Ethan struck on a Tuesday, because of course he did.
Mira was back at Vantage for the first time since the gala, determined not to hide. She wore a tailored navy dress and her best neutral expression, walking through the lobby like she hadn’t once been reduced to tears by a man who’d called her dramatic.
Heads turned.
Whispers followed.
Her coworker, Jaya, met her at the elevator with eyes like knives. “Are you okay?”
Mira’s mouth went tight. “I’m fine.”
Jaya’s gaze scanned her face. “That’s not an answer, Mira.”
Mira exhaled. “I’m… functioning.”
Jaya nodded once, like she’d accept that. “Good. Because someone emailed the entire product team a ‘concern’ about you.”
Mira’s blood went cold. “What.”
Jaya’s jaw clenched. “Anonymous email. Claims you’re having ‘an emotional breakdown’ and that you’re ‘a liability’ because of your ‘personal life.’ Attached screenshots from social media.”
Mira’s hands went numb. “They sent it to my team?”
“CC’d your director,” Jaya said, fury sharp. “And HR.”
Mira’s throat closed. The elevator doors opened and people stepped out, glancing at her with curiosity that tried to pretend it wasn’t.
Mira forced her feet to move.
In her office, she shut the door and sat down hard.
Her phone buzzed.
Theo.
Mira stared at his name for a beat, then answered, voice tight. “Ethan leaked something to my job.”
Theo’s voice on the other end went instantly focused. “What exactly?”
“An anonymous email,” Mira said, fighting to keep her breathing steady. “Calling me unstable. A liability. He’s trying to damage my career.”
Theo’s tone turned cold. “Forward it to me. Now.”
Mira did with trembling fingers.
Theo spoke again, clipped. “Do not meet with HR alone. If they call you, tell them you’ll have counsel present.”
Mira blinked. “Counsel?”
Theo’s voice didn’t soften. “Yes. Mine.”
Mira’s chest tightened. “Theo, I don’t want—”
“Let me,” he said, and there was steel in it. “He doesn’t get to touch your livelihood.”
Mira’s eyes burned. “This is my job. My reputation.”
Theo’s voice lowered. “And it will stay yours.”
A knock sounded at her door.
Mira froze.
Jaya’s voice drifted in. “Mira? HR wants to see you.”
Mira’s stomach clenched. She covered the phone. “Tell them I’ll be there in five.”
Then she spoke into the phone again, voice shaking. “They’re calling me now.”
Theo’s answer was immediate. “Put me on speaker. Tell them I’m your legal representative.”
Mira’s pulse spiked. “Theo—”
“Mira,” Theo said, voice firm but not unkind. “If you let them frame you as unstable, you’ll spend months climbing out of it. Don’t give them that.”
Mira swallowed hard. “Okay.”
She stood, smoothed her dress with hands that wouldn’t stop trembling, and walked to HR like she was walking into a storm.
***
The meeting was polite cruelty.
HR’s conference room was all glass and fake neutrality. Two people sat at the table—Lena from HR and a man Mira barely knew from compliance. Mira sat across, phone on the table, Theo on speaker.
Lena smiled. “Mira, thank you for coming.”
Mira’s voice came out controlled. “Of course.”
Lena folded her hands. “We received an email with some concerning information. We wanted to check in and ensure everything is okay.”
Mira’s jaw tightened. “I’m okay.”
The compliance man glanced down at printed pages—screenshots of Theo’s post, a gossip account, a cropped photo of Mira leaving the gala.
Lena’s voice stayed gentle. “The email suggested your personal life may be impacting your work.”
Mira’s stomach burned. “My work speaks for itself.”
Theo’s voice cut in, calm and sharp. “This is Theo Reyes. I represent Ms. Chen. Before you proceed, I’d like to know what policy violation you believe has occurred.”
Lena’s smile faltered. “Mr. Reyes, this is a welfare check. Not a disciplinary action.”
Theo’s tone didn’t change. “Then you can conclude it. Ms. Chen has stated she is fine.”
The compliance man cleared his throat. “We also have concerns about reputational risk.”
Mira’s nails bit into her palm.
Theo’s voice went colder. “Then you should be concerned about the reputational risk of allowing anonymous harassment to influence employment decisions.”
Silence.
Lena looked at Mira carefully. “Mira, can you assure us you’re able to perform your duties without distraction?”
Mira met her gaze. “Yes.”
Theo’s voice remained steady. “And for the record, if Ms. Chen’s employment is impacted due to defamatory anonymous claims, my team will pursue all legal remedies.”
Lena’s eyes widened slightly.
Mira’s heart pounded.
The compliance man shifted. “Understood.”
Lena nodded, smile returning with effort. “Thank you, Mira. Please let us know if you need any support.”
Mira stood. “I will.”
She left the room with her spine straight and her stomach in knots.
In the hallway, she picked up her phone. “Theo.”
Theo’s voice softened a fraction. “Are you okay?”
Mira’s laugh was brittle. “No.”
Theo exhaled. “Come to me.”
Mira hesitated. “I can’t just leave work.”
Theo’s voice turned firm again. “Yes, you can. Take the rest of the day. I’ll have a car there in ten.”
Mira closed her eyes. Her pride warred with her exhaustion.
Then she thought of Ethan, smug, trying to ruin her.
And she thought of Theo, calm, defending her without asking her to shrink.
“Okay,” Mira whispered. “Okay.”
***
Theo’s car felt like a cocoon.
By the time she reached his penthouse, Mira’s composure had cracked in small places. Her throat hurt from holding back tears. Her head ached. Her skin felt too tight.
Theo met her at the door.
He didn’t ask questions. He didn’t offer platitudes.
He simply took her bag from her shoulder, set it aside, and wrapped his arms around her like he knew exactly how close she was to breaking.
Mira’s breath hitched.
Then she was crying—silent at first, then with shaking breaths that felt like shame trying to crawl back in.
Theo held her.
His hand cradled the back of her head. His mouth brushed her hair. “Let it out.”
Mira clutched his shirt. “I hate him. I hate what he’s doing.”
Theo’s voice was low. “I know.”
Mira pulled back, eyes wet. “Your money can’t fix everything.”
Theo’s gaze held hers, steady. “No. But it can stop some things from happening to you.”
Mira swallowed, anger and grief tangling. “I don’t want to need you.”
Theo’s jaw tightened, then softened. “You don’t need me. You’re choosing support.”
Mira stared at him.
Theo’s hand slid to her cheek, thumb catching a tear. “And I’m choosing you.”
The words hit her hard—too intimate for a contract, too real for an arrangement.
Mira’s breath shook. “Theo…”
Theo’s gaze dropped to her mouth. “Do you want comfort?”
Mira’s pulse jumped. “Yes.”
Theo’s voice went quieter. “Do you want distraction?”
Mira’s body warmed despite everything. “Yes.”
Theo’s eyes darkened. “Then tell me.”
Mira’s voice was raw. “I want you.”
Theo kissed her.
It wasn’t gentle at first—it was controlled hunger, the kind that took her spiraling thoughts and pinned them to the present. Mira kissed back like she needed to be reminded she was more than a rumor and an email and a public narrative.
Theo lifted her easily, carrying her down the hall.
In the bedroom, he set her down with care and looked at her like he was asking—without words—whether she still wanted this.
Mira nodded.
Theo undressed her slowly, taking his time, making the act feel like attention rather than urgency. Mira’s hands shook as she undid his shirt buttons, and he caught her wrists briefly, kissing her fingers as if he could calm her through touch.
When they finally lay together, the world outside fell away.
Afterward, Mira rested her head on Theo’s chest and listened to his heartbeat.
Theo’s hand moved through her hair. “Ethan is going to escalate. After today, he’ll be angry.”
Mira’s stomach tightened. “What happens now?”
Theo’s voice turned cold again. “Now I stop being polite.”
Mira lifted her head. “What are you going to do?”
Theo’s gaze held hers, unwavering. “I’m going to make sure he understands that touching you has consequences.”
Mira swallowed. “That sounds dangerous.”
Theo’s mouth flattened. “It is.”
Mira’s chest tightened with fear—and something else, something hot and unsettling: relief.
Because for the first time in years, someone was standing between her and the man who’d tried to make her small.
***