Chapter 5 A Fragile Alliance

Sharon's POV

Tension filled the boardroom atmosphere. Sitting next to Thomas, I felt uncomfortable with the stern clothes and icy looks. Maxwell was sitting on the other side of the table, grinning smugly.

As he rose, Thomas's imposing presence filled the room. "To address the recent concerns regarding our new project, ladies and gentlemen, I have called this meeting."

Maxwell folded his arms and reclined in his chair. "Are you worried? Or ought we to refer to them as failures?

The room echoed with a few giggles, but Thomas remained unfazed. He spoke steadily. "Harrington Corp has always produced excellent work. This project won't be an anomaly.

Maxwell's grin widened as he interrupted, "Excellence? Thomas, can we trust your leadership while the media is casting doubt on your credibility?

Though his jaw tensed, Thomas remained silent. I could no longer stand the shouting that filled the room.

I stood up suddenly, my voice piercing the commotion. "Enough."

My heart was racing, and all eyes were on me, but I persisted. "To cast doubt on Thomas Harrington's leadership is to cast doubt on the history of this business. He has repeatedly shown his worth. Maybe you should reconsider your dedication to this firm if you're doubting him because of unfounded reports.

There was silence in the room. Maxwell's sneer paused for a second.

A guy cleared his throat at the far end of the table. She is correct. Instead of tearing one another down, we need to be concentrating on finding answers.

With a sidelong look, Thomas's lips formed a tiny grin.

Maxwell, however, wasn't happy. "Hopefully, Miss Collins, your confidence isn't misplaced." Even though there was anger in his tone, I didn't care.

Thomas leaned in as we walked out of the room after the meeting. "That wasn't necessary for you to do."

"Yes, I did," I firmly said. "Someone had to."

Every news media covered the Harrington Corp. story that night. Reports of a purported insider trading scam dominated the headlines. The displays were splattered with pictures of Thomas and me together, distorted to give the impression that I was somehow participating.

I gaped at the television. "This isn't possible. This didn't occur!

Despite the constant ringing of his phone, Thomas disregarded it, his face a mask of rage. "Veronica and Maxwell," he said with clenched teeth. "Their fingerprints are all over this."

My phone rang with texts, making my stomach turn. Everyone, including friends and colleagues, was curious about the veracity of the reports.

"How can we combat this?" My voice trembled as I asked.

The door sprang open before Thomas could reply, and Veronica walked in with a victorious grin on her scarlet lips. "Difficult day, sweetheart?" She looked right at me as she cooed.

"This is what you did," Thomas snarled.

She fired back, flinging a magazine onto the coffee table and saying, "Prove it." "Thomas Harrington's Fiancée Caught in Financial Scandal!" was the headline.

The earth seemed to have been yanked out from beneath me.

With a shaky voice, I said, "This is slander."

"You can call it whatever you want," Veronica shrugged. "However, the public opinion court has already made a decision."

"You'll never survive this, sweetheart," she said as she turned to go.

After she left, I collapsed on the sofa, my eyes welling up with tears. "What do we do, Thomas?"

His face was softer than I had ever seen it when he knelt before me. "Sharon, we fight. However, you must be prepared because they will do all it takes to destroy us.

As Thomas and I entered his apartment, the stress from the craziness of the day persisted. The tempest roaring in my head seemed out of place with the luxury around me. The incessant threats, the falsehoods, and the scandal were oppressive.

Thomas pointed to the sofa and said, "Sit." He spoke in a softer tone than usual.

Despite my hesitation, I sat down and gripped my hands to keep them from shaking. After giving me a drink of water, he sat across from me and used his sharp eyes to examine me.

"I never wanted you to get caught in this, Sharon," he said. I believed I could protect you from the worst.

I sneered. "You mean you believed that I would serve as a handy shield for you?"

He didn't dispute it, but his jaw tensed. Perhaps initially. However, things have evolved.

His tone was so vulnerable that I blinked, taken aback. "Modified? How?

He put his elbows on his knees and leaned forward. "You were underestimated by me. You're not as scared by Maxwell and Veronica as other people are. You confronted them, the board, and even me today.

With my voice hardly audible above a whisper, I said, "Because I didn't have a choice."

The smallest of grins curled his lips. "You had the option to go. However, you didn't. That has some significance.

I was at a loss for words. I was moved by what he said, but I couldn't help but think about the guy who had put me in this predicament.

I said, "Thomas, I'm not sure I can trust you."

He leaned back and whispered, "You don't have to." "However, we must cooperate if we are to survive this."

My shoulders felt less burdened for a while. The icy CEO I thought I knew wasn't the guy in front of me. I wasn't prepared to down my defences just yet, but maybe there was more to him.

Thomas left a pile of papers on the coffee table, and I went through them that evening. I was going to make sense of the chaos I was in.

I saw a folder with my name on it. I opened it with a mixture of curiosity and fear.

My breath caught. I was signing paperwork that allowed a huge amount of money to be transferred. Weeks before I had ever met Thomas, we went on a date.

I rushed inside his study, my heart pounding. "We have a problem, Thomas."

As I pushed the file at him, he glanced up from his laptop, his face becoming serious.

I shook my voice and said, "They're framing me." "This was not signed by me!"

His jaw tensed as he looked over the page. "Maxwell is to blame for this. He is attempting to displace you and undermine me in the process.

I took a seat across from him. However, why? What does this benefit him?

"Control," stated Thomas plainly. "I lose my power if you are discredited. And Maxwell wins if I'm not there.

"What are we going to do?" I asked, hardly able to contain my emotions.

He closed the file and gave me a direct look. "We retaliate. However, things will worsen before they improve.