It can never work.
And yet why can’t I get him out of my head, no matter what I do?
Get it together, Bree.
The driver merges onto the Queensboro Bridge. Manhattan’s lights spread out behind us like a promise I’m not sure I believe in anymore.
I watch the city disappear in the rearview mirror and wonder how many more nights like this I can survive.
7
Nico
It’s Monday morning, and I’m in the middle of reviewing Q4 projections when Paloma bursts into my office without knocking.
“We have a problem,” my VP of communications says, phone in hand.
I raise an eyebrow. “Defineproblem.”
She sets her phone on my desk. The screen shows an industry forum post with our internal client segmentation plan attached.
Fuck.
A leak.
“Where did this come from?” I flatly.
“Posted anonymously three hours ago. Already picked up by MedTech Insider and two investigative accounts.”
I scan the document. It’s real. Selective excerpts that make us look like we’re using trauma survivors as marketing props while chasing elective cosmetic profits.
The optics are a disaster.
“Get Legal on it,” I say. “Take down notices. Find the source.”
“Nico.” Paloma’s voice is careful. “Donors are already calling.”
My jaw clenches.
Of course they are.
I spend the next four hours doing damage control that only makes things worse. My first instinct is to control the narrative, lock it down, threaten anyone who spreads it with legal action.
Paloma drafts a statement. I rewrite it to be more aggressive.
She comes back with a softened version.
I override her.
By Tuesday morning, three major donors have frozen their commitments. A corporate partner that licenses our tech sends a terse email about “reviewing the relationship pending clarification.”
Martin Hale calls for an emergency board meeting.
I’m standing at my office windows Wednesday afternoon, staring at the Hudson River, when my phone buzzes with a text from Dr. Helena Vasquez, one of the board members who actually gives a shit about the mission.
Martin is pushing for governance restructure. Trying to use this leak as leverage. Be ready.
Great. Just fucking great.
