41. A Test of Trust

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The morning sunlight floods into Sky's office, the vibrant hues contrasting sharply with his expression, which is as strained as his latest challenge. There he stands, eyes glued to a dance tutorial on his screen, trying unsuccessfully to mimic the complex moves. He sighs in frustration. "Urgh, so tough..." The ringtone interrupts his concentration, but he picks up, still attempting to keep rhythm.

"Hey, hon," Kade's voice sounds cheery despite her busy morning of getting into costume for her role as a wounded patient. "Have you practiced the dance for Jim's party yet?" she asks curiously.

Sky grimaces, feeling the weight of her question. "Oh, yeah...loads of work, no time at all," he pants, avoiding the truth. But Kade catches on. "Why are you out of breath?" she presses. "Work!" he blurts out before quickly ending the call. Alone again, he mutters, "Damn you, Kade. Think you can outdo me?" He laughs at his own competitiveness, attempting to rally himself for another go. "Sir Sky never backs down from a challenge!" he declares, diving back into the moves with renewed determination.

But another call cuts him short, and this time his exasperation slips. "What do you want?" he snaps without checking the caller ID.

"Sir Sky? Why are you scolding me?" Jules asks, startled. Sky's tone softens instantly. "Sorry...had a long morning." He sinks back into his chair, listening as Jules shares updates from the field. "I'm on my way back anything I can grab for you?"

Sky, without thinking, replies, "Yeah...your lips." His voice is casual, and Jules's laugh floats through the line. "Sir Sky!" she chides playfully, before offering a more conventional suggestion. "How about a burger and fries?"

"Nope, just your lips," he insists stubbornly, ever the picky eater. They share a laugh, and the call ends. As he waits for her arrival, Sky takes a quick break to freshen up, his suit sharp and pristine in preparation for the day ahead.

Meanwhile, on her way back to the office, Jules catches sight of Mia with a stranger. Curiosity piqued; she lingers under the pretense of needing to take a call. She edges closer, overhearing snippets of a conversation that rattles her. "I can't believe it," she gasps when she's close enough. "You're the mole, Miss Mia?"

"What?" Mia reacts, her face a mixture of shock and worry. "No, you don't understand."

"If you're not betraying him, then why were you with Mr. Charles? His company used my content," Jules accuses, her voice steely with disappointment. After a pause, Mia nods slowly. "Yes, it was me." But before she can elaborate, Charles himself steps forward, smooth and affable.

"Oh, my apologies for the misunderstanding. Miss Mia actually invited me to join the team here," he reveals, exchanging a quick glance with Mia. "About the content it was a subordinate's error. We resolved it promptly." Jules, though skeptical, listens as Mia offers an unexpected revelation: Sky's beloved company is on thin ice, bound by his grandmother's ultimatum. "If he doesn't turn it around by year-end, he'll have to shut down."

Shocked, Jules's anger wavers. "But why wouldn't you tell him outright?"

"First, we need to stabilize our shares. Once that's done, I'll explain everything," Mia assures her. "For now, please keep this a secret."

The day wears on, but Jules remains unsettled

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The day wears on, but Jules remains unsettled. She's pulled from her reverie by Ava, who arrives to collect a document. "Take it easy," Ava says gently, noticing her distracted expression. "Consider yourself lucky Sir Sky isn't hounding you."

Ryan joins with a teasing grin. "Right, I'm sure he'd rather see me in trouble," he jokes, his words barely registering with Jules. She excuses herself, intent on gathering her thoughts over a coffee.

Her thoughts are disrupted again by a sharp voice nearby. "I said, leave me alone!" Sky's frustration echoes through the hall as he storms out of his office, Mia in tow, pleading for him to listen.

Jules steps in cautiously. "Sir Sky, maybe you should hear Miss Mia out."

"For what?" Sky's eyes narrow, focusing on her. "A troll on Facebook? What does Mia have to do with that?"

But Mia signals Jules with a pleading glance, and Jules holds back the truth. Later, Mia sends her a friend request with the username Dazzling Divinity. Jules raises an eyebrow. "Why the alias?"

Mia shrugs. "I don't want the staff to feel pressured by my real name." Jules stifles a laugh, finding the similarities between Sky and Mia uncanny.

Not long after, Sky returns, still fuming. "It's just a troll, Sky," Mia says calmly. "You're new to this social scene. Let me handle it for you." She reaches for his phone, but he pulls away. "We're a couple, Sky, why so guarded?" she teases, holding his gaze. But Sky only stiffens, glancing at Jules before breaking away from Mia's grasp.

Seeing them together, Jules feels a mix of confusion and helplessness. Bound by promises and secrets, she finds herself torn caught between loyalty and the aching weight of silence.

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