Whispers In The Boardroom

Chapter 17: Public Display

The morning had started out with the usual hum of activity at the office, but Emma couldn't shake the lingering thoughts of Alexander's ex and the turmoil she had caused. Still, she was determined to keep a brave face and carry on with her day. She and Alexander had agreed to keep their relationship a secret, but the closer they became, the more difficult it was to maintain the charade.

They were on their way to the cafeteria for lunch when Alexander, unable to resist, placed a hand lightly on the small of Emma's back. His touch sent a shiver down her spine, and he leaned in close, his lips brushing her ear as he whispered, "You smell so good today."

Emma's face flushed with warmth, her heart racing at the intimacy of the moment. For a brief second, she forgot they were in the middle of the office, surrounded by colleagues. She tilted her head slightly towards him, letting herself enjoy the moment. But then, reality crashed back, and she pulled away, her eyes darting around to see if anyone had noticed.

They quickly resumed a more professional distance, their expressions carefully neutral. But it was too late; a few team members had already caught the brief interaction. Confusion flickered across their faces, but they shrugged it off. Alexander was known to be rigid and introverted, especially at work. His cold demeanor toward women had even sparked rumors that he might be into men, a speculation that made Emma's stomach churn whenever she heard it.

Later, while Emma was organizing files, she overheard a few employees gossiping in the break room. "I bet Mr. Kincaid's not even interested in women," one of them said with a smirk. "He's always so cold to every girl who tries to get close to him."

Emma felt a surge of anger rise in her chest. She couldn't stay silent. "That's not true!" she snapped, turning to face them. "Mr. Kincaid is just professional and expects the same from everyone else."

The room went silent, and the employees stared at her, eyebrows raised. One of them, a particularly smug man, tilted his head and asked, "Why do you care so much, Emma? It's not like Alexander is on your level anyway."

The comment cut deep, slicing through Emma's defenses. Her cheeks burned with humiliation as the realization of what she had done sank in. She had almost exposed their secret. Without another word, she turned and walked out of the room, the sting of their words following her like a shadow.

For the rest of the day, Emma kept her distance from Alexander. Every time he tried to get close, she found an excuse to move away, keeping a physical and emotional distance between them. The thought of keeping their relationship a secret now seemed more suffocating than protective. She began to wonder if it was only a matter of time before people started thinking she was either pathetic or, worse, a whore—just like Sarah had tried to paint her. Or maybe they'd think she wasn't pretty enough to be with Alexander, just as his ex had implied.

All these thoughts swirled in her mind, feeding her insecurities and making her feel like a secret, something hidden away because Alexander was embarrassed to be seen with her. Was that why he had agreed to keep their relationship private? Was she just a dirty little secret?

Lost in her thoughts, Emma's phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out, noticing an unknown number from her hometown. Answering it cautiously, her heart sank as she heard the voice of a police officer on the other end. Her younger brother, Dylan, had been arrested for assaulting their father. Apparently, Dylan had caught him beating their mom outside their old home and had lashed out in a fit of rage.

The news hit Emma like a punch to the gut. Her legs felt weak, and she had to sit down. She knew she had no choice but to go back and bail Dylan out, but the thought of returning to that place, of facing the demons she had tried so hard to leave behind, twisted her stomach into knots.

As she tried to process the news, she found herself distracted by the turmoil in her personal life. The near-exposure of her relationship with Alexander gnawed at her, leaving her with conflicting feelings. Part of her wanted the secret to come out, to stop caring what others thought and just be with him openly. But the other part of her, the part that had always shied away from attention, feared the repercussions.

Later that day, as the office began to empty out, Emma decided to clear her head at a nearby coffee shop. She needed to figure out how to help Dylan, but the stress of it all was overwhelming. She sat in a corner booth, nursing a cup of coffee and staring blankly at her phone, trying to make a plan.

Outside the coffee shop, Alexander spotted her through the window. He had been worried about her all day, sensing the distance she had put between them. Wanting to surprise her, he walked in quietly and approached her table. But as he got closer, he noticed the strain on her face, the worry lines that marred her usually bright expression.

"What's wrong?" he asked, sliding into the seat across from her.

Emma looked up, startled to see him there. For a moment, she considered hiding the truth, but the weight of everything was too much to bear alone. "It's Dylan," she finally admitted, her voice heavy with emotion. "He's been arrested for attacking my dad. I have to go back home and bail him out."

Alexander's eyes softened with concern. "Do you want me to come with you?"

Emma shook her head, though the offer warmed her heart. "No, it's a family matter. I don't want you to get sucked into all of that."

He respected her decision, though he couldn't shake the feeling that there was more on her mind than she was letting on. He reached across the table and gently squeezed her hand, his eyes searching hers for answers. But Emma, lost in her own thoughts and fears, could only offer a small, sad smile in return.

As they sat in the coffee shop, the air between them thick with unspoken words, Alexander realized just how much he didn't know about her past. There was a part of her life that remained a mystery, a part she kept hidden even from him. And while he respected her need for privacy, he couldn't help but feel a growing need to protect her from whatever demons she was facing. But for now, all he could do was support her from afar and hope that, in time, she would trust him enough to let him in completely.