The next morning, Kierra tried to bury herself in work. But no matter how many meetings she sat through, no matter how many documents she signed, her mind kept drifting back to the viral storm brewing around her.
Then, an unexpected notification of an article pinged on her phone.
"Music Label Deal: Finally Approved for Martin Chase, the Davidson's Heiress Current Beau."
Her heart dropped into her stomach.
"Of course. Of course this would happen."
After all the months of struggle, the negotiations, the disappointment, everything came crashing down at once. The approval of his contract. The buzz. The rumors.
She should be happy for him. But instead, she felt her palms go cold. Because if anyone saw that headline—if her father saw it, if anyone at her company saw it—there was no way they wouldn't connect the dots. She was already a target with her father's business, and now, with these rumors?
She couldn't afford to be distracted by something so... messy.
But what if Martin was distracted by her?
Her phone rang, cutting off her spiraling thoughts.
It was him.
Kierra swallowed hard before answering. "Oh no."
"H-hello?"
There was silence on the other end, then a deep breath.
Finally, he spoke. "So, it looks like we're a thing now?"
She blinked, her stomach tightening. "What do you mean?"
"Come on, you saw the news," he said, his voice laced with amusement but something else she couldn't place. "Everyone thinks we're dating now. All these people are gonna be talking, and I'm sure it's not exactly what you want."
"No," she said quickly, her chest tightening at the thought. "It's not what I want. I don't—"
"Relax," he interrupted, his tone softening. "I'm not blaming you for it. But if we're gonna deal with all this noise, we might as well own it, right?"
Kierra shook her head even though he couldn't see her.
"Own it?" she repeated, feeling the weight of the world on her shoulders. "This is your career, Martin. You've been working for this—fighting for this. Your dreams are at stake."
A long pause followed.
"Not just mine," he said quietly. "Yours too."
The words hung in the air, unspoken but loud in the way they struck her. It wasn't just his career. It never had been.
And for once, she realized—maybe it wasn't just her father's empire she was building.
***
The day had barely begun, but Kierra could already feel the weight of her father's fury pressing down on her like a vise. The moment she walked into the building, the tension was palpable—whispers snaked through the hallways, eyes following her every step.
And then came the call.
"Miss Davidson," her assistant said hesitantly on the line, "Your father wants you in the boardroom. Now."
"Okay. I go talk to him," Kierra replied stiffly, her heart sinking in her chest. She could feel the eyes of the employees as she walked past them, but she kept her head held high, masking the anxiety that was building inside.
"This is nothing, Kierra. You've handled worse. But even she knew this was different."
As she entered the boardroom, the sharp gaze of her father, Sam Davidson, cut through the air like a knife. He was already standing at the head of the table, his fingers drumming lightly against the polished wood, his face clouded with disappointment.
The room went silent as she stepped inside.
"Sit," he commanded, not waiting for her response.
Kierra took her seat, her back straight, her heart racing. The board members exchanged uncomfortable glances, murmuring softly under their breath. Sam's eyes never left her as he began.
"So, this is how you want to represent the family name?" he began, his voice dangerously low. "This is how you choose to handle your public image? By running off with... that?"
He gestured toward a news article on the projector screen, showing a photo of her and Martin, taken the night he was in the hospital, labeled with headlines about their supposed romance.
Her father's words stung like acid, but she remained calm, unwilling to show him the emotional turmoil his judgment caused.
"You've embarrassed me, Kierra. And you've embarrassed this company," he continued, the sharpness of his words echoing in the room. "I've spent years building this empire, and you think you can throw it all away on some... musician? Of all people?"
The humiliation was suffocating. She could feel the eyes of every board member on her, the weight of their judgment pressing down on her shoulders.
"You're a Davidson, Kierra. You're supposed to make wise decisions. Not indulge in... this nonsense."
Her fingers clenched into fists beneath the table, but she forced herself to stay composed. "It's not what it looks like, Father. This isn't... this isn't about what the media is saying. It's—"
"Oh, I'm sure," he interrupted sharply. "Because you've always been so careful with your choices. Always so rational." His voice dripped with sarcasm.
She could feel the eyes of the board members piercing her skin. They were already forming their opinions, murmuring behind their masks of professionalism.
But Kierra wasn't about to let her father continue to tear into her without speaking up. She met his gaze head-on, refusing to back down.
"I'm not ashamed of who I choose to be around, or who I decide to care for," she said, her voice calm but firm. "And I certainly won't let anyone make me feel small because of it."
Her father scoffed, his tone becoming colder. "This boy... Martin Chase is nothing but a passing distraction. If you can't see that, then you're more of a fool than I thought."
A brief silence filled the room before Sam's eyes narrowed. "Don't come to me with your feelings or your... childish notions. If you think I'm going to let this continue, think again. You're no longer just a Davidson by name—you are my daughter. And you will carry the weight of this family's legacy. Don't forget that."
Kierra's chest tightened, the sting of his words cutting deeper than she'd ever anticipated. But as she sat there, feeling the weight of the board members' eyes on her, something shifted within her.
"I'm not a pawn in this game. Not anymore."