Page 103 of Forty, Flirty & Framed

We stare at each other, momentarily thrown off rhythm.

"Ladies first," he offers, stepping inside.

I lead him to my living room, which I'd frantically cleaned this morning in anticipation of his arrival to pick me up for the party.

Now, the neat space feels like an interrogation room.

"Would you like something to drink?"I ask, buying myself precious seconds.

"No, thank you."He remains standing, hands clasped behind his back."What did you want to tell me?"

I take a deep breath."Callum, I haven't been entirely honest with you."

His eyebrows lift slightly."About?"

"About who I am.What I am…” I exhale, the breath that leaves my lungs literally making my shoulders slump.“You see, I’ve been through a lot in the past few years.Mom's treatments, Susanna's business loan—they all depended on me having a steady income.”I fight the urge to fidget.“You see, when my father left us, I kinda had to become the provider.I was twelve, translating for my mother, working jobs I was too young for, all while watching my sisters suffer.I promised myself I'd never let anyone make us feel powerless again.So, when doors kept closing in my face for jobs I knew I earned, I was desperate, and I…”

He's watching me with an intensity that makes me want to crawl under my coffee table."And?"

"And I..."

The shrill sound of a phone ringing cuts me off.

Swearing, Callum grabs his cell phone from his pocket.He glances at the screen, frowning.

"I need to take this."His tone suggests it's not up for debate."Duncan MacTavish."

As Callum steps away to answer, I sink onto my couch, heart pounding.

I was so close.

Just a few more sentences and it would have been out there.

"What do you mean public statement?"Callum's voice sharpens."When?"

I watch his expression darken as he listens, his free hand clenching into a fist.

"Send me the link.Immediately."He ends the call and turns to me."Duncan just released a press statement questioning Abernathy Corp's leadership stability in light of recent 'social media irregularities.'He's hinting that I'm unsuitable to lead the acquisition."

I blink, barely able to form words.“That's ridiculous."

"It's calculated.He's trying to force the board to reconsider the acquisition price."Callum paces my living room, all thoughts of our previous conversation apparently forgotten."He specifically mentioned Richard's embezzlement as evidence of a 'pattern of leadership failures.'"

"He can't do that!"

"He just did."Callum's phone pings with a new message.He reads it and his expression somehow grows even darker."And now he's attending Connor's engagement party tonight."

"What?How?"

"Late addition to the guest list.Connor's fiancée Ariana represents one of MacTavish's subsidiaries—Duncan leveraged the connection."Callum runs a hand through his hair, momentarily disheveling its perfect order."This changes everything.He's turning tonight into a public referendum on my leadership."

My own confession suddenly feels insignificant against this corporate chess move.

I shift into crisis management mode.

"Then we counter it.We stick to the Guardian narrative we've been building.We present a united, professional front."

"Exactly what I was thinking."He finally meets my eyes again."Karina, whatever you were about to tell me?—"