Chapter 2

The second the door closed, tears streamed down her cheeks as if she were the most wronged victim on earth.

"Ethan, I never said your name," she sobbed softly, every word laced with venom.

"Why did you jump in and drink for me?"

"Weren't you just trying to put me in your debt so you could demand dirty favors later?"

"You think I don't know the sleazy crap older men like you pull?"

"The moment you finished drinking, you wouldn't stop staring at me! You terrified me!"

I trembled with pure fury, pointing at her.

"Staring at you?! Chloe, check your conscience!"

"I looked over once to make sure Vance wasn't going to corner you again!"

"I put hands on you?! Did I even brush a single strand of your hair?!"

"You didn't touch me, but your eyes undressed me!" Her cries turned louder and more theatrical. "Did you think downing a few drinks meant I owed you my body?!"

"Please, Ethan, I'm begging you, leave me alone! I'm just a junior hire trying to make a living. Don't ruin my life!"

She twisted my basic decency into a calculated, predatory assault.

Before I could fire back, the conference room door swung open. Director Harrison stood in the doorway, his face pitch-black with disgust.

Behind him, several colleagues craned their necks, their eyes practically glowing with juicy gossip and righteous contempt.

They had heard every single word of Chloe's tearful performance.

Harrison looked at the sobbing girl, then shot me a look of pure, cold disappointment.

"Ethan. My office. Now."

Right then, I knew. I had stepped straight into a carefully orchestrated trap.

And this was only the beginning of the nightmare.

The air in Harrison’s office was ice-cold. He didn't give me a single second to explain. He slammed a heavy dossier onto his desk.

"Ethan, we're kicking off Project Phoenix. You know damn well how vital this account is."

Harrison laced his fingers together, glaring at me.

"You were our top pick to lead it."

"Now look at the mess you've made!"

"What does this firm value above all else? Our reputation! You're neck-deep in a sexual harassment scandal. How can anyone respect you? How can you lead a team?"

My stomach dropped. Project Phoenix was my baby. I had pulled countless all-nighters, grinding for six straight months to land it. It was the crowning achievement of my year.

"Director, this is a total frame job! There is nothing between Chloe and me! I swear on my life!" I pleaded.

Harrison sneered.

"The entire floor is buzzing with rumors that you got drunk and tried to molest the new girl."

"Public perception is reality, Ethan. Until this blows over and we investigate, you're off the project."

"I'm reassigning leadership to someone else temporarily. Go home, cool off, and handle your personal life."

My heart turned to ice. Harrison didn't care about truth. He cared about PR damage control. Throwing me under the bus was the easiest way to keep the peace.

"Sir—"

"Get out," he dismissed me coldly, picking up his coffee mug.

I stumbled out of the executive suite like a ghost. What greeted me were sneers, whispers, and venomous glares.

Colleagues who used to call me their brother looked at me like I was radioactive waste, quickly dropping their gazes to fake being busy.

The entire world had turned against me.