Chapter 4

I shook her hand off. Savannah stumbled back two steps, then slapped me across the face.

My ear rang. She lowered her voice. "That's a reminder not to covet what isn't yours."

I slapped her right back, but Malcolm pushed the door open just in time to see Savannah fall against the lockers. He crossed the room in two strides and seized my wrist.

"June, what the hell are you doing?"

Savannah held her face and cried. "Don't blame her. I told her you didn't like her, and she just couldn't handle it."

Malcolm's grip tightened instantly. "Apologize to her."

"She hit me first."

"Enough."

He shoved me back. My lower back slammed into the corner of a locker, and the pain doubled me over on the spot. Malcolm reached out to steady me, but the moment he saw coworkers flooding in, he pulled his hand back.

Someone noticed the handprint on Savannah's cheek and immediately called HR.

"June's been out of control lately. Stealing projects, pushing people, and now hitting someone."

"This can't really be about Mr. Ridgeway, can it?"

"She's been to his apartment. I always thought something was off."

Savannah shook her head through her tears. "Please, everyone, stop. June probably just misunderstood my relationship with Malcolm."

The HR manager looked at Malcolm. "Mr. Ridgeway, should we call the police?"

"We'll handle it internally." His voice was cold.

"June is suspended from all duties pending an investigation."

I forced myself upright. "What about when she hit me?"

Malcolm's gaze caught the finger marks on my face, and something flickered in his eyes. But Savannah beat him to it.

"I didn't. Do you have proof?"

The locker room camera had been broken since last week. Malcolm knew, because the repair request was one I'd handed to him to sign myself.

I looked at him. "Who do you believe?"

"Savannah wouldn't hit someone first."

Just like that, every explanation I could have offered became pointless.

That afternoon, an anonymous article appeared online accusing me of harassing a senior executive at the company long-term and leveraging a personal relationship to steal projects. It included photos of me coming and going from Malcolm's apartment.

It didn't take long for the article to reach the client channels. Stellara demanded the company replace their point of contact immediately.

Malcolm called me into the conference room, and a statement sat on the table.

"Sign this. Admit that you harassed me due to a personal obsession, and the company will keep you on."

I read every word. In the statement, I was the one who'd been stalking my boss, bullying my coworkers, and claiming credit for other people's work.

"What if I don't sign?"

"Termination."

"Those photos are real." I looked at him. "You know exactly why I was at your apartment."

Malcolm dropped his voice. "That's exactly why I'm trying to clean this up for you. If this blows up, the only thing people will say is that you slept your way to the top."

"Then go public about us."

"Going public now would only confirm the rumors."

"Malcolm, you said you'd tell everyone soon."

"June, don't be difficult about this. Not now."

The hallway outside the conference room was packed with people waiting for the outcome. Savannah walked in and set a printout of an email on the table.

"Stellara received a report claiming June stole my proposal. Malcolm, the company has to give the client an answer."

The report included screenshots of project files. The timestamps had been cropped out, leaving only Savannah's name.

Malcolm glanced at them. "June, just sign."

"You watched me build that proposal with your own eyes."

For the past three months, I'd been up late revising drafts at his apartment. Malcolm had made coffee for me, sat beside me, and listened to me walk through the entire concept. He knew the truth better than anyone.

"The company's interests outweigh personal grievances." He pushed the pen toward me.

"Take the fall for now. Once this blows over, I'll make it up to you."

I didn't take it. HR, legal, and the project team filed into the conference room one by one. Someone demanded an answer in front of everyone.

"June, what exactly is your relationship with Mr. Ridgeway? Have you been using it to pressure him this whole time?"

I looked at Malcolm. "Mr. Ridgeway, were we ever together?"

Malcolm's fingers went still. Savannah stood beside him and murmured, "Everyone's waiting for your answer."

He wouldn't meet my eyes. "No."

Two years of holding each other, of goodnights, of birthdays and anniversaries, and he wiped it all away in a single word.

Laughter rippled through the room. I picked up the statement, and Malcolm's expression eased.

"Sign it and go home for now. I'll handle the rest."

I tore the statement in half, then tore it again, letting the pieces scatter across the table.

"Since we were never together, let's keep this strictly professional."

I placed my resignation letter and a copyright registration certificate in front of him.

"The original copyright for the Stellara proposal belongs to me. The registration date is three months before the company even greenlit the project."

Malcolm's expression shifted. Outside the conference room, the legal counsel's phone rang at the same time. He answered, listened for a few seconds, and looked at me sharply.

"Mr. Ridgeway, Stellara has terminated the partnership."

Before the words had even settled, two officials walked through the door.

"We've received a formal complaint filed by Ms. Arden regarding intellectual property infringement and workplace defamation. We'll need your company's full cooperation with the investigation."