Page 83 of Silver Fox's Christmas Scandal
"This is about money," I said, standing to face her across the desk. "You want me out so you can sell your shares to the highest bidder. How much is Daniel offering you? Or is it Robert Vaughn?"
The perfect act she'd prepared faltered as anger washed over her face. "This is about propriety. About maintaining the dignity of a company our children will inherit."
"Children you've spent twenty years poisoning against me."
"I didn't have to poison them against anything. Your actions spoke for themselves." She moved toward the door, then paused, turning back with a final thrust. "You have until Friday's board meeting to submit your resignation. Otherwise, I'll release these photos and let the media circus tear apart your precious little assistant along with your reputation."
"You'll leave Tessa out of this."
"That's not your decision to make anymore."
Our voices had been rising throughout the confrontation, and I knew the entire office could hear every word.
The glass walls that had once symbolized transparency now felt exposing and fragile. Through them, I could see curious faces and worried expressions among the staff.
Viktoria stormed out before I could come up with something else to say. The door slammed behind her, and I sank into my chair, running my hands through my hair as I realized what was happening.
In order to keep Cross Capital on a trajectory to belong to my children one day, she was going to force me out and secure a deal with one or many of the board members.
Her shares in exchange for something signed stating Blake and Elena would control the company in my absence.
And then she would force me out.
It was the only way for her to gain full control over what she could otherwise never touch.
A knock interrupted my spiraling thoughts. Daniel entered without waiting for permission, his face grim and disapproving. My oldest friend looked at me with the expression of a man who'd already made up his mind about my guilt.
"We need to discuss what just happened," he said, settling into the chair Viktoria had vacated.
"There's nothing to discuss."
"The hell there isn't." His voice carried the authority of the CFO, not the warmth of twenty years of friendship. "Sleeping with subordinates is grounds for immediate termination. The liability exposure alone?—"
"I'm not sleeping with anyone."
But Daniel's skeptical look told me he didn't believe the denial any more than Viktoria had. "Lucian, I've watched you mentor analysts and junior executives for years. The way you've been working with Miss Wynn goes far beyond professional development."
Heat crept up my neck. "She's brilliant. She has insights that half our analysts miss."
"She's an assistant, not an analyst. There's a reason we have organizational hierarchies." Daniel leaned forward, hisexpression hardening. "Any projects you've assigned her need to be redistributed to actual qualified personnel immediately."
The dismissive tone when he referred to Tessa made my jaw clench. I knew she could hear us.
Her desk was only a few yards from my office door which was still standing open. "She's more qualified than most of the overpaid MBAs we hire."
"That's not the point, and you know it." Daniel stood, straightening his tie with sharp movements. "Miss Wynn will return to her actual job duties—managing your calendar, answering phones, making coffee. And you will maintain appropriate professional boundaries before this situation destroys both of your careers."
Walking away from my desk, he said, "Viktoria's threats aren't empty, Lucian. The board is losing patience with the distractions. Fix this, or we'll fix it for you."
He moved toward the door, then paused, his hand on the handle. "Miss Wynn needs to come in here. Now."
My stomach dropped. "Daniel?—"
"Now, Lucian."
I pressed the intercom with reluctance. "Tessa, could you step into my office, please?"
She appeared within seconds, her professional mask firmly in place, but I could see the worry in her eyes.
