Chapter 128 Aftermath
Briar's POV
"The live stream peaked at three hundred thousand viewers," he said, falling into step beside me.
"What about our people?" I loosened my collar. "How are the employees handling this?"
"Panicked at first when the inspectors showed up. But after watching you dismantle those bureaucrats on camera, morale went through the roof." Owen pulled up his tablet. "People are volunteering for overtime, offering to take pay cuts for legal fees."
"And Eric?"
"In your office for twenty minutes. Looked agitated."
Through the glass panels of my office door, I could see Eric pacing.
He whirled when I walked in. "Have you completely lost your mind? Do you have any idea what kind of retaliation that could bring?"
I shrugged off my jacket. "Three hundred thousand witnesses means they can't make us disappear quietly."
"How did you know those samples in Warehouse Three were Montgomery products?" Eric's analytical mind had caught up. "We don't keep competitor inventory with our own materials."
I poured myself water, taking my time. "Because I had Owen transfer their products there three days ago. Stripped the packaging. When you line up energy bars without labels, they all look identical."
Eric stared. "The testing reports—"
"Were fabricated. But Devon can't challenge those results without admitting his people bribed inspectors to frame us. The moment he tries to prove those were his products, he's confessing to conspiracy. I originally thought it was Julian, but this setup was too sloppy. Had to be Montgomery's people."
"You tied our fate to his." Eric dropped into a chair, looking shaken.
"Devon needs his reputation intact more than he needs us destroyed. We're in the same boat now. Mutually assured destruction."
Owen knocked and entered. "So what's next? We took a massive hit today."
I turned to my computer. "Which is why we need to win the next battle decisively. So public and overwhelming that no one ever questions our legitimacy again."
I leaned forward and lowered my voice, laying out the plan. Owen's face went from interested to horrified.
"No. Absolutely not." He backed toward the door. "That's career suicide. I won't be part of it."
"Owen—"
"I said no, Briar."
I softened my voice. "Owen. Please. My dear, wonderful Owen. I'm begging you."
He froze, shoulders tensing. "Don't do that voice."
"Just this once."
Owen stared at the ceiling, then let out a defeated breath. "Fine. One time."
---
My phone was heavy with notifications. Twenty missed calls from Marcus.
Owen saw the screen. "Your father? Not calling back?"
"Why would I? So he can beg for money?" I deleted them with vicious swipes. "I'm done."
"Did you hear about Diane? She's pushing for divorce. Marcus won't sign. She moved back to her parents' place over a month ago, only came home after Leo begged."
I stopped, finger hovering. Then I remembered Marcus drunk in my office, selling me for gambling debts, every broken promise.
I pressed delete. "Not my problem anymore. I need to get to the hospital."
---
Ash's room had afternoon sunlight streaming through windows. He was surrounded by books and his laptop, looking like a restless prisoner.
"Briar! Thank god." His face lit up. "I'm losing my mind. Over two weeks in this bed and they won't let me walk ten feet without supervision."
"Your ribs are still healing." I settled into the chair. "Want to tear something loose?"
"I'd rather risk it than die of boredom. I've read everything twice, watched every show on three streaming services."
"The company crisis is handled."
"I know! I watched the press conference live! You destroyed those inspectors." His enthusiasm faded. "But are you and Lucian okay? Did something happen?"
I kept my expression neutral. "What makes you ask?"
"He's been weird. Really secretive, always on his phone. Last night I caught him looking at photos—I'm pretty sure they were of you."
The room felt smaller. I looked away.
"You're both miserable," Ash said quietly. "Lucian's lost so much weight his cheekbones could cut glass. You look exhausted. What happened?"
"Nothing that can be fixed with a conversation."
"I've never seen my brother look at anyone the way he looks at you."
Before I could respond, the door opened. Lucian walked in with takeout bags, the smell of food filling the room. He froze when he saw me, body going rigid before he forced relaxation.
"Still fighting?" Ash asked bluntly.
Lucian raised an eyebrow. "Who's fighting?"
"You two. Being stubborn and stupid."
I stood. "I should go."
"I'll walk you out," Lucian said, already at the door. "Need to pick up prescriptions."
Ash made exaggerated encouraging gestures behind Lucian's back.
The corridor was quiet, our footsteps echoing. We walked with careful distance between us, silence heavy with everything unsaid.
Wind rattled windows. My collar flipped up awkwardly and I reached to fix it, fingers not quite reaching. In my peripheral vision, Lucian's hand started to rise, then he caught himself and let it fall.
I stared at his suspended hand, at fingers that curled like they remembered. Something cracked open in my chest.
I caught his wrist and guided his hand up to complete the gesture. His pulse jumped under my fingers. I positioned his hand against my collar and held it there.
"Thank you," I said quietly, releasing him.
Lucian pulled back like I'd burned him, jaw clenching as he looked away. "You're welcome."
We kept walking, but the silence had changed, charged with electricity.
"Lucian." He stopped immediately. "Wait."
He stood still, not turning.
"There's something on my neck. Could you check? I think it's a bug."
He turned slowly, wary, but stepped closer and bent down. I could feel his breath, smell coffee and mint, hear his heartbeat accelerating.
I didn't think. I just moved.
I rose onto my toes and kissed him. For one perfect second, he responded instinctively, arms coming around my waist, lips parting with a sound that was half-gasp.
Then he shoved me away hard enough that I stumbled.
"Briar." His voice came out wrecked. "Don't do this."
"Why not?" I stepped forward. "Your heart's racing."
His throat worked as he swallowed, eyes darting away. "Don't."
"You're panicking. Your breathing's shallow. You're having a physical reaction to me, Lucian."
"Stop. Please."
"Tell me you don't feel anything. Look me in the eyes and tell me you don't want this, and I'll walk away."
He opened his mouth. Closed it. No sound came out.
"I'm not angry anymore," Lucian finally said, voice exhausted. "I haven't been angry for days."
I blinked. "Then why—"
"But I can't guarantee Ash won't get hurt again." His gray-green eyes met mine with devastating directness. "This time it was my brother. Next time it could be you. Or me. We're surrounded by threats."
Understanding hit like cold water. He wasn't pulling away because he didn't care. He was pulling away because he cared too much.
"I need time to sort through this," he continued, running a hand through his hair. "To figure out how to protect the people I love without putting them in more danger."
"And us?"
"Feelings complicate things. They make you vulnerable." His voice went quiet. "I need to focus on solving problems right now, not on... this."
"How much time?"
"I don't know. As long as it takes to make sure you're safe."
I studied his face, seeing dark circles and new stress lines. He meant it. He was trying to protect everyone by shutting down his emotions.
"Okay," I said finally. "I understand."