Michael had a positive start to the week. Legal counsel was tightening the net around Edward, Henry had set up a private investigator, and Lorna was finally allowing him to return to her world, piece by delicate piece.
Edward Reed, however, was always three steps ahead.
Carla, Michael's assistant, stormed into his office in the middle of the morning, her eyes full of panic. "You must watch this."
On his desk, she placed a thick envelope. Inside was a court summons—Edward was suing him for corporate fraud and breach of contract regarding a years-old acquisition deal.
Carla muttered, "He says you manipulated SilverTech's valuation."
Michael snarled, "That deal was cleared and closed five years ago."
Not in light of this. She gave the affidavit that was attached. Michael had never seen the fabricated emails and statements Edward had produced, which claimed Michael had forced the board of directors to make a decision during the merger.
Michael felt his pulse quicken as Henry entered. Henry checked his phone and said, "We have a situation." "And it gets worse." It was just picked up by the media. Reed made the lawsuit public.
Something shifted in Michael's world.
Money was no longer the only factor in this.
The goal was to ruin his reputation.
On the other side of town, Lorna was sitting in a peaceful café, her laptop still closed. Ever since she and Michael had spoken that evening, she had been unable to concentrate. She was still wary, but the connection between them had returned. She needed to believe him, and she wanted to, but fear held one foot firmly behind her.
When the bell over the café door rang, a well-known person entered.
Madden Lucas.
Stylish, dapper, and disarming in that subtly potent manner. His gaze swept across the café before settling on her.
"Lorna Jenkins?" His smile was warm as he spoke. "It has been a long time."
Blinking, Lorna stood up. "Lucas? The trauma resilience symposium in Washington, D.C.
And he smiled. You recalled. Do you mind if I join you?
They chatted for more than an hour. Now a prosperous businessman, Lucas oversaw a mentoring program for young people who were at risk. He needed a consultant with her background in emotional recovery because he had traveled to the city to open a new branch.
"I was informed about the events at your clinic. "That's cruel," Lucas remarked with sincere worry. "Your prioritization of people over prestige has always impressed me. Someone like you would be very helpful to me. A new beginning, a new city, a new beginning.
Lorna was taken aback. A fresh start.
Another door was subtly opening as Edward's legal storm threatened to topple Michael's world, one that would not result in betrayal, chaos, or terror. One with a man whose past did not haunt him.
A lifeline.
Would she accept it, though?
Would she leave the man who was attempting to mend what he had damaged?
Or put safety before passion?
It was no longer a hypothetical choice.
It would alter everything, and it was on the horizon.