She was part of it. Her phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out and glanced at the screen.
A message from Kai."We need to talk. Urgent." Her chest tightened.
She did not want to face him after everything he had hidden from her. But she couldn't ignore him forever. She quietly slipped out of the boardroom, hoping no one would notice her absence.
Kai's Apartment – Early Evening
Kai was pacing when she arrived, his hair a mess and his shirt rumpled. He stopped when he saw her, guilt flashing across his face.
"You came," he said softly."Don't read into it," Stella replied, folding her arms. "You said it was urgent." Kai sighed, gesturing for her to sit. She didn't.
"Stella, I messed up," he began, his voice strained. "I should've told you the truth from the start. About Noah. About me. I just... I thought I could protect you by keeping you out of it."
She let out a bitter laugh. "Protect me? You lied to me, Kai. You used me to keep your secrets."His shoulders slumped, and for the first time, she saw the weight he carried. "I didn't want you to get hurt. And now, it feels like everything is falling apart."
Stella shook her head, stepping closer. "You don't get to play the martyr here, Kai. I trusted you. And now, I don't know what to believe anymore."
Kai met her eyes, his expression raw. "Then let me make it right."
Before she could respond, her phone buzzed again. This time, it was Noah."Come back to the office. Now. It's urgent."Her stomach dropped."
What is it?" Kai asked, noticing the shift in her expression."I don't know," she said, already heading for the door."I am also joining you, I am also a part of it now", Kai demanded.Both left the apartment in the Kai's car.
Dawson Tech Ventures – Late Evening
When they arrived, the atmosphere was charged. Noah was in his office, standing by the window with his back to her. The city lights cast a harsh glow across his tense frame. "You wanted me back," she said softly, closing the door behind her.He turned, his eyes softened and was also shocked to see Kai with her. A sleek black folder was in his hand."This just came in," he said, holding it out to them.
She hesitated before taking it, a concerned look towards Kai. Inside were documents—contracts, correspondence, and legal agreements. Her eyes scanned the pages, and her breath caught. Kai's name was everywhere."What is this?" she whispered, her voice trembling.
"It's proof," Noah said, his voice heavy looking towards Kai. "Proof that Kai wasn't just an investor. He was working with Jonathan Ross. They sabotaged RISE Systems together."
Stella's world tilted."No," she said, shaking her head. "That doesn't make sense. She looked up at Kai and huffed a breath and said he wouldn't..." Noah stepped closer, his eyes filled with a mixture of anger and pity. "I didn't want you to find out like this, Stella. But it's the truth. He didn't just betray me—he betrayed you, too." "No that's fake. He's not saying the whole truth,Kai said looking at Noah. Tears pricked her eyes as she looked back at the documents. The timelines, the signatures—they all pointed to one undeniable conclusion.
"Don't trust him. There's more to the story than you know." Kai sighed.
She looked up at them, her heart pounding. For the first time, Stella realized the two men she had trusted most in her life were playing a game—and she was the pawn caught between them.
The conference room at Dawson Tech Ventures felt like a battlefield. Noah stood at the head of the table, his jaw tight, his eyes scanning the sea of sceptical board members. Stella and Kai sat in a chair along the wall, tension crackling in the air. Talia stood beside Noah, her tablet in hand, ready to jump in at a moment's notice.
" Mr. Dawson," one of the board members, a grey-haired man with sharp features, began, "we've all seen the photo. It raises questions about your relationship with Kai Wilhelm and the events surrounding RISE Systems. This company's reputation is on the line. We need answers." Noah straightened, his presence commanding yet calm. "You'll get answers. But before you pass judgment, you need the full story—because that photo doesn't tell it."
He nodded at Talia, who tapped her tablet and projected a series of documents and emails onto the screen."RISE Systems was my first major venture," Noah began, his voice steady. "It was built on innovative software Jonathan Ross and I co-developed. But as we approached launch, I discovered flaws in the code—flaws Jonathan refused to fix. His pride got in the way of the product's viability."
The room was silent, the tension palpable. Stella's eyes flicked to the screen, where an email thread appeared, showing Noah's repeated attempts to address the issues."I decided to move forward without Jonathan's involvement," Noah continued. "I restructured the company, brought in a new team, and salvaged what I could. Jonathan saw it as a betrayal, but it was the only way to save the project."
One of the board members leaned forward,looking at Kai his expression sceptical. "And what about Kai Wilhelm? Where does he fit into all this?"
Noah's gaze flicked to Stella and then Kai for a brief moment before he answered.Their eyes said something in brother-coded language. "Kai was just an investor. As a friend, He believed in me and the potential of RISE Systems and supported me financially when no one else would. But when the company faced backlash over Jonathan's departure, Kai became collateral damage."
He motioned to Talia, who projected a confidential settlement document onto the screen."Kai was implicated in the fallout, along with me," Noah explained. "But the truth is, he wasn't involved in the decision to cut Jonathan out. That was entirely on me." Stella's heart clenched. She studied the settlement document; the language was clear: Kai had signed a nondisclosure agreement to keep his name private. Kai had been protecting himself—but also her, by keeping her in the dark.
Later, in Noah's Office
The board meeting had adjourned, and the crisis narrowly averted. Noah leaned against his desk, his exhaustion evident, while Stella stood near the window, her arms crossed. Kai and Talia was still there. They both gestured to each other to leave. I'll be leaving you guys, sort it out, he said to Stella. Before leaving, You have your chance now get her or you'll lose her,he winked at Noah and left with Talia.
Flashback
Noah texted Kai, Don't say the truth yet, she's been heard by Jonathan we need to act before we find the chip on Stella. Police are in search of Jonathan, we need to act till then. when he heard stella was meeting him.
Present
Stella came closer to Noah, "You could've told me all of this sooner," she said softly, her voice tinged with hurt.
"I know," Noah admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. "I thought I was protecting you." Stella turned to face him, her expression conflicted. "Noah, protecting me doesn't mean keeping secrets. I need honesty. From you, from Kai—everyone."He met her gaze, the weight of his regret clear in his dark eyes. "You're right. And I'll do better. I promise."She studied him for a long moment, then nodded. "I believe you. She hugged him so tight that she could feel his heartbeat and hers was in rhythm.They left for Noah's penthouse.
Noah's Penthouse – Late Night
Noah sat on the couch, staring out at the city lights, lost in thought. When Stella walked in, he turned, his face softening."Hey," he said, standing as she approached.
"Hey," she replied, sitting down beside him. They sat in silence for a moment before Stella spoke. Stella hesitated, then reached for his hand. "Noah, I don't want us to be like that. I don't want secrets or half-truths between us."
"You won't get them," he promised, his voice steady. "Not anymore." She looked at him, her heart full of hope and trepidation. "Good. Because I think we've both been through enough to deserve a fresh start." He smiled, his eyes softening. "A fresh start. I like the sound of that." He said while petting her head,she giggled at him.
As they sat there, her head was on his lap,hands entwined, the city lights twinkling beyond the glass, Stella felt something she hadn't felt in a long time: peace. The chaos of RISE Systems, the betrayals and lies, had finally been laid to rest. Now, it was time to build something new—something real.