Page 59 of Ardent Desires

“Vanessa made a statement to the press.”

Her expression changes, and I can see the realization hit her. “What kind of statement?”

“She’s claiming all kinds of bullshit. That she was hospitalized, that she had a miscarriage, and that we were engaged.”

“Are you serious?” she exclaims, pushing herself up. “That’s insane! You were never engaged!”

“Exactly!” I shout, my frustration bubbling over. “But now it’s out there, and the media is running with it.”

Ellie shakes her head in disbelief. “Why would she say that? What does she gain from this?”

“Attention, plain and simple. She’s always been about drama,” I say, running my hands through my hair. “And now she’s dragging you into this mess.”

“Let her,” Ellie replies, her voice steady. “I’m not ashamed of us. We need to fight back.”

“Fight back?” I repeat, surprised by her fierceness. “How? We’re up against a woman who’s willing to ruin lives for clicks.”

“By being honest,” she says, determination shining in her eyes. “We can’t let her win. If we stay silent, it’ll only get worse.”

Her words ignite a fire in me. I grip her hands, feeling the warmth of her determination seep into my veins. “You’re right. We have to take a stand.”

Ellie nods, her resolve firm. “Let’s make this about us. Our love is stronger than her lies.”

I can’t help but smile, a sense of pride swelling in my chest. “You’re incredible, you know that?”

“I’m just being realistic,” she replies, a hint of a smirk on her lips.

I lean down, kissing her softly, letting the connection between us spark into a flame. “Okay then, let’s do this together.”

“Together,” she agrees, our eyes locked in a fierce determination.

This isn’t just a battle against Vanessa; it’s a stand for what we have. And I won’t let anyone tear us apart. Not now, not ever.

****

The air in the office is thick with tension as Ellie and I step inside. Every gaze seems to zero in on us, like we’re walking through a gauntlet of whispers and sideways glances. I can see her shaking, just a little, as we navigate the sea of curious eyes. I tighten my grip on her hand, leaning in close enough for my lips to brush her ear.

“I’ve got you,” I whisper, my tone low and steady, trying to convey all the confidence I can muster.

She glances up at me, her eyes wide but brimming with gratitude. It’s a small reassurance that I’ll take. Together, we make our way to my desk, the clicking of our shoes against the polished floor echoing in the silence.

As we reach my office, Lena looks up from her computer, a skeptical brow arched. “Well, well. Looks like the two of you are... closer than I thought,” she says, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

“Cut the crap, Lena. Where’s Marcus?” I reply, my patience wearing thin.

“In the conference room. He’s waiting for you,” she says, her eyes darting between us.

“Thanks,” I mutter, guiding Ellie through the door and into the conference room. The moment we step inside, I can sense Marcus’s authoritative presence. He’s all business, but today, he’s also our ally.

“Good, you made it,” he says, glancing between Ellie and me, a knowing look passing between us. “We’ve got some ground to cover.”

Ellie tenses beside me, and I tighten my grip on her hand, willing her to stay strong. “Let’s do this,” I say, forcing a calm I don’t quite feel.

“We’re drafting an official statement,” Marcus starts, pulling out some notes. “It’s important we frame Vanessa’s comments as a character attack. We need to control the narrative before it spirals.”

“Sounds like a plan,” I say, nodding. “We can’t let her drag us through the mud.”

“Exactly,” Marcus replies, his gaze serious. “But I need you to promise me you’ll stay away from Vanessa. The last thing we need is her escalating this situation further.”

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