“I think people do many things when they see an opportunity for themselves. The question is, what opportunity?”
“But who would he work with?” Leo said.
“Maybe someone who wants to acquire us,” Orion said slowly. “Force us into a financial crisis, tank our reputation, and get investors to panic. Then buy us out when we’re desperate.”
Orion’s reasoning made terrible sense.
“A hostile takeover,” I said.
“If enough investors demand their payouts in lump sums, we can’t cover operational expenses—” Orion’s jaw tightened. “We’d be forced to sell pieces of the company to stay liquid.”
“Holy hell,” Leo said.
A funeral silence engulfed the room. Someone’s conspiracy threatened to destroy years of hard work and dedication.
“So,” said Tashi, her eyes wide. “What are we going to do?”
I clapped my hands together. “It’s time I get to work.”
Chapter 17
Tashi
My phone buzzedwith a text from Marta:Girl, you’ve been radio silent for three days. I’m getting on a plane to Vegas.
I stared at the message, trying to figure out how to respond. What could I possibly say that would make sense?
Sorry, I’ve been busy falling in love with three men simultaneously while being accused of sexual harassment and watching my career implode on social media.
Yeah, that would go over well.
I was curled up on the sofa in my suite, surrounded by the wreckage of the past seventy-two hours. Empty coffee cups. My laptop, displaying news articles I couldn’t stop reading. My phone, showing missed calls from numbers I didn’t recognize—probably reporters looking for a statement.
I was in limbo, suspended between the life I’d built and the one that was crashing down around me.
Daniel used to live in that limbo with me—postponing, half-choosing, keeping me on standby.
I wasn’t his fiancée anymore. And I wasn’t waiting for him to decide that.
I’m fine, I texted back to Marta.Dealing with work stuff. Don’t fly out.
Her response came immediately:Work stuff doesn’t make you go dark for three days. What happened?
I didn’t know where to start. The Marcus allegations? The media circus? The fact that I was in a relationship with three brothers, and everyone somehow knew about it?
It’s complicated, I typed.I’ll call you soon. Promise.
Marta:You better. Love you.
Me:Love you too.
I set the phone down and pulled the blanket tighter around my shoulders. The suite felt too big, too empty, too quiet. The brothers had been giving me space—checking in via text, making sure I was eating, but not visiting. Probably dealing with their own crisis management.
Three days ago, we’d made a decision. Together. To try something unprecedented. To build a relationship that defied convention and logic and every piece of professional advice anyone had ever given.
And within hours, it had all exploded.
My laptop pinged with another news alert. I shouldn’t look. I knew I shouldn’t look. But my hand moved anyway, clicking the notification.
