Olivia stood by the window of her office, the first rays of sunlight filtering through the sheer curtains. The city below began to wake, bustling with the promise of a new day, yet her heart felt heavy with the weight of a secret she had buried deep within her. As she gazed at the rising sun, memories flooded her mind—memories she had fought so hard to forget.
It had been years ago, during a business trip to a foreign country. Olivia had been ambitious and eager, determined to make a name for herself in the fashion industry. But her dreams had been shattered in an instant when she found herself cornered by a powerful married businessman who had taken an unhealthy interest in her.
The memory of that night still haunted her: the way he had grabbed her, the malicious glint in his eyes, and the suffocating fear that had gripped her heart. She had managed to escape, but not before he had threatened her, using his influence to ensure that she would never speak of it. When the truth about the encounter had surfaced, it had been twisted into a scandal, painting her as the mistress in a sordid affair. His wife, furious and seeking revenge, had publicly vilified Olivia, leading to her exile from the country.
The news had spread like wildfire, leaving a mark on her reputation that she had fought tirelessly to repair. But now, as she watched the sun rise, she realized that she could no longer hide this part of her past from Ethan. He deserved to know the truth—the whole truth.
"Olivia?" Emma's voice broke through her thoughts, pulling her back to the present. "Are you ready for our meeting?"
"Yeah, just a moment," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.
Emma noticed the distant look in Olivia's eyes. "You okay?"
"I need to talk to you about something important after the meeting," Olivia said, her heart racing at the thought of finally sharing her secret.
---
Meanwhile, Jenna Thompson sat in her sleek car, the sun streaming through the windshield as she made a call to a number she had not dialed in years. The voice on the other end was gravelly, filled with a mixture of surprise and reluctance.
"Jenna? I didn't expect to hear from you again," the older man said, his tone cautious.
"I have a proposition for you," Jenna replied, a determined edge in her voice. "I want to discuss Olivia Carter."
There was a pause, and Jenna could almost hear the gears turning in his mind. "What about her?"
"I know what happened between you two. I also know how it was spun in the media, and I think we can use that to our advantage," Jenna continued, a malicious smile creeping onto her face. "With the merger, Ethan and Olivia are more vulnerable than ever. If we expose the truth about their so-called affair, it could tear them apart."
"Why would I help you?" he asked, skepticism evident in his tone.
"Because this is your chance to get back at her," Jenna replied, her voice smooth and persuasive. "You can show the world who she really is and how she destroyed your family. I just need you to make a statement, to reaffirm what happened between you two. Once that's out, Ethan won't be able to look at her the same way again."
---
Back at the office, the atmosphere was tense as Olivia and Emma met with Alex, Ethan's assistant, to discuss their investigation into the mole.
"I think there's a chance we're not just dealing with a traitor in my company," Olivia began, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside her. "If someone is leaking information about the merger, they could easily be doing the same from Pierce Enterprises. We need to consider that there could be a mole in both companies."
Emma nodded, her expression serious. "I agree. We can't just focus on one side. We need to dig deeper into both organizations."
"I'll talk to Alex," Olivia said, her heart racing. "If we can gather enough evidence, we might be able to uncover who's behind all of this."
As the three of them strategized, Olivia couldn't shake the feeling that her past was creeping closer, that Jenna was lurking in the shadows, ready to strike. She knew she had to be vigilant, not just for herself, but for Ethan as well. He had become a beacon of hope in her life, and the thought of losing him because of her hidden past was unbearable.
---
Later that day, as Olivia prepared to leave the office, her phone buzzed with a message. It was from Emma, who had been working closely with Alex. The message read: "We've narrowed down a few suspects in both companies. We should meet tomorrow to go over everything."
Olivia felt a flicker of hope. If they could just uncover the truth behind the leaks, perhaps she could finally find peace. But the shadow of Jenna's plan loomed over her, and she knew the stakes had never been higher.
As Olivia walked out into the fading sunlight, she couldn't shake the feeling that the truth about her past was about to resurface, and she would have to confront it head-on if she wanted to protect the future she was beginning to build with Ethan.