Chapter 317

Madison

The Manhattan Project team meeting stretched into lunch, which I was thankful for. Every minute away from the executive floor was another minute I didn’t have to face Alexander and pretend I hadn’t seen those photos.

“We should wrap this up,” I said, glancing at my watch. “I need to prepare for the board presentation.”

As everyone filed out, I lingered in the project office, reluctant to return upstairs. I pulled out my phone, checking for messages out of habit. Nothing from Alexander.

What had I expected? A desperate plea to change my mind about dinner? An explanation about the photos with Katherine?

I scrolled through my emails, answered a few urgent ones, and reorganized my desk three times before finally accepting I couldn’t hide down here forever.

The elevator ride back to the executive floor felt like ascending to my execution. When the doors opened, I took a deep breath and stepped out, chin high.

Alexander’s office doo