Page 86 of Fake It For Glory

“It wasn’t bullshit,” I said. “I didn’t want the article published. Once I got to know you, I realized you’re a good man.”

He shook his head with disbelief. “I cannot believe it. I just can’t believe how fucking stupid I was. All that time I thought you were working, you were writing about me. On the jet, you were writing your little smear piece and I just sat there feeding you. Literally feeding you!”

I couldn’t even comprehend what was happening. My brain was shutting down to protect myself. I was witnessing the devastating consequences of my actions. There was nothing I could do to stop it. It was watching a speeding train heading down the rail to a massive canyon with no bridge. My life was careening off a cliff.

“Oh my God,” I breathed softly as I slumped in a chair, my face in my hands and my shoulders shaking from the sobs that were wracking my body. Jensen didn’t say anything. He simply stood there, watching me cry. It was like he had been completely drained of emotion. He looked like he felt like I deserved his wrath. He had to think I was the lowest piece of scum on the planet.

I was.

I just didn’t know what to do. I felt like I had no control over anything. I had no control over my emotions. I had no control over the fallout.

“You need to go,” he ordered.

I looked up at him through watery eyes. “Jensen, please. I’m sorry. I don’t know how to fix this. Tell me what to do. I’ll do it.”

“Fuck,” he muttered, his voice low and filled with desperation. “You might single-handedly destroy the biggest tech launch of the century because you wanted a scoop.”

My eyes welled up with tears as I pleaded with him. “Jensen, please, just hear me out. I didn’t do this. I don’t know how this article got published, but I promise you, I had nothing to do with it. I think I know who might have done it, and I’m going to get to the bottom of it. Just give me some time.”

He looked at me with a defeated expression, his anger giving way to resignation. “Time?” he whispered, his voice heavy with the weight of his predicament. “I’m out of time, Merida. The deed is done.”

His words hit me like a ton of bricks, and I felt a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. I had never wanted to see him like this, so defeated and hurt. His trust in me had been shattered, and there was nothing I could do to turn back the clock.

“Get out,” he said, his voice filled with a mixture of anger and sorrow. “Just get out.”

Tears streamed down my face as I turned and walked out of his office, the weight of my actions heavy on my shoulders. I had a long and difficult road ahead of me to uncover the truth and make amends, but in that moment, all I could feel was the overwhelming sense of loss and regret.

I closed the door behind me and paused for a moment. Jensen’s phone buzzed on his desk, and my heart ached for him. I wiped the tears from my eyes and quickly made my way toward the exit.

Hattie was standing by the elevator, looking at her phone. She glanced up at me as I approached. Her sneer cut deep. She had always been so friendly toward me. I didn’t just betray Jensen. I betrayed her. My article was going to hurt everyone in the office, especially if the launch failed.

“Hattie—”

“Don’t,” she said. “Don’t you dare say a word to me. You are not welcome here. I’ll make sure security has your name and picture. Get the hell away from me and my brother.”

A lump formed in my throat and I swallowed hard. She stomped away. I pushed the button for the elevator. The doors opened and I rushed inside, slamming my hand against the button to close the doors. I needed to get the hell out of there.