Through the Dark

Chapter 18

Chapter 18

The office door flew open and James stormed in, his phone glued to his ear. His expression was a storm—controlled, but dangerous.

Two days.

Just two days since the press exposed my relationship with Harry and unearthed my past. Yet somehow, it feels like the longest and most painful stretch of time I've ever endured.

Harry, James, Stacy, and I sat in my office, the air heavy with tension as we listened to James on the phone.

"Yeah, I don't care how much they offer for exclusives," James barked into the receiver. "If one more outlet runs that fabricated trash about her, we're filing defamation and shutting them down. Get the legal team ready." He hung up without a goodbye and slammed the phone on my desk.

I blinked at him, startled. "James..."

He walked straight to me, crouching so his eyes were level with mine. "Sammy, listen to me. You are not alone in this, do you hear me? These vultures will not define you, and I'll make damn sure they don't destroy what you've built." His voice softened, though the steel never left his eyes. "I promised you I'd protect you. That hasn't changed."

Harry squeezed my shoulder, nodding in agreement, but James was already back on his feet, pacing like a man on a mission.

"I'm handling the press with Harry's management," James continued. "We'll control the narrative before it spins further. Any reporter calls you again? You forward them to me. You don't speak a word, understand?"

I swallowed hard and nodded, tears prickling at my eyes again. "But James... they already printed things about me. Ugly things. What if—what if people believe it?"

He stopped pacing and looked at me, firm but compassionate. "Then we hit them harder—with the truth. And if the truth isn't enough, we bury the lies so deep they'll choke on them before they reach daylight." His lips curved into a grim smile. "I've fought worse battles than this. Trust me, Sammy—you've got me and Harry both on your side. They don't stand a chance."

For the first time since this nightmare began, I felt a small flicker of relief. Between Harry's love, James' determination, and Stacy's support maybe—just maybe—I wasn't as powerless as I thought.

*****

The conference room was suffocating. The blinds were drawn tight, shutting out the flashing cameras swarming outside the building. A long mahogany table stretched between us, polished to perfection but already littered with newspapers, tablets, and water bottles.

Harry sat beside me, his hand firmly gripping mine under the table. James stood behind me like a silent wall, arms crossed, his expression sharp enough to cut steel. Across from us were three members of Harry's management team—his publicist, his lawyer, and his agent—each wearing the same carefully neutral mask.

The lawyer, a thin man with a clipped tone, spoke first. "This... article has already gained significant traction. We can't ignore it. Damage control is our top priority."

"Damage control?" James snapped, leaning forward. "You mean sweeping it under the rug while Sammy gets shredded alive by the press?"

The publicist, a polished woman in a navy suit, lifted her chin. "Mr. Ford, we understand your concern. But we have to be realistic. The press is ruthless. If we fuel the fire with lawsuits or public statements, it could escalate—dragging Sammy further into the spotlight."

Harry slammed his palm onto the table, making everyone flinch. "She's already in the spotlight! They called her a homewrecker. A prostitute. Do you know what that's doing to her?" His voice cracked slightly, and the room fell silent.

All eyes shifted to me. I wanted to sink into the floor. My throat tightened, but I forced myself to speak. "What if they don't stop? What if... this ruins Harry's career?" My voice trembled.

James's hand landed on my shoulder, steady and warm. "It won't ruin anything. We won't let it." He glared at the management team. "So, what's the strategy?"

The agent cleared his throat, finally speaking. "We have options. One: issue a joint statement addressing the rumors and highlighting your relationship as private and personal. Two: pursue legal action against the outlets publishing false claims. Risky, but it sets a precedent. Three..." He hesitated. "...distance Sammy from Harry. Publicly."

My stomach dropped. Harry's grip on my hand tightened until it almost hurt.

"Absolutely not." Harry's voice was ice. "I'm not letting them destroy her—or push her away—to save my image. She's with me. Period."

James leaned forward, his voice low and dangerous. "Then we fight. Full force. If you're all too scared to take the risk, I'll go public myself and drag Cora Willams and those vultures through court until they choke on their own headlines."

The room went dead quiet again, tension crackling like a live wire.

Finally, the publicist exhaled. "If that's the road we're taking, we'll need coordination. Sammy, you'll have to be prepared for interviews. Harry, you'll have to stand by her side no matter what storm hits. This won't be easy. But if you're committed..." She glanced between the two of us. "...then we go all in."

Harry turned to me, eyes blazing with determination. "I told you, sweet cheeks. We're in this together. Always."

Despite the fear clawing at my chest, I nodded. "Then let's fight."

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