THE TRAP
The scandal hit at noon.
"Elara Wynn accused of seducing CEO for promotion."
Phones buzzed. Screens lit up. Whispers exploded across the office like wildfire.
Elara stared at the headline on her screen, heart dropping.
"What…?"
Attached were blurry photos of her getting into Lucien's car. Carefully cropped. Perfectly timed.
A trap.
She stood slowly, eyes burning.
Serena.
It had to be her.
"Elara," a coworker whispered, "is it true?"
Elara straightened her shoulders.
"No."
But doubt had already spread.
She marched toward Lucien's office—ignoring stares, ignoring judgment.
Inside, he was already on his phone, voice cold.
"Pull the IP address," he ordered. "I want to know who leaked it."
He hung up when he saw her.
"You saw."
"Yes," she said tightly. "This is your world."
Lucien stepped closer.
"I'll handle it."
"Handle it?" she snapped. "My reputation is burning!"
"You think I don't know that?" he shot back.
Silence.
Then his voice softened.
"I won't let them destroy you."
Her eyes burned.
"You're the reason they can."
He froze.
"Maybe," he admitted. "But I'll also be the one who ends it."
A knock interrupted them.
Evan.
Security couldn't stop him.
"I knew it," Evan said bitterly. "They're dragging your name through dirt because of him."
Elara clenched her fists.
"Leave."
"No," he said. "You deserve better."
Lucien laughed darkly.
"You already proved you don't."
Evan lunged.
Lucien caught his collar.
"Touch me," Evan warned, "and I'll expose everything."
Elara stepped forward.
"Stop!" she shouted.
They froze.
"I won't be your battlefield," she said. "Not again."
She turned to Evan.
"You left when I needed you most."
Then Lucien.
"You control everything."
Her voice shook.
"And I'm tired."
She stormed out.
Lucien watched her go, something painful tightening in his chest.
Serena watched from the hallway.
And she smiled.