Cassian's POV
The Virelux boardroom wasn't built for mercy. Twelve chairs. Twelve egos. Twelve careful reputations sitting in judgment, pretending it wasn't personal.
Cassian stood at the head of the table.
Gregory Slant, newly backed by the board as interim CEO, looked perfectly calm, polished in posture, pale in power. Sixty-five, brittle but dangerous, the kind of man who smiled through knives.
"This is a formal discussion regarding executive ethics, wellness resource discretion, and the erosion of shareholder confidence," Gregory began.
"You're referring to Lyra Elmont," Cassian said flatly.
"No names were cited in the committee's language—"
"You want clarity?" Cassian interrupted. "Fine. I am in a personal relationship with her. She is pregnant with my child. It occurred without bond, outside declared corporate protocol."
Gasps were quiet, controlled. Measured in boardroom etiquette. But they rippled.
"You used private medical tiers for a subordinate—"
"I used my discretion," Cassian countered. "I protected a vulnerable employee, an omega in distress, from systemic oversight that has failed others in the past. If there is a breach, it's procedural. Not moral."
"You expect the board to sanction that?" someone muttered.
"I expect the board to acknowledge reality. And take responsibility for the pressure systems that forced concealment in the first place."
Letizia stood.
Her tone was not loud. It didn't need to be.
"I vote to retain Cassian as CEO. Not because I'm sentimental, but because no one in this room could've managed this better—except possibly me."
Gregory looked thunderous. "You'd protect him after this?"
"I'm protecting the company," Letizia said coolly. "Removing him now would fracture our image. We can recover from scandal. We cannot recover from hypocrisy."
The vote was called.
The motion to remove him failed, by one.
The room broke into quiet disarray. The issue postponed. Not ended.
Cassian exhaled slowly. He caught Letizia's nod.
And walked out without another word.
---
Lyra's POV – Apartment
The knock came just before noon.
She hadn't expected Talia to show up in person.
The door opened on Lyra in soft socks and a loose sweater, a half-finished spreadsheet blinking on her screen.
Talia held two coffees. No smile.
"They tried to push him out," she said. "Almost succeeded."
Lyra stepped aside.
Talia walked in. Set the coffee down. "He confirmed everything. In front of the board."
Lyra's heart stopped mid-beat.
"They're spinning. And pissed. But he said it. You. The baby. All of it."
Lyra sat down slowly. "He said… my name?"
Talia nodded.
Silence thickened.
"Do you regret it?" Talia asked softly.
"No," Lyra whispered.
"Good," Talia said. "Because the whole building's shaking now."
---
Cassian's POV – Executive Office
He returned to find a file waiting.
HR access request log.
Lyra's name flagged. Someone tried again. Unauthorized.
He filed it away. Locked the drawer.
Then sent one message:
> C: They know. You okay?
Her reply came minutes later:
> L: Talia told me. I'm okay. Are you?
> C: Ask me again when this stops feeling like war.
> L: You're not alone.
He stared at the screen.
Typed:
> C: That's the only reason I'm still standing