Page 46 of Tempting My Nemesis

How did this happen? I think to myself. Did Caleb do this to get back at me? To ruin my credibility because of what I know? That document had to come from Steele Ventures, whether from Caleb himself or someone else.

I press my palms against my eyes, trying to block out the reality crashing down around me. But I can't escape the truth—I’m under attack, and I don't know how to fight back. I need answers, and there’s one person I know who can give them to me.

The day bleeds into evening, shadows creeping into every corner of my apartment. My phone buzzes non-stop, each vibration a reminder of the mayhem I can’t control. I try to keep my breathing steady as I pace, trying to think of a way out.

“Zoe, this isn’t looking good,” my lead attorney’s voice crackles through the speaker.

“No shit,” I snap, then immediately regret it. “Sorry, I’m just...”

“I know,” he sighs. “We’re doing everything we can, but the attacks are relentless. It’s like they knew exactly where to hit.”

“Just keep me posted,” I say, ending the call and tossing the phone onto the couch.

I lean against the kitchen counter, staring at the stack of legal documents and news clippings. Each headline screams failure and deceit, taunting me with the possibility that everything my father built is crumbling under my watch. Investors are fleeing like rats from a sinking ship, and every article drags our name deeper into the mud.

Something new occurs to me. Could this be what Caleb was trying to protect me from? The thought slams into me like a freight train. Caleb’s world is filled with shadows and secrets. Could someone be using me to get to him? The idea makes my stomach churn.

I slump into a chair at the dining table, biting down on my lower lip until it stings. The weight of it all presses down on me—the accusations, the investors pulling out, and most of all, the silence between Caleb and me. The coldness in his voice during our last conversation still haunts me.

“I can’t do this alone,” I whisper to no one.

I grab my phone again but hesitate before dialing his number. The last time we spoke, things ended in anger and hurt. What if he doesn’t want to help? What if reaching out only makes things worse?

But what choice do I have?

I scroll through my contacts until his name appears on the screen—Caleb Steele. My finger hovers over the call button as my mind races with possibilities and fears.

I need him… I need Caleb. But will he even listen?

My heart pounds in my chest as I wrestle with the decision. Asking for help feels like admitting defeat, but this isn’t just about me anymore. It’s about saving Archer Innovations—my father’s legacy—and maybe finding some semblance of peace in this storm.

The realization that I can’t fight this battle alone is both terrifying and liberating. For so long, I’ve been determined to prove myself capable without leaning on anyone else. But now... now I see that true strength might mean admitting when you need help.

Night wraps its cloak around my apartment, the shadows growing longer, deeper. I sit on the edge of my bed, the pressure of the day crushing me like a vise. My phone lies next to me, a silent reminder of what I have to do. The company is crumbling, and every effort I've made to save it has fallen short.

The thought of hearing Caleb’s voice again sends a shiver down my spine. The silence in the apartment is deafening, amplifying every doubt and fear swirling in my mind.

"I can't let this be the end," I whisper to myself, biting down on my lower lip until it stings. "I won't let them destroy everything."

My heart pounds in my chest as I hover over his name. Memories flood back—our first meeting, the way he lookedat me, the way he encouraged me. Then the arguments, the passion, the moments where we let our guards down.

"Caleb... please, just listen. I need you," I murmur, almost a prayer.

With a deep breath, I press his name and hold the phone to my ear. Each ring feels like an eternity, my heart racing with a mix of fear and hope. This conversation could change everything—pull us back together or tear us apart for good.

As the phone rings, thoughts race through my mind. I think about how he could be so infuriatingly guarded yet vulnerable at times. How our breakup left me feeling hollow and lost. The pain of losing him has been with me every day since.

But most of all, I think about the possibility of getting him back. Of finding a way to move forward together despite everything that’s happened.

The phone continues to ring, each second stretching into an eternity. My breath catches in my throat as I wait for him to answer, every nerve in my body on edge.

"Caleb," I whisper again, barely audible. "Please."

I hold my breath as the ringing stops.

"Zoe?" His voice is soft, familiar, sending a jolt through me.

"Caleb," I say, swallowing hard to steady myself. "You’ve seen the news? We need to talk."

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