Page 38 of Her Billionaire Bossholes

The weight of the consequences of my actions hang heavily on my shoulders as a cold sweat trickles down the nape of my neck. The ache in my chest throbs, but my willpower to maintain my focus is stronger. The safety and protection of these three men is my first and foremost concern, and my job is everything. Not my desires.

"Charlie, I... We..." Jackson's eyes search mine, and for the first time, I see a fear I didn't anticipate - the fear of losing me.

But I know that I have to prioritize my responsibilities, no matter how much I care for them. No matter how much they think they care for me.

My voice cracks as I force the words out, determined to control my emotions for their sake. "I'll do whatever it takes to avoid any distractions or flings that could compromise my ability to effectively perform my duties."

32

JACKSON

Distractions and flings? The words echo in my mind, resonating with a sting of disbelief. Is that really how Charlie sees me? Is it possible that all our conversations, the moments of vulnerability, have been reduced in her eyes to nothing more than fleeting distractions?

The weight of Leo's accusation adds fuel to the fire of my internal turmoil. His voice carries a mix of frustration and hurt, mirroring my own feelings. "A frivolous fling?" he demands, his tone laced with disbelief. "Is that what we are to you?"

My mind races, torn between the urge to defend myself and the desire to understand Charlie's perspective. Is that really how Charlie sees this? The conversations, the confessions about her past, her parents... all of it is a distraction to her?

But as the thoughts circle in my head, a resolute determination takes hold.No, I decide firmly. I refuse to accept that we are merely a frivolous fling. I've witnessed her vulnerability, her willingness to share her past. This is more than that.

She must be scared, I convince myself, fighting off the surge of doubt. Scared of what? I ponder. Scared of losing control? Scared of opening herself up to the possibility of something deeper?

It's understandable, really. We all come with our baggage, with our fears and insecurities. But what Charlie fails to see is that we don't see her that way. Not for a second.

"Charlie," he begins, Caleb's words carefully chosen, "we may have hired you as a formality. Yes, we were hesitant at first, but it didn't take long for us to realize how much we needed you."

She rolls her eyes, ready to jump in with doubt.

"We may have had doubts initially," Leo quickly confesses, "especially on my part. But we know better. You know better. We aren't flings. You're just overreacting because you're freaked out."

"I'm not overreacting," she snaps, eyes wide.

The tension in the room thickens, fueled by the raw emotions swirling between us. Charlie's eyes, usually vibrant and full of mischief, now hold a glimmer of frustration and defiance. Her voice quivers slightly as she continues, "Leo, you think you have it all figured out, don't you? You think you know what's going on in my head?"

Leo's jaw tightens, his gaze unwavering. He takes a deep breath, as if collecting his thoughts before responding. "No, Charlie, I don't claim to know everything that goes on in that brilliant mind of yours. But what I do know is this - we're not distractions to you. We're not just flings."

"None of you insist on taking me seriously," she growls, stomping over and slapping her hand on the stack papers she brought into the room. "There is a mole leaking valuable information that is dangerous to all of you. Do you understand? Personal information, addresses, numbers. Scientific information that the three of you have spent half your lives developing!"

"Personal information?" I demand, approaching the papers to sift through them.

"Yes," she confirms. "You would know that already if you'd just listened to me in the first place."

I'm torn between her obvious avoidance of what happened between the three of us and the need to now understand the truth of her claims that we're in danger.

As I begin to sift through the papers, my heart pounds in my chest, echoing the urgency of the situation. Charlie's words reverberate in my mind, and I can't help but feel a chill run down my spine. The room becomes hushed as Leo and Caleb gather around me, their eyes filled with a mixture of shock and apprehension.

The documents before us are a labyrinth of classified information, a tangled web of secrets that seem too dangerous to be true. My eyes scan the pages, devouring every word, every detail that Charlie had been trying to explain. It becomes clear that "Project Prometheus" is not just a mere front to catch people's attention; it is a veil masking something far more sinister.

My fingers tremble as I turn the pages, each one unveiling a startling revelation. The mole has been leaking not only personal information but also sensitive scientific data that we have painstakingly developed over the years. The gravity of this betrayal settles heavily upon my shoulders.

"Who the fuck is responsible for this?" I demand angrily.

Caleb shakes his head, flipping through the pages. "It's been going on for years."

"The intel that this mole is putting out there... aside from that dumb project, all of it is accurate," Leo confirms.

Charlie sighs, sitting down in one of the chairs. She softly reminds us, "This is what I was trying to tell you before."

Her voice carries a weight of weariness now, the frustration giving way to a deep-rooted concern. She had fought tooth and nail to bring this evidence before us, risking her own safety in the process, and all she had faced was dismissiveness and doubt. But now, as we stood there in that dimly lit room, surrounded by the gravity of the situation, I couldn't ignore the vulnerability etched into every line of her face.

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