Chapter 328

Chapter 328

Sara's Point of View

The morning headlines hit like physical blows:

"FASHION'S SCANDAL GIRL IN LOVE AFFAIR WITH MANAGER"

"SARA BROWN'S SECRET ROMANCE EXPOSED"

"CRIMINAL'S DAUGHTER SEDUCES WAY TO SUCCESS"

My hands shook as I scrolled through article after article on my phone. Somehow they'd gotten photos, Josh comforting me during my panic attack in Paris, his hand on my back guiding me through crowds, our almost-kiss captured through the clothing racks.

Each image looked intimate out of context. Each casual touch transformed into something scandalous through the tabloids' dirty lens.

My phone buzzed with a message from Dior's marketing team: "Emergency meeting required. Contract concerns."

Another from Chanel: "Please explain these allegations immediately."

A third from Vogue: "Re: Professional conduct clause..."

The walls of my bedroom closed in as reality crashed down. Everything I'd built, every step away from my parents' shadow, all crumbling because someone caught Josh being kind to me.

A knock interrupted my spiral. Eva entered without waiting for response, tablet in hand.

"Have you seen..."

"Everything," I choked out. "They're making it sound like... like I..."

"Like you slept your way to success?" Eva's voice held carefully controlled anger. "Yes, I saw. Josh is already on damage control."

The mention of his name made my chest ache. "He must be furious."

"Actually, he's more worried about you." She sat beside me, showing me a different article. "Look."

The screen showed Josh leaving a meeting, reporters swarming him with questions about our relationship. His response made my heart stop:

"Sara Brown earned every success through talent and hard work. Anyone suggesting otherwise will face immediate legal action. And yes, I care about her. Anyone who knows her would."

"He said that?" My voice came out small.

"On camera." Eva squeezed my hand. "Though he's been avoiding my calls since."

Another message lit up my phone, Helena requesting my presence in her office immediately.

The drive to Sinclair Tower felt like heading to execution. Every newsstand we passed screamed new headlines about my supposed scandals. Even the morning shows debated whether fashion houses should drop me.

Helena's office occupied the top floor, all glass and steel overlooking the city. She stood at the window, elegant as always, but her expression when she turned held something dangerous.

"Sit," she commanded. "We need to discuss strategy."

"I'm so sorry," I began. "I never meant..."

"Stop apologizing." Her voice cracked like a whip. "You've done nothing wrong. Neither has Josh. But now we must decide how to handle this attack."

"Attack?"

"You think these photos appeared by accident?" Helena's laugh held no humor. "Someone tipped off those photographers. Someone wanted to hurt both you and Josh."

The realization hit hard. "Victoria."

"Most likely. Though proving it will be difficult." Helena settled behind her desk. "The question is: how do we respond?"

"The contracts..." My voice wavered. "If the brands drop me..."

"Let them try." Steel entered her tone. "I own significant shares in most major fashion houses. They'll find dropping you more costly than keeping you."

Relief warred with fresh anxiety. "But the headlines-"

"Can be managed. The question is: what do you want to tell them?"

I blinked, confused. "What do you mean?"

"About Josh." Her eyes held mine steadily. "Do you want to deny everything? Play it as purely professional? Or..."

"Or admit I'm in love with him?"

The words slipped out before I could stop them. Helena's expression softened.

"Finally, some honesty."

"It doesn't matter," I whispered. "He keeps pushing me away. And now with these headlines..."

"Now he'll push harder," she agreed. "Unless..."

"Unless?"

"Unless you fight back. Take control of the narrative." She leaned forward intently. "The vultures are circling because they smell scandal. What if we give them something else? A love story. Redemption. Beauty rising from ashes."

"Josh would never agree."

"Then don't ask him." Helena's smile turned sharp. "Sometimes men need saving from their own nobility."

Before I could respond, my phone exploded with notifications. Someone had leaked texts between Josh and Victoria, messages about his past, about secrets he was keeping.

My hands shook as I read Victoria's words: "Tell her the truth about Danny's Bar or I will."

A noise from the doorway made us both look up. Josh stood there, face pale as he stared at his own phone.

"Sara..."

"What's Danny's Bar?" I asked quietly. "What truth is she talking about?"

He stepped back, that familiar wall rising in his eyes. "I have to go. The brands need statements about our professional relationship."

"Josh, wait..."

But he was already gone, leaving only the echo of his footsteps and the weight of more secrets between us.

Helena watched him go with knowing eyes. "Sometimes the past holds us prisoner only because we let it."

"What do I do?" My voice cracked. "The contracts, the headlines, Josh... it's all falling apart."

"Then build something new from the pieces." She handed me a file. "Here's what we're going to do..."

As she outlined her plan, my phone kept buzzing with messages from brands and reporters. But for the first time since seeing those headlines, I felt something other than fear.

Victoria wanted scandal? Fine. But she'd learn the hard way, sometimes the best revenge is living well.

And sometimes the only way to save someone from their own darkness is to love them into the light.

The question was: would Josh let me?