All Chapters of Beneath the Surface : Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

The golden invitation sparkled under the dim light of my apartment. Its embossed lettering “Sinclair Foundation Annual Gala” seemed to taunt me. This was an event for people who had made it, who belonged. Not for someone like me, struggling to keep the lights on in a cramped one-bedroom in Queens.Still, I couldn’t ignore what it represented: opportunity.I adjusted the hem of my rented black dress for the fifth time, staring into the cracked mirror above my dresser. “You’ve got this,” I whispered, though my reflection looked unconvinced. The dress was elegant but simple, a far cry from the designer gowns I imagined would fill the Sinclair ballroom. Still, it would have to do.The Sinclair Hotel loomed like a fortress of luxury in the heart of Manhattan. Its glittering chandeliers and polished marble floors whispered wealth and power. I clutched the invitation tightly, nerves bubbling as I stepped into the grand foyer.Inside the ballroom, the grandeur was overwhelming. Crystal chande

The weeks that followed that night were filled with a strange tension that hung heavily in the air. Every day felt like a balancing act between the professional Lila everyone saw and the broken woman I was trying so hard to hide. Drew’s behavior became even colder, more distant. He kept our interactions as brief and formal as possible, like we were two strangers in a room full of people who knew better than to ask questions. He said nothing more about the night we shared, and I couldn’t bring myself to ask. Every time I saw him, my heart clenched, a painful reminder of everything I wanted to forget.It was like that kiss, that night, had been nothing but a fleeting moment, erased from both our lives the second the sun came up. And part of me wanted to believe it was just a mistake; a one-time lapse in judgment. But the other part of me, the part that burned with unanswered questions, couldn’t shake the memory of how he had held me. How his touch had set something alight inside me, so

The rest of the day passed in a haze, but my mind was stuck in a loop, replaying Drew’s piercing gaze as he walked away. His eyes had spoken volumes, even if his lips stayed sealed. I could still feel the chill of his unspoken accusation, as though my mere interaction with Max was some kind of betrayal.Max, ever observant, had noticed my distraction. He insisted on walking me to my car after work, claiming it was “just to catch up,” but I suspected he had picked up on the lingering tension from Drew’s appearance.“So,” Max started, leaning casually against my car, “is it always that intense between you two, or was today just special?”I hesitated, fumbling with my keys as I avoided his gaze. “Drew’s just... complicated,” I said, the words tasting bitter on my tongue. “He’s not really the kind of person who lets people in.”Max tilted his head, his expression softening. “And yet, you’re working for him.”“It’s complicated,” I repeated, but the words felt hollow. Was it really complica

I blinked, shaking my head to clear the sudden cloud of emotions. Drew’s retreating form was still there in the back of my mind, but I forced myself to focus on the man standing next to me.“Yeah,” I muttered, though I didn’t feel it. “Just… caught off guard.”Max looked between Drew and me, sensing the tension. “I’ve never seen a man so indifferent,” he said, his tone carefully casual. “What’s going on there?”I didn’t know how to answer that. What was going on with Drew? Did he even care about what he was doing to me?“He’s complicated,” I said, offering a half-hearted shrug. I wasn’t going to open up about it especially not to Max. We weren’t there yet. And anyway, I wasn’t even sure I knew how to explain it.Max frowned, clearly not buying it, but he didn’t press. “Right. Well, how about we finally get out of here before you go back to thinking about that guy?”I smiled at the attempt to lighten the mood, though the tightness in my chest made it hard to genuinely enjoy the gesture

The meeting room was as cold as the tension that hung in the air. Drew stood at the head of the table, his arms folded, his jaw tight. His usual commanding presence felt heavier today, and his silence was deafening.I could feel the unease radiating from everyone in the room. Papers shuffled, chairs creaked, but no one dared speak. Drew’s sharp gaze swept across the table, his presence demanding attention. A wave of unease rippled through the team. Papers shuffled, chairs creaked, but no one dared to say anything. I froze in my seat, my pulse quickening. The air felt thick, suffocating.“What do you mean compromised?” someone asked, their voice hesitant.Drew’s sharp gaze swept across the table. “Leaked,” he said bluntly. “Information about our launch strategy was leaked.”Murmurs broke out instantly. Some people exchanged glances, while others leaned forward, whispering among themselves.“We don’t know the extent of the leak yet,” Drew continued, his tone even but cold, “but we’re f