Whispers In The Boardroom

Chapter 25: The Breakup

The gut-wrenching words Emma had spat at Alexander in her apartment echoed in his mind as he drove away, leaving him shocked, hurt, and worried. Did she really mean it when she said they should focus on themselves, or was it just the anger and pain talking? The new meaning of "whispers in the boardroom" sent a chill down his spine. Had his relationship truly brought that bold statement to life? As he gripped the steering wheel, his knuckles white, he found it hard to focus on the road. Everything that had just happened in that short span of time felt like a pile of bricks falling on top of him. Emma was the only good thing in his life aside from his career—his anchor, the one person with whom he could unwind, be vulnerable, and be himself. Now, it felt like he was losing her, and with that, a part of himself too.

As he pulled into his penthouse, the agitation within him grew. He had to do something, anything, to stop the ache in his chest. The realization that he truly loved Emma and wasn't ready to let her go hit him hard. He needed to find a way to win her back, but the fear that he might only solidify the breakup by putting too much pressure on her gnawed at him. The thought of never hugging her again, never smelling her calming yet sweet scent, or laughing with her crushed him.

In desperation, he took out the strong whiskey he had bought a few days ago and began chugging it down, hoping to numb the pain that felt like a never-ending hell. The liquor burned his throat, but it was nothing compared to the ache in his heart. As the bottle came to an end, he slumped onto the couch, staring at the ceiling of his luxurious penthouse. The intricate designs and details meant nothing to him now. His thoughts raced, trying to come up with a way to help Emma, to support her career. Maybe if he could secure a deal with the biggest publishing company, he could surprise her. Maybe that would show her how much he cared. But as these ideas flooded his mind, the alcohol took over, and he passed out, the empty bottle slipping from his hand.

The next morning, Alexander woke up in a daze, screaming, "Baby, come back to me!" The words echoed through the empty room, and as reality sank in, he realized it was just a horrible dream—one that had already become his reality. A sharp pain throbbed in his head, a cruel reminder of the hangover from the night before. Groggy and disoriented, he glanced at the clock and saw that he was already two hours late for work. Panic set in as he quickly showered, barely paying attention to how he looked. The heartache from last night still lingered, making it impossible to focus on anything else. The excruciating hangover only made things worse, and he wondered how he was going to get through the day, especially with the project at stake.

When Alexander finally entered the office building, he looked a little all over the place. The bags under his eyes were dark, his hair, usually sleek and gelled, hung in loose curls. Despite his miserable demeanor, some of the women in the hallways still found him attractive, though they could see something was off. The usual confident and composed Alexander Kincaid seemed disheveled, vulnerable even.

As he walked past his team's office, everyone noticed the change in his energy and demeanor. The man who once commanded the room with his presence now seemed distant, lost. Emma, sitting at her cubicle, felt a tight sensation in her chest. She knew she was likely the cause of his distress and wondered if he would be able to finalize the project. The guilt gnawed at her, even as she tried to focus on her work.

Her thoughts were interrupted when Alexander's assistant approached her. "Emma, Mr. Kincaid needs to see you in his office. It's urgent."

Emma's heart sank as she followed the assistant to Alexander's office. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was about to happen, something she wasn't ready to face. When she entered the room, she saw a middle-aged woman sitting opposite Alexander. The woman was dressed in a white blouse and black pants, with chopsticks in her hair. Emma recognized her immediately, but before she could say her name, the woman introduced herself.

"Merilyn Thompson," she said with a warm smile. "Owner and creator of Thompson Times."

Emma's breath caught in her throat. Merilyn Thompson was her role model, the woman she aspired to be. It had been her lifelong dream to reach Merilyn's level, to own her own publishing company. But as she walked in and took a seat, she sensed something was off. The tension in the room was palpable, but she couldn't quite put her finger on why.

Alexander, looking more composed than before, began to speak, his voice steady but with an undercurrent of urgency. "Merilyn, this is Emma. She's organized, an amazing writer, and the new scoop that will keep people on edge. If you're looking for someone who can deliver, Emma is the one."

Emma's mind raced as she listened to Alexander vouch for her. This was an opportunity of a lifetime, a chance to work with the biggest name in publishing. But something didn't feel right. As she looked at Alexander, she realized that accepting this offer would blur the lines between her personal and professional life even more. It would tie her to Alexander in a way that made her uncomfortable. She had worked so hard to build her career on her own merits, and now she felt like this opportunity was being handed to her because of Alexander's connections, not because of her own hard work.

The thought of people whispering about her and Alexander made her stomach turn. If she took this opportunity, the rumors about their relationship would be confirmed, and that was the last thing she wanted. She imagined the headlines: "Mr. Kincaid's Desperate Intern Accepts an Offer to Change Her Life After She Was Brutally Rejected." The open question, "Was Their Love Affair a Secret That Was Actually True?" haunted her. The idea that her career could become a subject of gossip, a tool for Alexander to win her back, filled her with frustration.

Before she knew it, Emma was storming out of Alexander's office, her head spinning with anger and confusion. She couldn't believe he was trying to buy her love with the one thing she held dear to her heart—her career. The realization that Alexander couldn't accept her need to focus on herself, that he was trying to control the situation, made her feel suffocated.

Alexander quickly apologized to Merilyn and rushed after Emma, catching up to her in the hallway. He grabbed her arm gently, desperation in his voice. "Emma, wait! What's wrong? Talk to me."

Emma pulled her arm away, her eyes blazing with hurt. "Just stop, Alexander. Stop trying to fix everything with money and connections. This isn't how things work in my world. Getting me this deal isn't going to take away the pain and embarrassment you caused me. Can't you see? You're making it worse!"

Alexander's face fell as he realized the truth in her words. He had been trying to make amends, but in doing so, he had only pushed her further away. Emma continued, her voice trembling with emotion. "Just for a second, put yourself in my shoes. Life isn't as easy for me as it is for you. I've had to fight for everything I have, and I'm not going to let you take that away from me. Accept the breakup, Alexander. Stop trying to get close to me because I want nothing to do with you."

As the words left her mouth, Emma felt a weight lift off her chest. She had finally said what had been on her mind, and in that moment, she knew it was the right decision. Alexander stood there, stunned, as the reality of her words sank in. He realized that he had officially lost her, that there was no going back from this. The pain of the breakup was now undeniable, and he knew he had to respect Emma's choice.

As he opened his mouth to apologize, Emma turned and walked away, leaving him standing in the hallway, more heartbroken than before. The dream he had of winning her back shattered before his eyes, and all he could do was watch as the woman he loved walked out of his life for good.