The next morning, the office was unusually tense. Ryan had called an impromptu meeting with Catherine and James, and the air in the small conference room was thick with unease. Emily sat at her desk, her stomach in knots, as she watched Ryan stride past her with a cold, determined expression. She wanted to ask him what was going on, but the look on his face told her this wasn't the time.
Inside the meeting room, Ryan stood at the head of the table, his arms crossed and his gaze sharp as he looked between Catherine and James. Catherine sat with her usual confidence, though there was a flicker of uncertainty in her eyes. James, on the other hand, looked visibly uncomfortable, his hands fidgeting on the table.
"Catherine," Ryan began, his voice low and stern, cutting through the silence like a knife. "I need you to explain something to me. Why do you think I spent the night with you at the hotel?"
Catherine blinked, her cheeks flushing slightly as she straightened in her chair. "What do you mean? We were together. I remembered it."
Ryan's jaw tightened, his expression unyielding. "No, we weren't. I left you in the hotel room with James to make sure you were safe. I didn't stay. Or I should say that I did not even step into the room. So, I need you to tell me why you're spreading this story."
Catherine's confidence wavered, her brow furrowing as she glanced at James, who was now staring intently at the table. "I… I remember being with someone. I remember being touched, being… you know. I woke up naked, with marks on my body. I thought it was you."
Ryan's eyes narrowed, his tone icy. "It wasn't me."
The room fell silent, the weight of Ryan's words hanging heavily in the air. Catherine's face paled as she turned to James, her voice trembling. "James? What… what happened that night?"
James let out a tense breath, running a shaky hand through his messy hair. After a long pause, he looked up at Catherine, his face filled with emotion—guilt, frustration, and a hint of regret in his eyes. "Catherine, I…" he started, his voice breaking. He swallowed hard, struggling to speak. "I didn't mean for it to happen. You were drunk, and I was just trying to get you to your room safely. Ryan left right after I got you inside. But when we got there… you started taking off your clothes."
His voice lowered, barely a whisper. "You kept touching me, saying things that made it seem like you wanted more. I tried to stop you, I swear. But you wouldn't let up. You pulled down my pants and… well, you know the rest."
His words hung in the air, heavy and still. Catherine's eyes widened in shock, her hands trembling as she gripped the table for support.
"What are you saying?" she demanded, her voice shaking with a mixture of anger and disbelief. "That I… that I seduced you?" Her words were sharp, each one cutting through the tension like a knife.
James nodded, his expression grim but resolute. "Yes," he said quietly, his voice firm despite the guilt that still lingered in his eyes. "I didn't force you, Catherine. You were the one who initiated everything. I thought… I thought you wanted it."
Catherine's face flushed a deep, furious red, her chest rising and falling rapidly as her anger boiled over. "That's not true!" she shouted, slamming her hands down on the table with a force that made the room seem to shudder. "I was drunk! I thought you were Ryan! I didn't know what I was doing! You took advantage of me!" Her voice cracked on the last word, raw and desperate, as if she were pleading for someone to believe her, to see the truth she was so certain of.
James shook his head, his expression hardening as he met her gaze head-on. "I didn't," he insisted, his voice steady but edged with frustration. "I swear, Catherine. You were the one who started it. I didn't force you to do anything."
The room burst into chaos, Catherine's accusations crashing into James's defense. Their voices overlapped, growing louder as tension filled the air. Catherine spoke with sharp, frantic gestures, while James stood firm, arms crossed tightly like he was bracing himself.
Ryan, who had been quietly standing in the corner with a blank expression, finally raised a hand. His voice cut through the noise. "Enough." It was calm but firm, and the room went still. Both Catherine and James turned to him.
His gaze was cold, his tone steady. "This is between you two. I'm not getting involved in your personal drama. But let me be clear—I had nothing to do with what happened that night. And if I hear anything else about this being talked about at work, there will be consequences."
Catherine opened her mouth to argue, but Ryan lifted a hand to stop her. "Figure it out. But not here." Then he turned and left, leaving Catherine and James staring at each other in silence.
*****
During dinner, Emily glanced nervously at Ryan, her heart pounding as she leaned closer to him. "What happened this morning between Catherine and James?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Ryan exhaled sharply, setting his fork down and running a hand through his hair. "It's a mess. Catherine thought I was the one who spent the night with her, but it was James. And now she's accusing him of… well, you can probably guess."
Emily's eyes widened, her stomach twisting as she processed his words. "Oh my God. What are you going to do?"
Ryan shook his head, his expression grim. "Nothing. It's their problem to sort out. But I made it clear that I'm not getting involved."
Emily nodded, her mind racing as she tried to make sense of everything. "Ryan… I'm sorry. I should've trusted you. I just… I let my insecurities get the better of me."
Ryan's expression softened, his hand reaching out to gently brush against hers under the table. "It's okay, Emily. I get it. But we need to be honest with each other, especially when things like this happen. I don't want there to be any more misunderstandings between us."
Emily nodded, her chest tightening with emotion. "I know. And I'll try to do better. I just… I need time to rebuild that trust."
Ryan's gaze was steady, his voice filled with quiet determination. "We'll take it one day at a time. But I'm not giving up on us, Emily. Not now, not ever."
For the first time in weeks, Emily felt a flicker of hope. It wasn't much, but it was enough to remind her that, despite everything, they were still fighting for each other. And maybe, just maybe, that was enough.
Ryan hesitated for a moment, his thumb tracing small circles on the back of her hand.
"Emily," he began, his voice softer now, almost tentative, "I know things have been… complicated. And I know we've both made mistakes. But I don't want to spend another night wondering where we stand. I don't want to keep pretending like I'm okay with being apart from you."
Emily's breath caught in her throat. "Ryan…"
"Stay with me tonight," he said, his eyes searching hers.
"Alright," Emily whispered, her voice barely audible but filled with a quiet resolve. She felt a shiver run through her as Ryan's hand tightened around hers, his relief palpable.