Chapter 47
The air in the Barrett Industries boardroom was tense, charged with the palpable frustration of its members. The long, polished mahogany table was surrounded by the company’s top executives, their faces grim as murmurs filled the room.
Alex stood at the head of the table, his jaw tight as he scanned the faces of his board. Each pair of eyes reflected the same sentiment: doubt.
“False accusations, scandalous headlines, and plunging stock confidence,” one of the board members said, his voice sharp. “This company has weathered storms before, Alex, but the current situation is dangerously close to spiraling out of control.”
Another voice chimed in. “We’ve been inundated with media requests for comment about the Barrett family’s role in these rumors surrounding Emma Barrett. Her past, the contract details—everything’s under scrutiny.”
Alex’s chest tightened. For weeks, he had been battling the fallout from Elliana Diaz’s schemes, her parting blow aimed at destabilizing both him and the company. Fabricated documents, anonymous accusations and leaks tied to Barrett Industries were flooding the business world.
It wasn’t just his reputation at stake anymore—it was the legacy of the company he had sworn to protect.
Marcus stood near the back of the room, arms crossed, watching the exchange unfold with a hawk-like focus. He could feel the pressure mounting, the way the board’s trust in Alex was wavering under the weight of the relentless attacks.
“Mr. Barrett,” one of the older members said, his tone cautious but firm, “we need decisive action. This isn’t just about you anymore—it’s about the stability of this company. Our investors are growing restless.”
Alex nodded, his expression impassive but his mind racing. He had built his career on staying cool under pressure, but this was different. This wasn’t just a business problem—it was personal, tangled with emotions he had spent months trying to suppress.
“Let’s be clear about the stakes,” Marcus interjected, stepping forward. His sharp tone silenced the murmurs. “These rumors and accusations are strategically targeted. Someone orchestrated this to hit Barrett Industries where it hurts the most: at its credibility.”
“And what do you propose we do about it?” another board member asked, his tone skeptical. “The damage is already done.”
“Not entirely,” Marcus replied, his eyes narrowing. “We can still turn this around, but it requires bold action. That starts with addressing the root of these rumors head-on.”
Alex raised an eyebrow, turning his attention to Marcus. “What are you suggesting?”
Marcus glanced at the table, then back at Alex. “Emma.”
The room fell silent, tension thick in the air.
“Bringing Emma back to Barrett Industries,” Marcus continued, his voice measured. “Not as a defensive move, but as a statement. A clear, public message that the company stands behind her, and that her role here has always been based on merit—not the lies being spread about her.”
One of the board members scoffed. “You think parading her around is going to fix this? The media will eat her alive.”
Marcus’s jaw tightened. “No. I think showing the truth is the only way to silence these rumors. Emma Barrett has faced these attacks with more resilience than most people in this room could muster. It’s time the company showed the same strength by supporting her.”
Alex’s mind churned as he processed Marcus’s words. The idea of bringing Emma back was both compelling and complicated. It was the kind of move that could either save their reputation—or sink it entirely.
But as he thought about the work Emma had done for the company before the scandal, her intelligence and determination, he realized Marcus was right.
“She’s the best candidate to refute these claims,” Alex said finally, his voice steady. “Not because of her connection to me, but because of her own accomplishments.”
The murmurs started again, a mixture of doubt and cautious agreement.
“We’ll need a carefully crafted PR strategy,” another board member said. “Something that highlights her contributions to the company without drawing more attention to the personal aspects.”
“I’ll handle that,” Marcus said, his tone sharp. “But this only works if Emma agrees. She has no obligation to help us clean up this mess, and frankly, I wouldn’t blame her if she told us all to go to hell.”
Alex stiffened at the thought. Emma had every reason to refuse—after everything he had put her through, why would she want to step back into the chaos of Barrett Industries?
But he had to try.
Later that evening, Alex sat in his office, the city lights casting long shadows across the room. The board meeting had adjourned hours ago, but the weight of the discussion lingered like an unshakable presence.
His phone sat on the desk in front of him, Emma’s number pulled up on the screen. He stared at it for a long moment, his thumb hovering over the call button.
He couldn’t stop thinking about her—her strength, her determination, the way she had faced every obstacle with grace even as the world tried to tear her down.
But he also couldn’t ignore the pain in her eyes during their last conversation, the way she had rejected his plea to save their marriage.
Alex paced the length of his office, his mind a storm of determination and regret. Less than a week had passed since his last conversation with Emma, a conversation that had left him reeling.
Her rejection, the pain in her eyes as she told him it was too late, had etched itself into his memory. And yet, Alex couldn’t shake the feeling that he couldn’t let things end like this—not with their marriage, not with their legacy.
Barrett Industries was crumbling under the weight of false accusations, and the board was in chaos. He needed Emma—not just to stabilize the company but because he knew, deep down, that she was the heart of everything he had built.
His finger hovered over her name on his phone, hesitation gripping him. Was he pushing too far, too fast? Would she even listen?
No, he thought firmly. She needs to hear this.
Emma might not trust him now, but he was determined to prove himself. If earning her trust meant starting with the company they had built together, then so be it. He would restore her reputation, rebuild their foundation, and fight for the chance to make her believe in him again.
Because no matter how many battles lay ahead, Alex knew one thing: he wasn’t ready to let her go. Not yet.
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