When Love Becomes a Cage by Nora

The air in the boardroom was thick with tension, a three-way standoff that had been brewing for years now.

Clyde, with his years of running the show, had a solid base of support. People respected his hustle, admired how he'd turned the family business into a powerhouse.

York, on the other hand, was a force of his own. His faction was loud, their presence undeniable, a testament to his charisma and knack for rallying the troops.

And then there were the fence-sitters, the ones whose loyalty could be bought with the promise of profit. To them, it didn't matter who sat in the driver's seat, as long as the money kept rolling in.

But amidst this power play, a peculiar silence loomed over Clyde's recent troubles. No one dared mention his accident, the whispers of amnesia. In the grand scheme of things, personal woes were trivial, so long as they didn't rock the boat.

I found myself cornered at a table near the exit with Fenton, both of us silent observers to the unfolding drama. Fenton's worried glance met my resigned shake of the head. Speaking up now would only paint targets on our backs.

The argument reached its boiling point when Clyde slammed his hand down on the table, the sound echoing through the tension.

"Enough! My personal life is exactly that-personal! It has nothing to do with the board!" His gaze, filled with bitterness, locked onto me. "Melanie, this is all your fault! If it wasn't for your relentless pursuit back then..."

"Enough!" Merritt's voice cut through, his cane rapping against the floor for emphasis, a clear sign of his displeasure.

the sidelines just added

you the one chasing after

Merritt's intention was to maintain the family's facade of dignity. Clyde could be a

his fickle

Merritt was still weighing who was

untarnished was paramount.

I apologize for any damage

you plan to reimburse us personally? Money aside, what about the company's reputation?" The room buzzed with concern over

briefly met mine before he dropped the bombshell. "I'll

silence. My heart sank, my grip tightening on my hands beneath the table, a futile attempt

myself this wasn't the first heartbreak, but the public humiliation, his cold resolve it all made my resolve

shocked stares,

gaze returned to Merritt.