Chapter: The Slow Unraveling

Rhea Sloane wasn’t used to being vulnerable. She had spent her entire career building a fortress around herself, stone by stone. Every inch of her empire was a reflection of her strength, her relentless pursuit of power, and her refusal to bend to anyone. But now, sitting across from Damian Vale in the dimly lit conference room, she felt something she hadn’t expected: the slow unraveling of the wall she had spent years constructing.

The meeting was supposed to be about damage control. The leak had only gotten worse since the call with Damian. News outlets were running headlines about her involvement in the breach, and social media was buzzing with speculation. ValeCorp was in jeopardy, and yet, Rhea couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that this wasn’t just about the company anymore. It was about her.

Damian’s presence in the room was both a comfort and a threat. She’d always known how powerful he was—how he could manipulate situations with the ease of a master puppeteer. But today, as he sat across from her, his demeanor less cold and more calculating, she couldn’t help but wonder if he was the one person she couldn’t control.

“Rhea, I need to know everything,” Damian said, his voice smooth but firm. “If you want me to fix this, we can’t leave anything to chance. I need the full picture.”

She met his gaze, feeling the weight of his scrutiny. He wasn’t just asking for facts. He was asking her to lower her guard. And for the first time in her life, she realized that she wanted to.

Her fingers traced the edge of the conference table, a nervous habit she hadn’t noticed until now. She cleared her throat, trying to regain some semblance of control. “I don’t know how this happened,” she said, her voice steady but betraying a flicker of uncertainty. “I’ve always been careful. Too careful, maybe. But I didn’t account for someone inside the company.”

Damian leaned forward, his dark eyes piercing her with their intensity. “Someone close to you?”

Rhea hesitated. “I don’t know. I’ve been reviewing the records, but... there’s nothing obvious. No clear indication of who could have done this.”

Damian let out a low sigh, his fingers tapping lightly on the table. “We need to dig deeper. If this leak is from within, it’s going to be more complicated than you think. Trust issues, betrayal—it’s not just about the files anymore, Rhea. It’s about finding the person who’s been feeding information.”

Rhea’s chest tightened at his words. She wasn’t used to feeling this exposed, but Damian’s directness stripped away the layers of arrogance she usually hid behind. She had always thought she was untouchable. She had always been the one calling the shots, making the decisions. But sitting here, in this moment, it felt like everything was slipping away.

“I know,” she muttered. “But I need more time. I need to figure out who can be trusted.”

Damian’s lips curved into a faint smile, but there was no humor in it. “Time isn’t on your side, Rhea. The longer you wait, the worse this gets. And the longer you keep people at arm’s length, the harder it’s going to be to fix this.”

The words stung more than she expected. She could feel the knot in her stomach tighten. It was true. She had spent so many years pushing people away, maintaining control at all costs. But now, as she sat across from Damian, she realized something she hadn’t fully understood until now: her walls were starting to crumble. And for the first time, she didn’t feel

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