Chapter 1: The Call That Broke the Morning
Sebastian stepped away from the bed, his mind still tangled in Valerie’s quiet confession, and answered the call with a tone that tried to reclaim control.
“Mara, what happened?”
Her voice was sharp, already in motion. “You need to turn on the news. Now. And don’t leave that apartment.”
A cold line traced down his spine. “Just tell me.”
“There’s an investigation tied to Crown Meridian. Financial misconduct. Your name is being mentioned—not formally charged yet, but it’s spreading fast. Reporters are already digging.”
Sebastian’s jaw tightened. For years, he had walked the edge of risk without falling. He understood exposure, reputation, pressure. But this—this felt different. Not because of the situation itself, but because of where he stood in that moment.
Not in a boardroom.
Not behind a deal.
But in a room where someone had trusted him more than he deserved.
“I’ll handle it,” he said, though the words felt thinner than usual.
Mara didn’t soften. “Handle it carefully. This isn’t just business noise. This is personal now. They’re looking for anything that can stick.”
The line went dead.
He lowered the phone slowly, staring at his reflection in the dark screen. For the first time in a long while, the man looking back didn’t seem untouchable. He looked… exposed.
Behind him, Valerie hadn’t moved.
And suddenly, he understood: the real damage in this room wasn’t on the news.
It was on the bed.