Page 150 of The Scandal You Started
A moment of silence followed his weighted declaration.
“Besides,” Dominic continued. “We are not here to discuss who is at fault for a situation that was inevitable. We are here merely to inform you that Rayna and I intend to remain together, here and in the past, whether you approve of it or not.”
Five members of the Board looked around or straightened in shock, but Sheun and Jim kept a tight leash on their composure.
“That isn’t possible, Lord Norland,” said Jim. “You’re from the past. You have a life and a family there. And for the sake of protecting and upholding the timeline that’s already been written, you can’t be in a relationship with Miss Faez, and you can’t remain here.”
“That’s not entirely true, Dr Pine,” Victor said, leaning against the table.
Rayna’s head whipped to him, as did everyone else’s in the deadly quiet.
“I’d like to remind you that you signed an NDA, Dr Johnson,” Jim hissed.
An NDA? An NDA for what?
“An agreement that expired last year, which no one asked me to renew.”
Jim shifted a hard glance to Lang, whose face went red with a choked sound. “I–I’m…I’m sure I sent emails…” The spluttering man faded off, making the certainty of his statement clear.
“I didn’t receive any emails,” Victor retorted, “so there is nothing stopping me from telling them that you’re lying. Studies have been allowed to stay in the past.”
The revelation Victor dropped left a ringing echo in the room. Or maybe it was within Rayna because it was all she could hear as she held her breath in shock.
How…when…when had Studies been allowed to stay? Because for as long as she could remember, it had always been banned.
Anger flashed across Jim’s face. “That was a long time ago,” he bit out, reluctantly confirming Victor’s declaration. “Before we knew what taking someone out of their time period could do. The Rupture it causes.”
“Cancause,” Victor corrected. “It’s not guaranteed. It can be diminished or overcome given enough time to figure out what precautions need to be taken.”
Jim arched a brow. “Do you honestly believe taking someone as important as Lord Norland out of his timeline won’t cause a Rupture that can’t be managed?”
“You don’t know that with certainty.”
“Neither do you know the opposite with certainty.”
Both men stared each other down for a dozen seconds.
Then Jim Pine returned his attention to Rayna and Dominic. “You will end your affair today—”
“No,” Dominic snapped, and her heart stuttered with the same refusal.
“And you will return to your time tomorrow evening after wrapping things up at the museum, Lord Norland.”
“I said no,” Dominic growled. “I will not be separated from Rayna.”
“You just told us Studies have been allowed to stay,” Rayna added. “So, given the chance to overcome his Rupture, whatever that means, Lord Norland should be allowed to stay too.”
Jim rested his elbows on the table. “Miss Faez, the last time someone tried to overcome a Rupture, people died.” He paused as he stared her right in the eye. “Your mother.” He glanced to George on the other side of Victor. “Your parents. They died trying to help Alex overcome a princess’s Rupture. Is that really what you want to happen again?”
The solid, unforgiving blow of his words landed directly against Rayna’s chest, winding her. The high-pitched zinging swarmed her head and ears again.
“What?” George croaked.
“And it was your fault,” Victor rumbled, jerking forward. “It wasyouwho didn’t give them enough time to figure out the princess’s Rupture. You rushed Yasmin into doing an experiment she told you wasn’t ready! You were so desperate to cement your place on the Board, you forced her to choose between helping Alex and her safety because you knew she would risk her life to help him. You’re the reason they’re all gone. Yasmin, Alex, Frank, and Samara died because of you!”
Hot and cold rushes flooded in crashing waves through Rayna’s veins as she gaped at the anger and pain straining Victor’s face, a wetness coasting over his eyes.
“And you can sit there,” he hissed, “and pretend you earnt your place as the CEO, but you didn’t. You stole it from Yasmin.You killed her to get it.”
