Chapter 21
Adam adjusted his tie and grabbed his briefcase, ready to call it a night.
His phone buzzed on the mahogany work table, breaking the silence. He picked it up, hesitating before answering.
“Adam Monroe,” he said, his voice heavy with exhaustion.
“Adam, it’s Eric,” his lawyer said on the other end. “I just saw the news. We need to talk.”
Adam closed his eyes, letting out a weary sigh. “Yeah. We do.”
Adam ended the call, thinking of going to Eric’s office first thing tomorrow morning before coming in for work. He took the executive elevator down to the lobby, deep in thoughts.
As he approached the exit, the low hum of voices grew louder. He frowned, glancing at the security guard by the door. “What’s going on out there?”
The guard shifted uncomfortably. “Reporters, sir. They’ve been waiting for you all evening.”
Adam’s heart sank. “For me? Why?”
The guard hesitated. “I think it’s about… the news.”
Adam’s jaw clenched. He didn’t need to ask what news. He could already feel the storm brewing.
Taking a deep breath, he stepped outside, only to be blinded by the flashes of cameras. A wave of reporters surged toward him like a tide, their voices overlapping in a chaotic frenzy.
“Mr. Monroe! Is it true you harassed Brenda Hughes?”
“Adam Monroe, how do you respond to allegations that you fathered your assistant’s child?”
“Do you consider yourself an ethical boss?”
“Mr. Monroe, does your wife know about the affair? How is she handling the news?”
Adam froze, his mind racing as he tried to process the barrage of accusations. His stomach churned, but he forced himself to stay composed.
“Step back!” one of the security guards barked, shielding Adam from the growing crowd.
“Mr. Monroe, are you a cheater?” another reporter shouted, pushing a microphone toward his face.
Adam’s lips tightened into a thin line. He wanted to shout, to deny everything, but he knew better than to feed the frenzy.
With the help of his security team, he pushed through the mob, ignoring the cameras and questions as he made his way to his car.
By the time he slammed the door shut and sped away, his hands were shaking. His grip on the steering wheel tightened as anger and frustration bubbled to the surface.
“Brenda,” he muttered through gritted teeth. “What the hell have you done?”
The drive home was a blur, his thoughts consumed by the chaos she had unleashed.
How could she have gone on live television and spouted such lies? And now, the entire city believed he was a monster.
When he finally pulled into his driveway, he felt a brief moment of relief. Home was supposed to be a sanctuary, a place where he could gather his thoughts. But as soon as he stepped inside, his heart sank.
There she was.
Brenda sat on his living room couch, looking as calm and collected as if she belonged there. Her legs were crossed, and a glass of wine rested in her hand.
“Good evening, Adam,” she said, her voice dripping with mock sweetness.
“What the hell are you doing here?” he demanded, his voice low and dangerous.
She took a sip of her wine, unfazed by his tone. “I thought we should talk.”
Adam dropped his briefcase on the floor and stalked toward her. “Talk? After what you just pulled? Are you out of your mind?”
Brenda smirked, setting the glass down on the coffee table. “Oh, Adam. Don’t be so dramatic. I only told the truth.”
“The truth?” Adam barked out a humorless laugh. “You call that the truth? You went on national television and slandered me!”
Her expression turned icy. “I didn’t slander you. I told my side of the story. Or did you think you could just fire me and walk away without consequences?”
Adam clenched his fists, his anger barely contained. “You’ve crossed the line, Brenda. Do you have any idea what you’ve done? My reputation, my career—everything I’ve worked for is on the line because of your lies!”
Brenda stood, her eyes flashing with defiance. “You brought this on yourself, Adam. You used me, and now you’re trying to throw me away like I’m nothing. Well, I’m not going to let you.”
“I didn’t use you!” Adam shot back. “You’re the one who lied, who manipulated me! And now you’re dragging me through the mud to cover up your own mistakes.”
She took a step closer, her voice dropping to a dangerous whisoer. “I miss you.”
She pulled her shirt over her head, exposing her breast and he froze.
