Chapter 32

32 Tides of Turmoll 32 Tides of Turmoll In a dimly lit room, Alex sat hunched over his desk, his mind racing. He was convinced Bella had something to do with the fiasco. Emma wouldn’t have said those things otherwise. Between his sister Lillian and Bella, he was caught in a whirlwind of chaos. His head throbbed with the stress of it all.

Things were spiraling far beyond his control.

He pondered deeply, “Was it Lillian, Bella, or even my mother? What role did each play in my marriage with Emma unraveling?”

Meanwhile, Emma, after dealing with the reporters, walked into the office. She immediately noticed the curious glances from her coworkers. The gossip about the morning’s events had obviously reached them. She could feel the weight of their speculation. As she passed by, snippets of conversations halted, eyes quickly averting. The atmosphere was thick with unspoken questions. Her once–hidden identity was now an open book.

“There you are!” Jada exclaimed, grabbing Emma’s arm and pulling her into the break room.”

Everyone’s talking about you. They’re saying it’s weird you still work here post–divorce. They’re suggesting you’re still involved with Alex. Can you believe it?”

“They think I’m still involved with Alex?” Emma laughed, finding humor in the absurdity. “What brings you here, anyway?”

Jada’s expression soured. “Dad wants me to ‘learn‘ the ropes. He secretly arranged for me to intern under you. So, I’m your assistant for now.”

Emma saw a silver lining. “Great! You’ll learn a lot with me, and it’ll be less stressful than working directly under Wayne.”

Jada nodded, resigned but understanding her position. “Yeah, I get it. I’ll be here, learning from you.”

They were interrupted by a notification on Jada’s phone. “Oh, we have to rush to the conference room.

Wayne wants us there.”

The pair hurried to the meeting, sliding into their seats just in time. Inga, an employee seated below Wayne, immediately targeted Emma. “Late and causing a publicity crisis, Emma? Not taking this seriously?”

Emma was unfazed. “A publicity crisis? If having my job known is a crisis, I guess I need to update my definitions.”

Inga, known for her infatuation with Wayne and disdain for Emma, bristled at the comeback. ”

Remember the scandal you caused three years ago? Cost us millions. Paid that back yet?”

Emma stood her ground, her gaze steady. “Causing trouble seems to be your recent hobby, Inga. I’m here to work, not to revisit old scandals. Maybe focus on the present”

32 Tides of Turmoil The room fell silent as Inga’s face reddened. Emma’s knowledge of company secrets, a testament to her close bond with Wayne, had caught everyone off guard. Her attempts to undermine Emma’s position were evident to all. Yet, Emma’s composed demeanor and sharp retorts left Inga momentarily speechless.

Wayne, watching the exchange, felt a sense of pride in his sister’s resilience. He knew public opinion was firmly on Emma’s side. The chaos around her didn’t faze her; instead, she emerged stronger, a testament to her character and determination. He finally spoke up.

“Enough, ladies. We’re here to work, not to dredge up the past. Let’s focus on what matters.”

As the meeting progressed, Emma’s mind was elsewhere. The events of the day had taken their toll, and she found herself reflecting on her journey, the choices she had made, and the path that lay ahead.

After the meeting, Emma and Juliet walked back to their desks. “You handled that well,” Jada remarked, admiration in her voice.

Emma smiled, a hint of sadness in her eyes. “Sometimes, the best way to handle a storm is to stand firm and let it pass.