“Love does not destroy someone else to make room for itself.”
“I was scared.”
“You were jealous.”
“I thought she was using you.”
“So you tried to ruin her.”
Khloe’s voice cracked.
“What was I supposed to do? Watch you fall for someone who doesn't belong in your world?”
The room became silent.
Alex said:
“That sentence is exactly why you don’t belong in mine.”
Khloe flinched.
He continued:
“You’re suspended effective immediately.”
“An independent investigation starts tonight.”
“If legal determines laws were violated, we cooperate.”
Khloe stared.
“After everything I’ve done for this company?”
“Your work is not immunity.”
She began crying.
Alex did not enjoy it.
He had expected anger to feel cleaner.
It did not.
Accountability rarely did.
By morning, Harper Global issued an internal statement.
The allegations against Maya Evans were false.
The security search had been improperly initiated based on unverified information.
The company apologized.
The employee responsible had been suspended pending investigation.
Alex insisted his name appear beneath it.
Then he drove to Beacon Hill.
Not in the black SUV.
In an old gray Volvo that had belonged to Emma.
He parked two blocks away because there was no space.
Maya opened the apartment door.
She looked tired.
“You found me.”
“You gave me your address after coffee three.”
“I regret paperwork.”
He almost smiled.
She did not.
Alex’s face became serious.
“I’m sorry.”
“You already said.”
“Not enough.”
Maya stepped into hallway and closed door behind her.
“My mother’s asleep.”
Alex nodded.
He held no flowers.
No expensive gift.
Good.
Maya crossed her arms.
“Did you fire her?”
“Suspended.”
“Investigation.”
“She admitted it.”
Maya looked away.
“Why?”
“Jealousy.”
“Of me?”
“Yes.”
“That is insane.”
“I agree.”
Maya looked back.
“You made it worse.”
Alex froze.
“How?”
“You hid who you were.”
He stared.
“You knew I didn’t understand what being near you meant.”
“That people would watch.”
“Judge.”
“Dig into me.”
“Turn me into a story.”
“I thought hiding the title would protect what we had.”
“It protected you.”
That landed.
Maya continued.
“You got to find out whether I liked Alex.”
“I didn’t get to decide whether I wanted the life around Alex Harper.”
He had no defense.
Because she was right.
“I was afraid.”
Maya’s voice softened slightly.
“I know.”
“That doesn’t make it fair.”
“No.”
He looked at the floor.
“I had three relationships before you.”
“Two engagements.”
“One almost.”
“Every time, the money entered the room first.”
“I started believing nobody could see past it.”
“So I tried to let you meet me before the rest.”
Maya listened.
Alex continued.
“But you’re right.”
“I made the choice for you.”
“Yes.”
“I’m sorry.”
Silence.
Maya leaned against the wall.