Chapter 90: Staying Out of It

Leah’s POV

My laptop disappears into my work bag, followed by the last few things scattered across my desk. A quick straightening of the files on my desk out of habit, a quiet sigh, and I’m finally done for the day.

Or at least… I should be.

As I slide my chair beneath the desk, my thoughts drift back to earlier this afternoon.

Nathan had spent almost an hour on a virtual meeting with one of Harrington Group’s international clients.

Since it involved another partnership project we’d been working on, I’d sat in on the meeting to take notes, kept track of the client’s requests and helped Nathan answer a few questions regarding the project’s timeline and documentation whenever he needed clarification.

For the most part, the meeting had gone smoothly.

Nathan had been his usual composed self.

Confident.

Professional.

He’d answered nearly every question the client threw at him without hesitation.

If anyone had been watching him through the screen, they would’ve thought he had their complete attention on the discussion, but I knew better.

More than once, I’d caught him staring at me.

Not directly enough for the client to notice, just brief glances from the corner of his eye.

There were concerned looks… curious ones, almost like he wanted to ask me something.

No. Not almost.

He definitely wanted to.

About the elevator.

About why I’d looked like I was about to have a panic attack.

Every single time I felt his gaze drift toward me, it took everything in me not to look back. Not to tell him that I was fine and he didn’t need to worry about me.

But I knew that wouldn’t be possible. I’ve learnt that Nathan has become annoyingly good at telling when I’m lying. He’d know instantly and wouldn’t stop giving me concerned looks.

The thought makes me sigh as I sling my bag over my shoulder.

I’ve dragged myself into something I was never supposed to be part of.

Something that should’ve stayed between Dominic, Cassie and Brianna.

Now… I have a horrible feeling that I’m not going to know much peace around this office anymore.

Hopefully, nothing leads to me getting fired like Cassie did today.

I let out another tired sigh and after making sure everything is in place, I switch off my desk lamp before taking one final look around the office.

The executive floor is completely still.

I slowly let out a breath and close my eyes.

The silence is strangely comforting.

For the first time since everything happened with Brianna, I simply allow myself to stand still and not worry. I tell myself all I need to do is get home, take a shower and sleep and whatever happens next… I’ll be able to deal with it when it comes my way.

I’m about to exhale again when a loud ding cuts through the perfect silence.

My eyes snap open and for one terrifying second, I imagine it’s Brianna. I imagine she’s here to finally tell me off.

It’s only when I step out of my office space and I catch Priya and Isaac walking towards me, that I say a silent prayer of relief.

Their footsteps echo across the floor and once I catch the serious looks on their faces, I start to get a little nervous again.

“Leah,” Priya says as soon as she’s close enough. “We need to talk.”

Isaac follows closely behind her, and soon the two enter into my office space and stop beside my desk.

Before saying another word, Priya glances toward Nathan’s office. She studies the closed door for a second. I can see she’s trying to make sure he isn’t still in.

When she notices his lights are off and the door is locked shut, she turns back to me, satisfied.

“I can’t believe it.” She shakes her head slowly. “Leah, what’s this about Cassie and Dominic…” Her voice drops into a whisper despite the executive floor being completely empty. “…having an affair?”

I merely blink at her, too surprised to answer.

How does she—

My eyes instinctively shift toward Isaac.

He gives me a knowing look. “Yeah…” he admits quietly. “I had to tell her, Leah. It was after I found out Cassie got fired.”

I press my lips together.

Of course.

That makes sense.

By now, word about Cassie’s dismissal must’ve spread through half the office. She’s probably already cleared out her desk and left the building.

My gaze lingers on Isaac for another moment.

Thankfully… From the look on his face, I’m almost certain he only told Priya about Dominic and Cassie. Not about my own history with Dominic.

He’d made it clear the other day that I wasn’t obligated to tell anyone about my past and I’m sure he wouldn’t betray that confidence.

Priya sighs heavily. “This is exactly why I keep warning you all to be careful around this office.”

She folds her arms. “Especially when it comes to the Harringtons. I’ve worked here long enough to know situations like this are bound to happen. And now look, see what’s happened to Cassie.”

I don’t know how to respond to that.

All I think is that she’s right.

Cassie got caught in the middle of something far bigger than herself.

And now… she’s unemployed.

The thought sends my mind somewhere I don’t want it to go.

Nathan.

The boundaries… and the feelings I’d spent weeks trying to bury.

Granted, Nathan wasn’t Dominic.

He wasn’t cruel.

He wasn’t manipulative.

And unlike Dominic, he wasn’t married to someone else.

If anything, he’d done nothing but protect me since I’d started working here. But even so, this was the reminder I’d needed.

I’d been right to end whatever had been quietly growing between us. Because no matter how good Nathan was… He was still a Harrington.

Priya rubs her temple with a weary sigh. “That girl Cassie just never listens.”

Isaac looks over at her. “But there has to be something we can do.”

His voice carries a desperate edge. “We can’t just let her get fired without even trying, right?”

Priya looks at him helplessly. “What exactly do you expect us to do? Go against Dominic?” She lets out a humorless laugh. “We’ll get ourselves fired too.”

Isaac frowns and looks between us, “But what about talking to Nathan?”

He darts his eyes at Priya. “You suggested that earlier.”

“I did.” Priya nods slowly. “But that was before you informed me about Cassie’s involvement with Dominic. Now that I know that, I’m not so sure that’s a good idea anymore.”

She rests one hip against my desk, clearly trying to think through every possible option.

Isaac remains standing, one hand on his waist as he stares hard at the floor, thinking. I watch the two of them quietly. It is obvious neither of them wants to give up. They genuinely care about Cassie.

Just like I do.

After a long moment, Isaac suddenly looks up. His eyes land on me. A flicker of hope crosses his face.

“I think you should do it, Leah.”

I freeze and he leans closer.

“I think you’re our best bet at talking to Nathan. You’re closest to him. If he hears it from you, he’ll surely understand.”

My heart sinks at the thought.

I knew this was coming.

I just…

Didn’t want it to.

I didn’t want to be the one to speak to Nathan about this.

Not after everything that had happened today.

Not after the confrontation with Dominic and Brianna’s outrage.

I’d promised myself I wouldn’t get involved anymore.

“What do you think?” Isaac asks, pulling me from my thoughts. “Can you do it?”

I hesitate for a second but I’m sure of my answer.

I’d already made up my mind.

Even if Cassie hadn’t harassed Dominic around the office as he’d claimed, she had still chosen to have an affair with him.

Even if we managed to prove Dominic had been just as involved, it wouldn’t erase what happened.

Nathan wouldn’t ignore that.

Neither would Vivienne.

I doubt Cassie would be allowed to continue working at Harrington Group when she gets exposed for that.

“Isaac,” I begin gently. “I’m sorry...”

I search for the right words to say next. The last thing I want is to sound heartless.

“…but I don’t think I can.”

I watch as his once hopeful expression falters, but I continue either way, “Cassie may not have harassed Dominic, but she still made advances towards him. She slept with him multiple times. I don’t know how that’s going to sit with Nathan.”

“But they were both involved, Leah.” Isaac answers almost immediately. “Dominic’s making it sound like she threw herself at him, but they were seeing each other. He wasn’t forced into anything.”

I open my mouth to speak because I don’t think Isaac is getting my point.

I can see he cares too much to stop to think about this entire situation logically.

Thankfully, Priya talks before I have to.

She lets out another tired sigh and pushes herself away from my desk.

“Isaac, I think we might just have to accept defeat. Leah’s right.” She folds her arms. “Whatever we tell Nathan isn’t going to change that Cassie had an affair with Dominic.”

She pauses before continuing, “Whether Dominic was equally guilty or not, it’s still his word against hers.”

A sad smile crosses her lips. “And we both know Dominic isn’t going to lose.”

Isaac’s lips part like he’s about to say another thing to support his stance on the issue but he just as quickly presses his lips firmly together and breathes out heavily.

His shoulders slowly drop in defeat and he stares down again at the ground.

We all have to accept there’s nothing we can do.

The silence that settles between us seconds after feels heavier than anything we’d said. Nearly a full minute passes before Priya glances at the clock hanging on the wall.

“Well… I think we should head down now.” She offers us both a small smile. “Come on.”

I nod quietly and reach for my bag, slinging it over my shoulder before following them toward the elevator.

The three of us step inside and Priya presses the button for the ground floor.

The doors slide shut and seals us in.

As the elevator descends, no one says a word.

The silence is almost painful to bear so I lean lightly against the wall and decide to distract myself by watching the numbers change one floor at a time.

A small part of me feels guilty.

The greater part of me knows I did the best I could for Cassie.

Even at the risk of putting myself in Brianna’s line of fire.