Page 40 of The Forbidden Billionaire Attorney

My pulse goes from chill beats to heavy metal as I realize those traitorous sheets were sent from Aurora and NexGen straight to us. The leak’s an inside job. A mole in our midst.

Betrayal stings like lemon juice on a paper cut, and I can feel the sting all right. Here I am, busting my tail to prove I belong at a firm as prestigious as Cole & Sterling, and someone slinks around planting landmines at my feet. With a heart that feels like it’s pounding its way out of my chest, I shove back from my desk, my chair rolling away like it’s as eager to escape this mess as I am.

“Adrian,” I say, the name a call to action. Time for damage control.

I march to Adrian’s office with a purpose, my heels clicking on the marble floor like a metronome ticking off my escalating pulse. I rap sharply on the door, ready for battle, but he whips it open before my knuckles can fall a second time.

“Isabella,” he says and yanks me inside, his eyes darting down the corridor like we’re in a spy thriller. The door shuts with a definite click, sealing us in his domain of leather and mahogany.

“So you know?” I hold up my phone, but judging by his tense jaw, there’s no need to even show it..

“News travels fast,” he says, a hand raking through his perfectly styled hair. Despite the chaos, he manages to still look annoyinglyimpeccable.

“Like wildfire,” I reply, keeping my voice even though I’m anything but calm. “Under our watch, Adrian. How?”

He paces, a lion in a cage, his movements precise as if he’s calculating his steps. “We need to be careful,” he starts, finally facing me. “Let’s not jump to conclusions just yet.”

My frustration simmers. “Not jump? Adrian, this is serious.”

“Of course, it is.” He speaks slowly, deliberately. “But consider this—maybe it’s someone from Aurora or NexGen. Tensions are high with the merger. There could be someone internal within one of the companies who isn’t too thrilled about the way things are moving.”

“Or maybe it’s someone here,” I shoot back, folding my arms. Yes, it’s possible, but I’m not buying what he’s selling—not all of it, anyway. “Someone who knows exactly what they’re doing.”

Adrian nods, conceding the point. “How about this: we keep future documents between us three—just you, me, and Leo. Until we sort this mess.”

“Fair enough,” I say, but my mind is already racing, a dozen strategies unfolding. Whoever did this, I’ll find them. They messed with the wrong lawyer.

“Thanks, Isabella,” he adds, his gaze searching mine. “We’ll handle this together. Try not to let it stress you out too much. Not if it’s at the risk of the baby’s health.”

“Of course,” I reply, though part of me wonders how much “together” will mean in the days ahead.

Just then, the door swings open, and Leo walks in. His eyes flick between me and Adrian, and it’s clear he’s annoyed that we started this little emergency meeting without him. “Did you see the news?” Leo asks, though the question is laced with sarcasm. He knows we’ve seen it.

Adrian nods, straightening. “Isabella and I agreed to keep all correspondence between the three of us going forward.”

“No secretaries?” Leo asks, his voice tinged with disbelief.

Adrian shakes his head. “It would be best not to involve them. We wouldn’t want them getting blamed if Aurora and NexGen decide to point fingers. If anything, I’ll take sole responsibility if things go south.”

“Adrian—” I start, but Leo cuts me off, turning to Adrian.

“Shouldn’t it be the two of us going down together? We’re partners, after all. Should Isabella even be in the room?” His words are sharp, and it’s hard to miss the implication simmering beneath the surface.

Adrian doesn’t hesitate. “She’s here because she saw the news and came straight to my office. Plus, those documents were supposed to go to her.”

The awkwardness sits heavy in the room, and I shift uncomfortably. “Should we call Aurora and NexGen? Just to stay ahead of things?”

Leo glances at me, then offers, “I’ll make the call.”

Before he can reach for his phone, Adrian’s rings. He checks the caller ID and raises a hand. “It’s NexGen. I’ll handle this.”

As Adrian answers, I watch Leo’s jaw tighten before he turns and storms out, leaving me standing there, feeling a weight settle on my shoulders. Adrian is now absorbed in reassuring NexGen that the firm is taking every measure to prevent further leaks. His voice is calm and steady, but I can see the strain in his eyes.

I let out a quiet sigh of my own, realizing there’s little more I can do here. “I’ll see myself out,” I mutter, and with that, I slip out of the room, feeling the pressure of the unfolding situation pulling at me from all sides.

I stride back to my office, the whispers of the staff and my colleagues hitting me like a humid breeze. I pretend they’re justdiscussing the weather or last night’s game—anything but the elephant in the room that’s wearing my name tag. The leaks.

Back in my office, I slide into my chair, trying to muster the cool composure of someone who’s not imagining her career teetering on a high wire. The computer screen greets me with its glow, then winks out like it’s in on some cruel joke. Flickers once, and boom, darkness.

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