Hearts at War

Chapter 9: The Ties That Bind

Freen sat in her office, the weight of the past few weeks pressing down on her like a storm she couldn’t escape. NeoTech’s future seemed uncertain, with forces both seen and unseen working against her. But deeper than that, a different hurt simmered beneath the surface—the one Becky had unknowingly left when Freen saw her with Samir, a figure from NeoTech’s troubled history. In that brief glance, the sight of them together, leaning in with shared purpose, had felt like a betrayal. Why hadn’t Becky come to her with whatever this was? Why hadn’t she tried to explain? The silence hurt more than anything Becky could have said. Freen’s feelings for her were still so raw, but uncertainty and doubt had crept in, rooting themselves deep in her heart.

Her thoughts scattered as a knock at the door pulled her attention. Freen looked up, her eyes narrowing in suspicion. Charlotte was standing in the doorway, her posture bold yet composed, her gaze unreadable.

“Charlotte,” Freen’s voice was clipped, with an edge that suggested she had little patience left. “What do you want?”

Without waiting for permission, Charlotte stepped inside and closed the door, leaning against it with a calm, calculated demeanor. Freen noticed an intensity in her eyes—a strange desperation. Charlotte moved closer, her voice uncharacteristically soft and measured. “Freen, I think we need to talk about this… rivalry between us. It doesn’t need to be this way. We’re both too smart to keep fighting each other.”

Freen scoffed, her arms crossing tightly over her chest. “Is that your way of making a deal? After all the games, the manipulation?”

But Charlotte ignored the bite in Freen’s words and took another step forward. “Think about it,” she said, her voice low but confident. “We could be partners. You and I, running NeoTech side by side. With our combined influence—and the council’s support—we’d be unstoppable. No one would dare challenge us.”

Freen raised an eyebrow, skepticism flickering in her eyes. “The council would support us?” she asked, her voice laced with disbelief. “The same council that’s been plotting to tear me down?”

Charlotte held Freen’s gaze, her voice dropping to a murmur. “The council doesn’t see your value because you’ve refused to align with them. But if we were on the same side… things would be different. They’re powerful, Freen. They can either protect you or destroy you. I know you’re aware of that by now.”

The words hung in the air between them, laden with both threat and promise. Charlotte moved even closer, her hand reaching out to rest gently on Freen’s arm. “You could have anything you want,” she whispered. “The resources, the influence… even the freedom to push NeoTech in whatever direction you choose. And we wouldn’t have to deal with the constant battles, the threats. Together, we’d be untouchable.”

Freen’s eyes searched Charlotte’s face, seeing a strange mixture of sincerity and ambition. She could sense Charlotte’s desperation, her determination to salvage whatever influence she still had, even if it meant manipulating her one last time. But beneath the allure, Freen saw the deception.

Charlotte took another step, her voice becoming softer, almost pleading. “All the obstacles, the sabotage, it could all be in the past. Imagine it, Freen. You and me, leading NeoTech. This is our last chance to build something unstoppable. Don’t let pride ruin this.”

Freen held her breath, taken aback. For a split second, she felt herself drawn in, tempted by the idea of unity and strength. But her thoughts were interrupted as the door burst open.

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Breaking the Silence

Becky stormed into the room, her eyes blazing with a fire Freen had rarely seen before. She took in the scene before her—Charlotte’s hand lingering on Freen’s arm, her face inches from Freen’s, a smirk curling at the edges of her lips. In that instant, everything boiled over for Becky. Without a second thought, she walked straight up to Freen, taking her hand firmly and pulling her away from Charlotte’s grasp.

The room fell silent as Charlotte’s smirk grew, her eyes glinting with satisfaction as she watched Becky’s reaction. The scene played out just as she’d planned. She had sown the seeds of distrust, and now all she needed to do was let them take root.

With a firm, determined grip, Becky led Freen out of the office. Freen barely had time to process what was happening, casting a final look back at Charlotte, who was still watching them with that satisfied expression.

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A Silent Drive

The car ride was thick with tension, neither of them saying a word as Becky gripped the wheel. Her knuckles were white, and Freen could sense the anger simmering beneath her calm exterior. Freen’s mind raced, filled with equal parts confusion and dread. She wanted to explain what had happened, to tell Becky what Charlotte had tried to do, but the silence between them was so heavy that she didn’t dare to break it.

As the city lights blurred past, Becky’s expression softened, her mind shifting from anger to purpose. Whatever Charlotte was trying to do, whatever doubt she hoped to sow, it was only temporary. Freen would understand everything soon, and they could finally move forward—together.

Finally, they pulled up to Becky’s apartment, and Becky motioned for Freen to follow her inside. Freen hesitated for a moment, her heart pounding with worry. She had so many questions, so much she needed to say, but she had no idea how Becky was feeling, what she was thinking.

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Clearing the Air

Once they were settled in Becky’s living room, Freen took a steadying breath, trying to find the right words. “Becky,” she began slowly, feeling the weight of the moment, “I know what you saw with Charlotte looked bad. But please believe me, it wasn’t what it seemed. She was trying to manipulate me, to get me to side with her. She thinks she can take over NeoTech if I join her.”

Becky listened in silence, her gaze softening as Freen’s words registered. But then, she reached out, gently taking Freen’s hand and stopping her mid-sentence. “I know, Freen,” she said softly, her voice full of reassurance. “I know what she’s trying to do. And I trust you.”

Freen blinked, relief and surprise washing over her as she processed Becky’s words. “You… trust me?” she echoed, her voice barely above a whisper.

Becky nodded, a soft smile breaking through. “I do. And I’m sorry for not explaining sooner, but I’ve been trying to get to the bottom of what’s really going on. It’s so much bigger than Charlotte.”

As Freen listened, Becky shared everything she had uncovered—the council’s influence, Lucas Steele’s ruthless manipulation, and how Samir had agreed to help them take down the council’s grip on NeoTech. Becky explained how she had sought Samir’s guidance, hoping his knowledge would give them an edge against Charlotte and the council’s hidden agenda.

“When you saw us together,” Becky continued, “I was asking him how to expose their influence and protect NeoTech. I didn’t want you getting pulled into something that could hurt you.”

Freen felt her heart swell as Becky’s words settled over her, guilt giving way to gratitude. She realized now that her doubts and frustrations had blinded her to Becky’s loyalty and determination. All the secrecy, all the mystery—it had been for her.

A warm silence lingered between them until Freen moved forward, her arms encircling Becky in a tight embrace. “Thank you,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. “For everything.”

Becky wrapped her arms around Freen, holding her close. In that moment, all the uncertainty, all the doubt, melted away. They sat there, wrapped in each other’s arms, and for the first time in weeks, Freen felt a profound sense of relief. Whatever lay ahead, she knew they would face it together.

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Hello lovely readers ,
Finally the truth is out and a sense of relief is spread between all of them.
I hope you're loving the story and I hope you all are doing well .
Take care 💗
Thank you