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Theo steps inside with me and scans another headline while the doors close. “They’re asking whether the charity work was part of your plan for Wolf Shield.”

“It wasn’t.”

“I know, but if enough sites repeat it, people stop caring where the allegation started.”

“That’s what Spencer wants.”

The first articles stayed close enough to reality that Communications could answer them with public records. They asked where I went after leaving Spencer, how Wolf Shield grew so quickly, and who introduced the first investor. Emma helped Claire’s team build a timeline because she knew Spencer wouldn’t stop with questions.

He waited until the curiosity had enough momentum before supplying an answer designed to damage me.

The doors open onto the Communications floor, where every desk has at least one phone in use and several wall screens show different variations of the same story. Claire meets us outside the conference room with a tablet against her chest and motions us inside.

Emma is already sitting near the end of the table with her laptop open and a bottle of water beside her. She reads through an article, and I change direction toward her before I’ve even taken off my jacket.

She looks up and catches my expression. “I’m okay.”

“I haven’t asked yet.”

“You were going to.”

I pull the chair beside hers closer and sit rather than argue about a question she already answered. Theo takes the seat across from us. Claire closes the door and brings the current media tracker onto the wall screen.

“We’ve received twenty-seven press inquiries since eight this morning,” she says. “Four are from business outlets, and I expect more once the story moves farther beyond entertainment coverage.”

The headlines fill the display.

Each one pushes the accusation a little farther.

The earliest pieces question the timing between my resignation and Wolf Shield’s first funding. The next group mentions anonymous sources who claim I used shelter contacts to meet wealthy board members.

One site has already created a timeline presenting my volunteer work as the beginning of an investment campaign. A large line beneath the article asks whether I turned charity into opportunity.

Emma closes her laptop and looks toward Claire. “They’re using questions instead of making a direct allegation.”

“Exactly,” Claire says as she changes the screen. “Legal is reviewing each article, but most of them are staying careful enough to protect themselves.”

Theo leans back in his chair. “Then we make them considerably less comfortable about publishing it.”

Claire gives him a patient look. “Threatening every outlet before legal finishes its review would create another headline.”

“I can live with that.”

“Theo,” I cut in before he goes any further. “We’re not doing it.”

He turns toward me, his frustration showing in the way he grips the arm of his chair. “He’s accusing you of using abused women to build a billion-dollar company.”

“I understand the accusation.”

“Then why are we sitting here discussing restraint?”

“Because reacting exactly the way Spencer expects gives him the next story for free.”

Theo gets up and walks toward the windows before turning back. “We know where this started. His publicist asked about your missing years before any of these accounts touched it, and Spencer has spent months trying to hurt Emma because she wouldn’t come back to him. Now he’s moved to you.”

Emma stays focused on me and Theo speaks, allowing the argument to remain between us.

He plants one hand on the table. “We could give a reporter everything we know about Spencer today.”