Chapter 5 – Leaked
The entire office seemed to hum with tension as Lara stepped through the glass doors of Vale Group the next morning. People nodded politely...too politely. She could hear them whispering but chose to ignore, She looked at everyone and their eyes darted away just a second too late.
She didn't need to ask. She knew something had been released....something ugly.
Nina was already waiting by her office, her tablet in hand with a pale face.
"Morning," Lara said calmly.
"Lara… you need to see this."
The moment Lara saw the headline, her jaw clenched.
EXCLUSIVE: COO Lara Alden's Wild Party Past – Is This the Woman Running Vale Group?
Her fingers tightened slightly around the tablet. On the screen was a grainy years-old photos of her, when she was twenty-four, in a red cup-fueled rooftop party haze. She was sitting on a man's lap, one she couldn't remember. Her laughter mid-shot wearing a smudged makeup, her middle finger raised to whoever held the camera.
It was reckless. Real. And irrelevant.
Her lips parted, but no sound came out. She didn't flinch, but something sharp ,shifted in her chest.
Only one person had these photos
Nina cleared her throat. "PR wants to meet. Legal, too."
"Tell them I'll handle the press," Lara said. "And arrange the boardroom in thirty everyone should be there."
"And Ethan?"
Lara paused. Her reflection in the office glass stared back at her flawless but tired.
"Everyone."
Just then her phone vibrated twice before she picked up.
"Lara."
"Don't explain," she said. "Just ask yourself who would benefit from this the most."
There was a beat of silence.
"I didn't know she'd do this."
"You didn't know, or you didn't want to admit it?"
"I didn't know."
Lara closed her eyes briefly. "Then maybe it's time you start paying attention." She said and hung up immediately.
Later that afternoon, the boardroom was filled with executive silence.
Lara stood at the head of the table, spine straight, and a remote in hand.
"I understand there's been some concern over my personal life," she began.
A few directors shifted uncomfortably. One cleared his throat.
She clicked a button. The scandalous photos appeared behind her on the screen.
"I won't insult your intelligence by pretending these aren't real. They are. I was young, careless, and drinking legally on a private rooftop. It was a bad decision not a criminal one."
She stepped forward.
"But let's not confuse personal history with professional capacity. Since stepping into this role, I've led six successful client renegotiations, two merger discussions, and a company-wide audit that uncovered internal embezzlement you all missed."
A dead silence followed.
"I don't pretend to be perfect. But if a couple of cheap photos can question my credibility, perhaps it's not my leadership that's weak. It's your faith in women who make mistakes and still rise."
One of the older board members slowly leaned back in his chair. Then he nodded.
The rest followed. It was clear she was in charged
Ethan was waiting just outside the boardroom, leaning against the far wall. His eyes met hers the moment the door opened. There was regret in them. And something deeper.
He took a step forward.
"Lara, I..."
But before he could finish, another voice beat him to it.
"Impressive."
She turned to find a man standing just off to the side, arms loosely crossed, eyes warm with a quiet intensity.
"I'm sorry," he said, stepping forward, "I know that probably sounded abrupt. But I could not say something."
Lara blinked. "Do I know you?"
"Adrian Stone," he said, extending his hand. "I work in finance, consulting mostly. I was here for a separate pitch....well, until I watched you speak in there. That was... gutsy."
Lara glanced briefly at Ethan, then back at Adrian. "Thank you."
"I admire women who can handle a room full of men trying to minimize them," Adrian continued, his gaze steady. "You didn't just survive that. You owned it."
She let out a small laugh. "I've had practice."
"I hope this isn't too forward," Adrian added, "but I'd like to buy you a coffee sometime. Just a conversation. You're fascinating."
Before Lara could respond, Ethan finally spoke.
"She's busy," he said, too quickly.
Adrian looked at him slowly. "And you are?"
"Ethan Vale."
Adrian nodded, his expression unreadable. "Right. The ex."
Ethan's jaw tightened. "We still work together."
Adrian turned back to Lara, his smile returning. "Well, whenever you're free, I'll be around. My office is across the street." He handed her a card. "No pressure, Just admiration."
Lara took the card, more amused than anything else.
"Have a good day," Adrian said, before walking off with a casual stride.
Ethan stared at her. "You're not actually considering that."
She arched a brow. "Why? You get to move on, but I don't?"
He hesitated. "It's not that. He's just… opportunistic."
"Maybe. Or maybe he just saw something worth admiring." She pocketed the card and walked away, her heels clicking like punctuation.
Ethan watched her go, his throat tight.
And for the first time in a long while, he realized he might not be able to fix this.
Only if she knew or if he had chosen her over everything at the altar.