Chapter 133
“What is your problem, Adam?” Saira demanded in a hiss as she watched Mr. Kale walk out of the conference room. “That was an important client! He could’ve backed us on all the low carbon footprint initiatives and the other eco-friendly additions you packed into that proposal—without increasing our expenses! And you just threw him out of the office like he didn’t matter!”
Adam stared at the door for a long second after it slammed shut behind Mr. Kale, and then he turned to Saira, still seething.
“You heard what he said,” he said quietly, as he looked at Saira. “Do you not know what that man wanted in return for his so-called sustainability support?”
Saira let out a sharp breath, her shoulders tense. “I know exactly what he wanted, Adam. I would have to be out of my mind not to!”
“And you were going to let that slide?” he barked. “You were going to entertain that filth for the sake of a deal?”
“I was going to handle it,” she snapped as she stepped towards him. “Because someone has to think of the bigger picture.”
Adam laughed at that. “Handling it? Is that what it’s called when you sit there and let his hand stay on your thigh?”
Her expression faltered for a second, then hardened. “Don’t you dare.”
“No,” he growled, stepping closer, fury simmering just beneath the surface. “Don’t you dare tell me you were okay with that.”
“I didn’t say I was okay with it. I said I could deal with it. I’ve dealt with worse, Adam.”
” I can guess! I know things like this exist but that does not mean you have to deal with these things so delicately! He was crossing him limits!” he shot back. “And I’ll be damned if I stand by and let you—”
“It’s not your job to protect me! We are only co-directors and nothing else!”
“It is my job if I’m in the damn room!” he shouted, pointing at the chair she’d been in moments ago. “He touched you, Saira. He talked to you like you were for sale.”
Saira stilled at his words and then, gave him a sharp and cold smile,” Maybe I am for sale, Adam! Maybe I would have slept with him if it got us what we needed.”
Adam’s breath caught like she’d slapped him. His fists clenched at his sides as he stared at her.
Saira’s chin lifted in challenge as her eyes flashed. “What? You don’t think women in business do what they have to? You think everyone who smiles sweetly at a dinner meeting gets contracts with clean hands and a clean conscience?”
Adam paused at that,” Maybe for smaller companies! But you are working for ABC Industries! And you have Robert Collins’ protection! Why do you need to resort to this?”
Saira let out a bitter, humorless laugh at the mention of Robert’s name. “Robert’s protection?” she echoed with a scoff. “Is that what you think I’ve had all this time? Or are you trying to fool yourself? You cannot be so naive as to think he was shielding me?”
She stepped back, hands clenching at her sides, eyes burning. “Robert never gave a damn about protecting me, Adam. I was just useful to him—someone to keep you in check, to make sure you stayed in line. That was my role. Nothing more. And you know it!”
Saira’s voice cracked slightly, but she kept going. I know I did the worst thing I could. And I do regret it. But understand that I have been punished for it as well! The last years have taught me that I might have all the money and luxury but without love, I have nothing! Without you, I had nothing!”
“But…” She wiped her tears slowly and looked at him,” But now, it seems I am not going to be having any luxury as well. Because you got married… I stopped being useful.
“So now, I need to find other ways to be useful. You think I don’t know how this game is played? You think I don’t understand the unspoken rules?”
She turned away from him, blinking hard, “That’s why I begged you to help me. To stand beside me so I wouldn’t have to crawl for the scraps. But you—” she turned back around, her eyes wet, her expression tired and broken, “you already made your stance clear. You don’t want me. You don’t even trust me. So don’t pretend to care now.”
Adam tried to interrupt, but she cut him off before he could say a word.
“Stop protecting me, Adam. You don’t get to step in like some righteous savior when you’ve already drawn the lines in the sand. If I have to spread my legs to survive in this world, then so be it. I’ll do what I have to.”
The words hung in the air between them like a slap.
And then, her face crumpled.
A sharp sob escaped her lips as all the fight drained from her. In a sudden, desperate motion, she closed the distance between them and threw herself into his arms. Her hands fisted in his shirt and her forehead pressed against his chest as the tears finally fell as her body trembled. It seemed as if a dam had been broken…
“I’m so tired, Adam,” she whispered, her voice breaking as she sobbed. “I’m so tired of fighting alone. With one wrong decision, I’ve lost so much. I lost you; I lost our baby. I lost myself…You don’t even know the regrets that I carry.”
Adam stood frozen for a moment. But then his arms came around her instinctively, strong pulling her close as she trembled in his hold. And he took a deep breath.
It seemed Robert Collins had indeed planned to use Saira against him but keeping his distance had worked. Finally, they had abandoned their plans to use her…
He didn’t say anything just held her tighter and patted her back, wondering what they should do next.