I had helped create through my cowardice."And this," Eleanor continued, clearly enjoying herself. "Stock price down seventy percent in after hours trading. Her investors are fleeing like rats from a sinking ship."Each update felt like another nail in my coffin. I had destroyed the woman I loved, and now I had to sit here and listen to Elean
WATCHING THE FALL(Damien's POV)I sat at my small desk in the corner, staring at the computer screen but not really seeing anything. The contracts Eleanor had made me sign were stacked beside me, each one a reminder of how completely I had surrendered my life to her control.Eleanor had been on phone calls all afternoon, her voice sharp and commanding as she orchestrated what she called the final phase. I tried not to listen, but fragments of her conversations cut through the air like knives."...photos ready for tonight?...make sure the interview goes live?...stock price falling perfectly..."Each word made my stomach twist with guilt and helplessness. She was destroying Serena methodically, and I could only sit here and watch it happen.At forty-five minutes past seven PM, Eleanor walked over to my desk with a satisfied smile. "You should watch this," she said, picking up the remote for the large TV mounted on the office wall. "It's about to get very interesting."The screen flicke
THE BREAKING POINT(Serena's POV)I stared at Elena's pale face, her words echoing in my head like a death sentence. Channel 7 News. Photos. Interview. The walls of my office felt like they were closing in on me, squeezing the air from my lungs."What did they say exactly?" I asked, my voice barely steady.Elena swallowed hard. "They want you to come in for an interview tonight. Live at eight o'clock. They said if you don't show up, they'll run the story anyway. With the photos."The photos. Those private moments with Damien that I thought belonged only to us. Now they would be everywhere. On every screen, every newspaper, every website. People would see me at my most vulnerable and judge me for it."How long do I have to decide?" I asked."They want an answer in thirty minutes," Elena said quietly.Jason looked up from his computer, his face grim. "Three more investors just pulled out. Miller Group, Davidson Holdings, and Fitzgerald Capital. That's another forty million gone."Each n