dinners and late-night conversations became their solace, a reprieve from the constant scrutiny they faced in the office. Emma found herself growing closer to Alexander in ways she never thought po

ep in mind that perception is everything." Emma left the room feeling a mix of anger and unease. Lauren's warning was thinly veiled, but it was a reminder of the precarious position she was in. That evening, Emma told Alexander about the meeting. He listened intently, his jaw clenching as she recounted Lauren's words. "She has no right to question you," Alexander said, his voice low and dangerous. "I'll deal with her." "No," Emma said firmly. "I handled it. If you intervene, it'll only make things worse." Alexander hesitated, then sighed. "I hate that this is happening to you because of me." "It's not your fault," Emma said, her tone softening. "But we need to figure out how to move forward. This can't go on like this." Alexander nodded, his gaze steady. "You're right. It's time to face this head-on." Emma looked at him, her chest tightening. "What do you mean?" "I mean we stop hiding," Alexander said, his voice calm but resolute. "If we're going to be together, we can't let fear control us. It's time to make it clear that our relationship doesn't compromise our professionalism or the integrity of the company." Emma's heart skipped a beat. The thought of going public with their relationship terrified her, but Alexander's confidence was steadying. "Do you really think that's the right move?" "Yes," he said without hesitation. "I'll prepare a statement, make it clear to the board and the employees that there's no conflict of interest. I'll even step back from overseeing your department if that's what it takes." Emma's eyes widened. "You'd do that?" "For you? Absolutely," Alexander said, stepping closer. "I don't want to lose you, Emma. And I'm done letting other people dictate how we live our lives." His words touched something deep inside her, and for the first time in weeks, she felt a glimmer of hope. "Alright," she said finally. "Let's do it." The following week was a blur of preparations. Alexander met with his legal team and HR department to draft a formal announcement. He insisted on full transparency, ensuring that their relationship would be above reproach. Emma, meanwhi