They Called It Scandal, We Called It Marriage

I've spent one month burning the midnight oil just to prepare the base draft of the multibillion-dollar business deal that I've just secured. That's when Lucy Yamlet, my director, produces a few blurry photos that were secretly taken before accusing me of having an illicit relationship with a higher-up of the client company.

"I'm not targeting you on purpose, Selena. Right now, the entire industry is swarming with rumors of you using your body to secure this business deal. Your actions have brought our company shame!

"In order to preserve the company's reputation, you must withdraw from this deal. It'll be best for everyone if you transfer the liaison authority and the core documentation to Liliana so that she can communicate with the CEO of Galaxy Corporation instead."

My boss just keeps drinking tea and pretends to not hear Lucy's scathing words. My team members all play on their phones quietly as well.

Upon noticing my lack of response, Lucy continues, "Now, now, don't go around harboring resentment against me, Selena. I'm worried that you might embarrass yourself at the meeting with the client later on while having to endure the stress of hearing those rumors. Everyone in our industry will definitely gossip about you, you know."

Only then do I look up at Lucy.

"Thank you for your concern, Ms. Yamlet, but I'm not afraid of embarrassing myself."

After all, the so-called higher-up of Galaxy Corporation who had an "illicit" relationship with me is the actual CEO, Theodore Luther. He and I have registered our marriage as of yesterday.

I slammed my ID badge onto the table, the loud bang immediately silencing the entire office.

Liliana Potts let out a scream and took two steps back. Her eyes reddened before tears started to drip down her face pitifully.

"Lena, don't be so mad," she said in a sickeningly affected voice. "Everyone is just thinking of the company. You've caused quite a huge scandal this time. If the CEO of Galaxy Corporation were to learn that you have questionable character, all our hard work would have been in vain. You can't drag the entire company down with you just because of your own selfish desires."

Lucy Yamlet, our director, took this opportunity to push a document toward me. It was a project handover and liability waiver agreement.

Her expression was frosty as she rapped a pen against the table loudly and snapped shrilly, "Hurry up and sign it! Liliana will take over the project, and you are suspended effective today so that you can reflect on your actions.

"If you have even a modicum of shame left in you, then pack up your things and leave quietly. Don't make me call the security guards to use force on you!"

I took up the photos on the table and glanced over them.

A man and a woman were walking into a hotel together, but the background had been deliberately blurred, and only half the car was in the photos. The license plate number was conveniently blurred out, too.

I scoffed, "Lucy, your photo editing skills are just too lousy. The car in the photos is clearly an older-model Mercedes. You don't even know what car the CEO of that multibillion-dollar company drives, yet you dare to use these crappy photos to slander me?"

Tossing the photos straight at Lucy's thickly made-up face, I continued, "We can't even see the man's face in your photos. Yet, just from seeing his side profile alone, you're accusing me of securing the project using my body? It seems to me like you and Liliana planned this together to snatch this multi-billion dollar deal that I spent a month pulling all-nighters to secure!"

I had hit the nail on the head, causing Lucy to flush purple.

"Nonsense! Where there's smoke, there's a fire! Rumors are going around that you shamelessly seduced Galaxy Corporation's executive, so how dare you sound so righteous!"

Mr. Watson, our boss, finally set down his coffee cup and impatiently interrupted our argument.

"That's enough! What are you, young children arguing over a toy? Where's your dignity as an adult?"

Standing up, he peered down at me and said pompously, "Selena, whether this is true or not, there's no changing the fact that all sorts of rumors are already spreading. Right now, you represent the company's image, so hand over the draft and your password to Liliana, then go home and rest for the foreseeable future."

I stared intently at Mr. Watson. I had spent two months running around and one month pulling all-nighters before I finally drafted that proposal for that multibillion-dollar acquisition deal.

The company had been doing badly this year, so this deal was the deciding factor in whether the company could make a comeback. Now that we were on the cusp of signing the agreement, he was blatantly allowing Lucy and Liliana to snatch it right from my hands.

"Mr. Watson, that draft is the culmination of months of blood, sweat, and tears, so there's no way I'm handing over the password and liaison authority."

I remained firm in my stance, absolutely refusing to back down.