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“I just don’t know how much more of this I can take,” Maya finally said, her voice barely above a whisper.
“I know,” I replied softly, reaching out to take her hand. “I’m sorry. I wish things were different.”
Maya sighed heavily, leaning her head against my shoulder. “I wish they were too.”
We sat there in silence for a few moments longer, holding onto each other as we tried to find some solace in our shared pain.
It wasn't the first argument we had, and it definitely wouldn't be the last.
Every time we argued, I felt my frustration building up inside me. My chest felt tight, my heart racing with the rush of adrenaline. I could feel my palms getting sweaty and my breathing becoming shallow. I knew I should have been listening to her, but all I could focus on was how impossible it all felt. How could I possibly give them more time when I was already stretched so thin?
Maya's words still stung, and I could feel my anger boiling up inside me. I tried to keep my voice steady, but it was getting harder and harder to control myself. I knew I shouldn't snap at her, but the pressure was mounting, and I could feel myself losing my grip.
I wanted to scream, to lash out, and to make her see how hard I was working. But I knew that wouldn't help anything. Instead, I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself down, savoring the warmth of her body in my arms. I knew I needed to find a way to make things work, to balance my work and my family. But it all felt so overwhelming.
As we talked, I could feel my mind racing. Trying to come up with a solution, trying to find a way to make everything work. But it all seemed impossible. I felt like I was drowning like I couldn't catch a break.
My body was tense, my muscles tight as I struggled to keep control. I could feel the sweat trickling down my back, my heart pounding in my chest. It was like I was trapped in my own body, unable to break free.
I wished I could be a better partner and father. I wished I could give Maya and Eli all the time they deserve. But it wasn’t as simple as that. I had a responsibility to my company, employees, and shareholders, to make sure everything was running smoothly.
It was a delicate balance, and I felt like I was always teetering on the edge, especially now.
As Maya and I made our way to bed, I could feel the weight of it all settling back onto my shoulders. I knew I had to find a way to make this work, to find a way to keep everyone happy. But for now, all I could do was take a deep breath, square my shoulders, and get back to work.
Maya
As I sat at my desk, pouring over legal documents and news articles, I couldn't help but feel overwhelmed. It seemed like no matter how much I worked, I was no closer to clearing Jack's name. And to make matters worse, our relationship had become even more strained.
Jack had become withdrawn, barely speaking to me except to express his guilt and helplessness. I understood that he was going through a lot of stress, but I couldn't help feeling frustrated that he wasn't doing more to help himself. It should be going faster. He should know more about the inner workings of the company to find out where it wasn't working. He had tons of people working for him!
Our arguments had become more frequent, and the tension between us was palpable. I could feel it in the pit of my stomach, a tight knot that refused to loosen no matter how much I tried to relax.
But I knew that if we could find a way to make it through this time, we could make it through anything. This was a huge test for our new, present-day relationship and there was work to be done.
Deep down, I did know Jack was doing what needed to be done. He was under investigation now and had to follow procedures and protocols and just keep hoping they didn’t find anything. Keep hoping that no one in the company fucked up somewhere.
I had the freedom to hunt down leads and try to actively prove his innocence, even though it was feeling like a futile effort.
But I was determined. We’d win this battle and then we’d live happily ever after.
Chapter 29
Jack
Maya'svoicestartledmeout of my sleep early one morning. I groggily rubbed my eyes, trying to shake off the drowsiness. I had stayed up late the night before, trying to piece together the many puzzle pieces that all seemed to be making a different picture. My eyes flickered to the alarm clock beside the bed, and I saw that it was only six a.m. What could be so important at this hour?
"I've got it! I know who set you up," Maya exclaimed, her voice laced with urgency. I immediately sat up, my heart racing with anticipation. She looked frantic, bent over the laptop and typing away furiously, but when she turned to me, she had a glimmer of a smile on her lips and tears in her eyes.
"We can fix everything! Jack, we can save your company."
I could feel the weight of the world lifting off my shoulders. For months, I had been hounded by allegations of embezzlement and fraud. I had denied the charges, but they stuck, and our reputation had taken a massive hit. Our investors had pulled out, and if things continued like this, we would soon be on the verge of bankruptcy.
"Who is it?" I asked, trying to keep my voice calm.
"It turns out that this man,” she turned the laptop toward me, “Senator John Summer is responsible for the story about your company embezzling customers' money. He paid off the execs of TRA news and the fake witnesses. But why…?"
My blood ran cold when I heard the name, and I felt a tingle in my hands when I saw the asshole’s face. I knew John Summer. He was a powerful senator, with connections that reached the White House. He had been a thorn in my side for years, trying to muscle in on my company's assets. He was a thorn, but also one that I had to work with to lobby the government for favorable tax breaks as we were developing new products. He would always try to get some kickbacks for help, especially in the beginning, but that's not how I work.
