bChapter /bb89 /b

The air outside the building felt lighter as Nivera stepped out into the early abertoon bsun/b, bher /bheels clicked confidently on the prement, a small grin tugging at her lips.

The meeting had gone far better than she expected

The team had been receptive, open, and actually interested in hearing her ideas. With Celeste at her side, everything had wed smoothly.

The woman had backed her up at every turn, and it hadn’t taken long before Nivers had felt herself ease into the room,manding it even.

She bpaused /bjust outside the ss doors, ncing up at the sky, letting the warm light kiss her face. Then she turned to Celeste, who had followed her

bout/bb. /b

“Thank you. You bwere /bamazing bin /bthere

Celeste smiled, her professional demeanour softening. “You did well too. The way you handled that pitch, especially the pushback about distribution rights? it showed you knew your material”

“I thought I was going to pass out halfway through, Nivera confessed with augh.

“You looked calm,” Celeste replied. “And I think they liked you. That helps.”

“Besides,” she continued. “Mr Garcia would have had my head if I didn’t give my best.”

Typical Alejandro, Mivera shook her head as she returned her attention to what Celeste was saying.

didn’t tell me the detailsb, /bjust said to make sure no one tried to screw you bover/b. He said, and I quote, “I don’t want her bwalking /binto a shark tank without backup.“”

Nivera blinked at that. Her heart swelled again, just as it had earlier,

“That sounds like him,” she murmured, unable to stop the small smile.

Celeste handed bher /bba /bsmall card. “This is my number, I be in touch, and if anythinges upb, /bbcall /bme;

“I will. Thank you bagain/bb./b”

Celeste nodded once, then turned and disappeared down the street, leaving Nivera alone

Still riding the high of the sessful meeting, she pulled out her phone to text bAlejandro /bas for some reason, she wanted to share it with him.

Okay, it bwas /bbecause he was the reason the meeting was even happening. Him clearing her name helped a lot.

Nivera: Meeting went really well. You were right about the navy dress

The reply came almost immediately.

bAlejandro /bOf course I wasb. /bI’m balways /bright. Tell me more.

bNivera/b: Not if you want me to stay humble.

Alejandro: Humility is overrated. Tell me how brilliant you were.

She smiled, fingers flying across the

screen.

bNiver /bI didn’t choke. Celeste was amazing. They actually listened to me. I think impressed them

Alejandro: Of course you did. You’re impressive even when you’re anndying

Nivera: That’s the nicest insult you’ve given me today.

Alejandro Don’t get used to it.”

She chuckled to herself, her cheeks warming as she began to type out a response.

The sound of her name bmade /bbher /bturn.

Her entire body stiffened.

Two women stood a few feet away, both dressed more casually now, but their faces were unmistakable. They were the same women from the boutique

Her bback /bimmediately straightened and she took a defensive step back.

“What do you want?” she asked, voice sharp.

One of the women, the taller one, held her hands up. “Please. We’re not here to fight. We’re not bhere /bfor anything bad.”

talk. Pl

The second woman nodded quickly. “We bjust /bwant to talk. Please

Nivera narrowed her eyes. “Why would I want to talk to byou/b? You pped me in front of a dozen people.”

“We know,” the first said quickly. “And we’re sorry. We’re really sorry.”

“We got fired,” the second added. “The day aher that happened. Our manager, the bassistant /bmanager, half the team–everyone who stood bthere /band did nothing. We were all let go.”

“Good,” Nivera said coldly

“bPlease/b,” the first woman stepped forward. “You don’t understand. It didn’t just stop there. Our faces were posted online. Every job wo applied to after that has turned us away People are calling bus /bviolent. Abusive. And thewsuit.”

“Whatwsuit?”

“The defamation case yourwyer sent.” Her voice cracked. “You Kid ba /b/divwyer send us a warning. We’ve never hadwyerse after us before.”

Nivera frowned, the pieces clicking together. She hadn’t sent any Lawyer after them.

Of course not.

But Alejandro would have.

He didn’t let it go, just as she had thought. Of course, he didn’t.

He never let anything go

Nivera stared at them. She wanted to feel satisfaction. She wanted to gloat.

bBut /binstead, she just felt tired

“You expect me to believe you’re sorry now because you’re facing the consequences

“You have no idea what it’s been like,” one whispered “Waknow we were wrong. We know we hurt you. But you know what he’s like. Please he bwon’t /b

stop until we’re ruined. You must know how scary that is, especially after youced the same thing.”

20:54 Wed 284012016

25

And bfor /ba second, it started to work.

bNivera /bcrossed her arms. She wasn’t sure how to respond.

She should feel vindicated. She had felt humiliated. They’d dragged her into public shame.

And yet, watching them now, bioken and pleading, something inside her shifted. She could almost feel herself beginning to soften, their words working theirs

r way under her skin.

Until a familiar voice came from behind.

“Who are these women?”

Nivera turned.

Alejandro.

of course.

Of course, he’d show up right when everything felt like it bwas /bspinning sideways

He came to stand beside her, expression unreadable, but his eyes flicked over the two women with icy precision, he recognized them

“They were the ones who pped me,” Nivera said calmly. “Without a hint of regret.”

Something in Alejandro shifted. A small smile curved his lips, but it didn’t reach his eyes. His entire body radiated that dark, quiet threat she’d seen only a handful of times.

The women visibly tensed as they could feel the temperature in the room drop.

AD