Part 14 –
The morning after the leak, the city woke up to a storm.
But it wasn't the kind Ethan Wolfe's enemies had predicted.
It was something else entirely.
7:02 A.M. – Wolfe Enterprises Media Monitoring Office
Screens flashed with headlines from every major outlet:
"More Than a Scandal: Wolfe Enterprises Assistant Speaks Truth"
– Wall Street Wire
"A Power Couple in the Making? Lila Hart's Brave Statement Flips the Narrative"
– The Daily Business Digest
"'I'm Not Ashamed': Lila Hart Sparks Corporate Feminism Conversation"
– HerCity Journal
Clips from the leaked video played in a loop: Ethan holding her, his voice full of fear and honesty, and Lila telling him she wasn't going anywhere.
It wasn't the scandal they'd hoped for.
It was something powerful. Real.
And the world was watching.
10:31 A.M. – Ethan's Office
Ethan stood behind his desk, jaw tight, suit crisp but eyes bloodshot.
Kael, his head of security, stood nearby, reading off a tablet.
"Public sentiment has shifted," Kael said. "Favorable press up by 48%. Shareholders are calling it 'a rare display of authentic leadership.'"
Ethan didn't smile.
He couldn't.
Because while the world applauded… all he could think about was her.
What she'd risked. What she'd done.
For him.
He picked up his phone for the fourth time, thumb hovering over her name in his favorites.
Still, he didn't call.
Because part of him was terrified he didn't deserve her anymore.
11:45 A.M. – Lila's Apartment
Lila stood at her window, arms crossed, coffee forgotten on the table.
Her phone had exploded overnight journalists, influencers, women from all across the country thanking her for being brave, for refusing to apologize.
Even Maya, her once-shy intern, had texted:
"You're the reason I believe I can be more than someone's assistant. Thank you."
But Lila didn't feel brave.
She felt exposed.
Stripped down to every fear and truth she had kept locked behind professionalism and grace.
There was a knock at the door.
She turned, cautiously opening it.
It wasn't press.
It was him.
Ethan Wolfe – Uninvited and Unshaven
He looked like he hadn't slept.
No guards. No entourage. Just a man standing in the hallway with eyes full of regret and awe.
"I shouldn't be here," he said.
Lila tilted her head. "But you are."
"I saw the video," he said. "Saw what you did. What you said. You stood in front of the entire world and didn't flinch."
"I was tired of hiding," she said. "And tired of being used."
Ethan stepped forward, slow. Controlled. Like he didn't know if he still had the right to touch her.
"I let them come for you," he said. "Because I thought shielding you meant stepping away. But all I really did was abandon you."
There was silence between them.
Then Lila spoke softly. "You didn't ask me what I wanted. You decided for both of us."
He nodded. "You're right."
His voice cracked.
"I was scared. Not of them but of how much I feel when I'm with you. Of how you make me want to be something better than the man they all think I am."
Lila stepped closer, heart racing.
"You don't need to be better, Ethan. You just need to be real."
He reached out, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "You made me real, Lila."
A beat passed.
And then she whispered, "I'm still scared."
"Me too," he said.
And this time, when they kissed, it wasn't desperate or forbidden.
It was right.
Meanwhile – Gregory Slate's Office
Gregory stood before his private legal team, rage simmering beneath his tailored calm.
"The PR stunt worked. Public opinion's on their side now. He's untouchable again."
One of the advisors shifted uncomfortably. "Do we escalate?"
"No," Gregory said coldly. "We bury them."
He turned to a locked drawer and pulled out a thick file.
Inside were old photographs.
Bank statements.
And a classified agreement with a single name highlighted in red:
Ethan Wolfe's father.
Back at Lila's Place
Wrapped in his arms on her couch, Lila felt something she hadn't in days.
Safe.
But she also knew this wasn't over.
It was only beginning.