Chapter 2 Losing Me

Aria's POV CHAPTER 2 I stand still. Everything moves around me. Nothing moves for me. My phone vibrates again before I even leave the penthouse floor. Unknown number. I ignore it. It vibrates again. Then again. Lucas steps closer. "You should not read those. " "I did not ask. " He exhales. "Vanessa started posting. " My fingers pause. I open the screen. First image. Adrian. Vanessa. Old engagement photos. Caption: I was replaced without warning. My throat tightens. Second post loads immediately after. Short video. Her face. Controlled tears. Careful voice."She did not even know him a week ago, " she says. "And I was erased. " My grip tightens on the phone. Lucas watches me. "This is going to escalate fast. " "It already did, " I say. --- Blackwood Enterprises does not feel the same when I arrive. It feels like I am being watched before I enter. Security scans my badge twice. No one greets me. Whispers follow instead. "She is the one from the announcement. " "Fake girlfriend. " "Why her. " I walk faster. I do not look at them. I reach the elevator. It does not feel like movement. It feels like rising into pressure. Executive floor opens. Lucas is already there again. "You are early, " he says. "I did not sleep. " He studies my face. "You should not come here today. ""I work here. " He does not respond. A door opens down the hall. Adrian steps out. He sees me. No surprise. Only calculation. "You saw it, " he says. I nod once. "Vanessa is talking. " He walks closer. "She is targeting perception. " "She is targeting me, " I correct. He does not deny it. Lucas clears his throat. "Board is already requesting emergency review. " Adrian's expression tightens slightly. My phone vibrates again. This time a notification from HR. TEMPORARY SUSPENSION OF DUTIES PENDING REVIEW. I stare at it. "I am suspended, " I say. Lucas looks at it. "They acted fast. " I turn toward Adrian. "You said this protects me. " "It does, " he replies."How, " I ask, Silence. "when I am being removed from my own job. " That silence answers too much. --- Glass conference room. I do not wait for permission. I enter. Adrian is already inside. Board members surround him. Daniel Cross speaks first. "This arrangement has created instability. " Adrian does not move. Daniel continues. "Media backlash is escalating. Investors are reacting. " "We need distance from this situation. " Another voice adds, I step forward. Every head turns. Daniel frowns. "You are not part of this meeting. " "I am the reason it exists, " I say. Silence drops. Adrian's eyes lift slightly toward me. I do not look away. Daniel speaks again. "This is a corporate matter. ""My name is in it, " I say. "My life is in it. " A pause. Another board member leans forward. "This contract situation must be terminated. " My chest tightens. Adrian speaks before I do. "No. " That single word cuts the room. Daniel narrows his eyes. "You are risking governance for optics. " Adrian replies, "I am maintaining control. " I turn slightly toward him. "Control of what?" He looks at me. "Outcome. " That word again. Outcome. Not me. Not my choice. Just outcome. My phone vibrates. Lucas text. Vanessa just went live again. I do not open it. I already know what is coming. ---I leave the boardroom before anyone stops me. Elevator ride down feels longer. My reflection in the metal doors looks unfamiliar. Not employee. Not girlfriend. Something placed between categories. I step outside. Reporters are already gathering. I did not expect that. They call my name immediately. "Aria Bennett!" "Is the contract real?" "Did you replace Vanessa Cole?" I walk faster. Flashlights blind me. Questions overlap. I hear only fragments. Fake. Contract. Replacement. My phone rings again. Unknown number.I answer without thinking. Vanessa's voice. Soft. Controlled. "You are drowning already, " she says. I stop walking. "Stop calling me. " "You should leave him, " she continues. "Before you get destroyed with him. " My grip tightens. "This is not about you, " I say. She laughs lightly. "It never stops being about me in his world. " Call ends. I stand in the middle of noise. Phones. Cameras. Voices. I cannot see clearly anymore. --- Blackwood Penthouse that night. I enter without announcement. Security does not stop me. Adrian is already there. "You met the press, " he says. "Yes. " Silence.I throw my phone onto the table. "Fix it, " I say. He looks at it. "Fix what. " "This, " I say. He studies me. "All of it. " "You are reacting to external pressure. " I laugh once. "Do not analyze me right now. " He steps closer. "This will stabilize. " "Nothing is stable, " I say. Silence grows again. I finally speak softer. "I lost my job today. " He pauses. "That was procedural, " he says. My eyes harden. "My life is not procedural. " He does not respond. That is worse. My voice drops. He looks at me. "Tell me something simple. " "Do I get my life back after this?" Silence. Longer this time. Then he answers."No. " My chest tightens. I already knew. But hearing it changes something. Outside the glass walls, city lights keep moving. Inside, I realize something final. This contract did not begin my new life. It replaced my old one.