Page 32 of Crushing On Bestie's Billionaire Brother

I clench my fists, grappling with the internal battle between loyalty and the need for the truth. How could I have been so blind? Was I blinded by my feelings for Chloe, clouded by the intense connection we shared? Was I so desperate to find solace in someone that I had allowed myself to be deceived?

“Well, Nick, since you put it that way, what else is there to think about. I must do as you say,” I reply in a bright tone.

“Really?” Nick asks, looking surprised that he has managed to convince me so quickly.

“Of course, I was blind till now!” I continue in the same bright voice. “I should have understood what was happening a long time ago. Instead, I was distracted, you know. Chloe is just such a captivating woman . . .”

“Hey, I get that,” Nick replies, looking eager and enthusiastic at the thought of finally defeating the woman who had been his rival since day one. “Women like that can be really manipulative. They’re just so used to getting their way—”

“Shut up,” I say in my coldest voice.

“What?” Nick sputters, not registering the change that has come upon my face.

“I said shut the fuck up, you dimwitted lowlife, you sad excuse for a human being,” I respond rapidly, unleashing all the barbs I had stowed away in my arsenal. “You think you’re such an alpha male, buddy?” I say, looming over the despicable fool. “Well guess what, Stephen Jamesonhates snitches.”

“Wait- wait, Stephen, I was just—” Nick is stepping back with a panicked look on his face.

“I’m not going to believe the lies that shitheads like you feed me,” I snap at him. “You’re fired, Nick. Go gather up your things.”

“Stephen, no, wait,” Nick sputters, his face beetroot red and his hands trembling.\

“Oh and also, tell my best friend Jonathan that I’m coming to find this ‘evidence’ that everyone keeps talking about.”

And with that, I turn on my heel and march out of my office, determined to unmask the truth at last.

Chapter nineteen

Chloe

Well,Nick,sinceyouput it that way, what else is there to think about. I must do as you say. That is what Stephen says. I stand frozen, hidden in the shadows of the corridor, my heart pounding in my chest. The weight of betrayal hangs heavy in the air as I overhear Stephen and Nick's conversation. Their words cut through me like a knife, confirming my worst fears. Stephen never loved me. It was all a charade, a game of deceit that I unwittingly played a part in.

Tears well up in my eyes as a wave of despair crashes over me. How could I have been so blind? How could I have let myself believe in something so fragile, so transient? I clutch the proof of Jonathan's shady dealings with the whistleblower's company, a pen drive with the emails that would expose his true intentions.

In that moment, a flicker of determination ignites within me. I cannot continue working for a firm that turns a blind eye to the actions of its senior members, that shields them from accountability. I need to leave.

With a resolute breath, I make my way to Martha's office. The weight of my decision hangs heavy in the air as she watches me with a mixture of surprise and concern. "Chloe, what's going on? Why are you doing this?" she asks, her voice filled with genuine worry.

I find it hard to form words, my emotions choking my throat. But I manage to muster a response eventually. "I can't work for a firm that refuses to question its own senior members, Martha. I have evidence of Jonathan's involvement, but nobody fucking cares! That man will not face any consequences, can you believe it?"

I cannot allow Jonathan's deceit to go unchecked, even if it means severing ties with Eagle Eye. With a determined resolve, I gather all the evidence I have acquired, planning to approach another newsroom that will take me seriously. I didn’t bust my ass all this time to be ignored as a journalist, just because Stephen is blinded by his personal emotions about me.

As I hand over a copy of the case file to Martha, I feel a strange mix of relief and trepidation. This is the right thing to do, I tell myself, even if it means sacrificing my own professional aspirations.

Martha accepts the file, her expression a mixture of surprise and concern. She senses the gravity of the situation and the weight of my decision. "Chloe, are you sure about this?" she asks, her voice filled with both caution and admiration.

I meet her gaze, determination shining through the tears that threaten to spill from my eyes. "Martha, I trust you. If something happens to me . . . if I’m not able to get the truth out through another channel, you need to safeguard another copy of the evidence."

She nods, her eyes reflecting the gravity of the situation. "Chloe, I won't let you down. I’ll guard this with my life. Not that I’ll ever need to use it," she chuckles half-heartedly before lapsing into a thoughtful silence. "Chloe, I understand your concerns, but are you sure you're not making a rash decision in the heat of the moment? The confrontation with Stephen . . ."

Her words hit me like a wave of doubt, threatening to undermine my convictions. I struggle to find my voice, my emotions constricting my throat. With tears welling up in my eyes, I offer Martha a pained and resigned look, unable to form a coherent response. The weight of the situation is overwhelming, and the doubts that have clouded my mind threaten to consume me entirely.

Sensing my turmoil, Martha steps closer and places a comforting hand on my shoulder, her touch a lifeline in my moment of vulnerability. "Chloe, I know you're going through a difficult time. Take the time you need to process everything. But know that your work here was not without worth; your dedication and integrity have not gone unnoticed."

Her empathetic words provide a glimmer of solace amidst the storm raging within me. I nod, grateful for her understanding and support. "Thank you, Martha. Your belief in me means more than you know."

I take a deep breath, steadying myself as I walk into Rosie's office to deliver the resignation letter that holds my future in its words. Rosie's eyes widen with surprise as she notices the document in my hand. "Chloe, what's this?”

"Rosie,” I began hesitantly before my voice becomes firmer. “I've decided to leave Eagle Eye."

---