Page 8 of Tempted By Eden

Chapter five

Cora

“Leo, I need toput you in the shopping cart, okay?” I reach to lift him up.

“Why can’t I just walk?” He backs away, turning his shoulder to me. His little pout makes it clear he’s not thrilled with the idea.

“Next time, alright? We’ve got a lot of stuff to get, and we need to be quick today.”

“Oh, pleeease,” he whines, already angling for a delay. Helovesspending time at the supermarket. “Fiiine,” he concedes with a dramatic sigh.

I quickly lift him up and settle him in the child seat of the grocery cart. I love my kid to death, but at his pace, a simple shopping trip can turn into an ultramarathon. When Leo walks beside me, every aisle becomes an expedition filled with detours and distractions.

“Okay, pumpkin,” I say, giving him a playful nudge. “Let’s make this quick and then we’ll have time for a treat afterward. Sound good?”

Leo perks up at that. “Okay!”

“Great. Let’s do this.” I pull up the grocery list on my phone and guide the cart down aisle one. The bright fluorescent lights buzz overhead as I grab items off the shelves. My hands move on autopilot while my thoughts drift to tonight. The paperwork is done, everything’s in place. Anxiety pulses under my skin, my fingers twitching with pent-up energy.

Despite my nerves being shot, I know I’d be foolish to let this opportunity slip away. While I toss a box of cereal into the cart, I remind myself that it’s not like I’ve got a lot of options right now. Making money quickly is the number one priority.

I glance at Leo, who’s happily watching the flurry of activity around him. The innocent kicking of his legs reminds me why I need to make this work. Every decision I make is for him. Providing for us and Dad.

As I scroll through the grocery list, an incoming call flashes on my screen.

When I see it’s Emily, the recruiter, I quickly hit Accept.

“Hey, Emily! Do you have good news for me?”

“Actually, I do.” She chuckles.

“Really?” After months of asking the same question and always hearing “not yet,” it’s become a running joke between us.

“There are whispers going around,” Emily says, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial tone. “Two women are about to come forward with allegations of sexual misconduct against Sinclair. If this is true, then”—she makes an explosion sound—“this is a game-changer for you.”

“Holy—” I catch myself just in time, glancing at Leo. I wink at him and he giggles at my near slip-up.

The news slams into me with the force of a sledgehammer. For months, my former boss Simon Sinclair has been the insurmountable wall standing between me and my job prospects. If these allegations get out, everything could change overnight.

A CEO having an affair isn’t usually newsworthy. People have affairs all the time, and it doesn’t make national headlines. But when the man in question is a high-profile CEO of the biggest tech company in the world, who also happens to be married to a famous heiress who loves the spotlight, it’s a different story. That sort of scandal is guaranteed to make headlines. Especially when he’s caught in a compromising position with his barely legal assistant. It was a PR nightmare—and I was head of PR.

I did everything I could to prevent the story from spreading, but I’m no miracle worker. I was up against the formidable machinery of the global media, and it was only a matter of time before the story broke. Expecting me to control the most powerful media outlets in the world was ridiculous.

Once the story gained traction, it was like trying to stop a wildfire with a garden hose. I could only watch as the media frenzy took hold. The tabloids were relentless, and every new detail was scrutinized and sensationalized. It became clear that this wasn’t just a personal scandal; it was a spectacle that captivated the public’s attention and sent the company’s share price plummeting. Despite my efforts to manage the fallout, the damage was done. The CEO’s actions had set off a chain reaction that couldn’t be contained. Only, I paid the price.

“His ass is about to get Me Too-ed,” Emily gloats.

“Thank goodness.” I release a long sigh, feeling the tight band around my chest begin to ease.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if he steps down by the end of the next week,” she adds.

“Really? That quick?”

“It’s not looking good for him. As soon as the allegations hit the news, things will move fast. And the second it does, I’ll be on the phone making calls on your behalf.”

“You’re the best, Emily.” Thank God I’ve got this woman in my corner.

“I know,” she snickers. Then, more softly, she adds, “Hang in there. It won’t be long now.”

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