Page 317 of Savage Bosses

"Walk with me," she commands, her statuesque form setting a brisk pace as we navigate the halls. "I've been hearing...rumors about your involvement with Mr. Gates."

"Rumors?" I’m so sick of rumors, but I try to keep my expression neutral.

"Indeed," she continues, her voice steady and unyielding. "There is more talk that your relationship with him has become...intimate."

"Grace, I assure you—" I begin.

She raises a hand, silencing me. "Please, Tahani, don't insult my intelligence," she says, her gaze unwavering. "I'm not here to chastise you or pass judgment. I simply need to know if there's any truth to these allegations. If so, we must consider the potential impact on the company and our reputation."

"Archer and I are professionals, first and foremost," I defend, my mind racing to find the right words. "Our personal lives have never interfered with our work. We are committed to our projects, and neither of us would ever jeopardize their success or Iconic's reputation. Besides, he’s the owner, so no one will suffer the consequences of Iconic losing more than him."

"Are you certain of that?" Grace presses, her eyes narrowing as she studies my face. "The stakes are high with Zeenith, and there are new glitches there. You could lose money from the lucrative deal Mr. Gates included you in. And the fallout from an affair scandal could be disastrous and show that our focus isnt in the right place."

My voice wavers with emotion. "Grace, I understand your concerns, but I promise you, our relationship has not and will not affect our work.”

"Very well," she sighs. "I trust you, Tahani, but I cannot ignore the potential consequences of this situation. You must understand that I have a responsibility to this company and its employees."

My heart pounds in my ears. "I do understand. And I give you my word that we will handle this with the utmost discretion."

"See that you do," Grace’s tone is firm. "Iconic cannot afford any unnecessary distractions at this critical juncture."

"Thank you for your understanding, Grace. I won't let you down," I promise.

"Good," she nodsd, turning to leave. "I expect nothing less."

I slump against the wall, the chill of the concrete seeping into my bones as I gather my thoughts. My mind races with images of Archer's piercing brown eyes and tender touch, juxtaposed with Grace's stern warning and Mason's treacherous schemes. A whirlwind of emotion threatens to consume me, but I have to remain focused on the task at hand.

"Hey, are you okay?" I look up to see Archer standing before me, concern etched across his handsome features.

“No. Just had a tough conversation with Grace."

"Grace?” He raises a brow. “What did she say?"

"She's still concerned about the potential consequences for the company," I admit, avoiding his gaze. "But I assured her that we're committed to our work and keeping our relationship separate from our professional lives."

His jaw clenches. “I have already told her to drop it. I will speak to her again."

"Archer, there's something else," I hesitate, my hands shaking. "I think someone is sabotaging Zeenith, and I have reason to believe it's Mason."

His eyes narrow. “Are you sure it’s Mason?”

"Nothing's certain yet," I confess. "But things have been going wrong, and he's the only one who’s in the office late after I leave."

Archer nods. “I will get tech to dig through the history of his computer today and find out if he’s touched Zeenith.” His resolve solidifies, his protective instincts kicking in.

It's clear he's determined to get to the bottom of this, for both me and the project we've poured our hearts into—me as the developer and him as the CEO that packaged it and sold it to companies nationwide.

All of this happens before I have the chance to enter my office and put my purse down, making me wonder what the rest of the day will bring. At least, Contessa is planning to return to work today.

CHAPTER 14

Archer

WRECKED

I

can't believe my eyes. The evidence is right there on my screen, clear as day. Mason Hughes, the man I thought was just an ambitious engineer, has been sabotaging Tahani's project. My blood boils as I think about all the hard work she's put into it, and how he's been actively trying to bring her down. I need to confront him and get some answers. I decide to involve Grace, his direct supervisor. She needs to know what's going on.

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