CLAMPED WITH ME FOREVER

throughout my mind. I rose up from my desk, smoothing down my skirt after taking a big breath. Since the merger, there has

heart pounding as I ma

hen I walked in. Although his face was glowing warmly from the late afternoo

?" Shutting the door be

d to face me. "I need to discus

knots as I nodde

and the risks we're taking a lot." He took a moment to run a hand th

my heart sink.

ything going on, I really can't afford to be distr

ly. "Unfortunately, I didn't rea

comes first." Right now, our relationship needs to take a backseat.

to remain composed. What are you saying, t

what I mean." We ought to conceal our relationship for the

I'm not sure whether I can pull that off. I want to be open and

understand, but there's nothing we can do to protect you. Alexandra poses a thre

right," I muttered, my voice hardly audible. "Let

me close. "I'm grateful, Emily. I

dangers, but I also believed that our relationship was valuable. The days that followed were hazy with strain and confusion. We kept our interactions at the office to a strictly professional minimu

arranging files methodically and getting ready for meetings. I wanted to show him that I was a p

when I got a text from Julian asking if

headed for the conference room, curious as to what he wished to talk a

tter? With anxiety in

fter reviewing the figures, I believe Alexandra is preparing something. Please loo

ing so serious made my heart race. Na

smile appearing on his face. "Withou

er to keep Julian safe. The following few days passed in a blur of late hours and never-ending spreadsheets. I went through all of the financial records, looking for a

ation. There was a string of unaccounted-for transactions hidden away in the data. As I transferre

looked up, I saw him standing in the doorway with a worri

mething. There are transactions here that don't correspond with

expression serious

the knot in his jaw tighten as he skimmed the data. His voice was lo

need to confront her." "She can

e shook his head. I cannot jeopardize

d, "I'm not afraid." "Toget

d. She must not see us approaching. We scheduled a meeting with Alexandra for the following day at a small café that isn't attached to

th a sarcastic greeting. "Wh

dra, stop the small talk." "We

she straightened herself. Oh, I see. And wh

e table. "We have proof that you have manipulated our f

ge. Do you think I'll be intimidated by this

actly who we're dealing with." "And

ge. Do you believe you can intimidate me? My enterprise was constructed from the g

e're not going to give up. If necess

ld. Do you truly believe you can defeat me? You're not

I possess integrity, something you lack. Though you m

nsion between us crackled. I had a glimpse of hop

et's see how this plays out." "But trust me

for whatever came next. Our confrontation with Alexandra had immediate consequences. The corporat

t there. In an attempt to comfort him, I said, "We did wha

However, I'm concerned about the consequen

t us." "The truth is on our side. We can

he turned to face me. "You're accur

ampaign, disseminating false information and rumors about Julian and the business.

let her win," in a strong t

, "I'm trying." "However, it seem

. We have this in common. We'll f

"Okay, okay, okay. With an air of contempt, she replied, "Look who's still

g voice, Julian com

he answered with a menacing grin. "I ha

mean." With a beat

you. With a malicious grin in her eyes, Alexa

stern. "This will not

nd bounded out of the off

iver down my spine. "Julian, we must be p

et rid of the feeling that something significant was about to happen. I knew that our love would be put to the ultimate test in w

lief that love might triumph over