LORI

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Lori's POV.

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I halted in track as I watched him sauntered out of the place in shock. I glanced at Mr. Knight sheepishly and looked away. I never could have expected a fearful man like him could stoop so low for me.

He stared at me with furrowed brows, his hands dug into pockets with so much pride and demure.

Before I could gather my thoughts, Mr. Knight turned to me, his gaze softening ever so slightly. "Are you all right?"

I nodded, though I wasn’t sure if I was. My heart was still reeling, and my cheeks still stung from where Connor had slapped me. But I was grateful. So, so grateful.

"Thank you," I whispered, my voice shaky.

He gave a slight nod, his expression unreadable once again. "Come with me."

Without another word, he turned around and led the way while I followed him. Meanwhile, as I followed him, my gaze fell on those who were stealing our gazes.

I followed him down the hall, my steps echoing behind his. His hands remained buried in his pockets, and his face was as unreadable as ever. There was no hint of the man who had just stepped in to defend me from Connor’s assault. The cold, distant Mr. Knight had returned, and I couldn’t help but feel a wave of uncertainty wash over me.

When we reached his office, Mr. Knight pushed the door open without a word and gestured for me to step inside. I hesitated for a moment, taking in the stark, modern décor of the room.

He walked around to his desk, his every movement deliberate and calculated. His back was to me as he rifled through some papers before retrieving something from a drawer. I stood awkwardly in the middle of the room, unsure of what to do or say.

Finally, he turned around and threw a magazine onto the table between us. The glossy cover landed face up, and my breath caught in my throat as I saw the image that graced it. It was a picture of the two of us from two days ago at the mall, the exact moment I had grabbed his shirt in frustration. The headline, bold and damning, read-Mystery Woman Clings to the Elusive Mr. Knight—Romance Brewing?

I felt the blood drain from my face as I stared at the magazine, unable to tear my eyes away from the image as though I wasn't aware of it.

"This," Mr. Knight said, his voice cutting through the silence like a knife, "has gone viral."

I lifted my gaze to meet his, but his face remained unreadable, his eyes cold. He took a step toward me, his hands still in his pockets, his posture radiating control.

"They think there's something between us," he continued, his voice steady but with an undercurrent of something I couldn't quite place. "The media is having a field day with this, and rumors are spreading."

I swallowed hard, my mind racing. Of course, they would twist this into a scandal. How could I have been so naïve? I had only wanted to confront him that day, to demand answers. I never expected it to turn into this.

"You need to debunk the news," Mr. Knight said, his voice firm but controlled. "Whenever you’re asked, you make it clear that there’s no romantic relationship between us. Understood?"

I nodded, though my throat felt tight. "Yes, sir."

He watched me for a moment as if gauging my sincerity, before continuing. "Also, report immediately to the mall. You’ll need to be there in the next hour. There’s work that needs to be done."

I blinked, surprised at the abrupt change in subject. "At the mall? What—"

"There’s no need for questions," he cut me off, his tone sharp. "Just do as you’re told."

"Understood," I muttered, my voice barely above a whisper.

He gave a curt nod and turned back to his desk, already dismissing me without another word. I stood there for a moment, feeling utterly insignificant in the grand scheme of whatever Mr. Knight’s world was. It was clear that, to him, I was just a small piece in his intricate puzzle.

Without waiting for further instructions, I turned and rushed out of his office, my heart pounding in my chest. The weight of the magazine's headline still hung over me like a dark cloud, and I could feel the curious eyes of the staff following me as I made my way out of the building.

The moment I stepped outside, the cool breeze hit my face, and I took a deep breath, trying to clear my head. I couldn’t believe how quickly things had spiraled out of control. Two days ago, I had been just another person in his life, invisible to the world. Now, thanks to a single snapshot, I was plastered all over the internet, linked to a man like Mr. Knight.

I needed to get to the mall, to report for duty, but I also needed to think. The rumors would spread like wildfire, and I had to be prepared. Debunking the news was one thing, but handling the looks, the whispers, and the assumptions would be another.

As I hurried down the street, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out to see a flood of notifications—texts from friends, colleagues, and even a few strangers, all wanting to know the same thing: Is it true? Are you dating Mr. Knight?

I groaned inwardly, my fingers trembling as I quickly typed out a blanket response, denying the rumors.

I had to stay focused and follow Mr. Knight’s instructions.

For now, though, I had a job to do. But as I walked, one thought gnawed at the back of my mind. Why did Mr. Knight care so much about this rumor? And why was he so adamant that I debunk it?

I shook my head, pushing the questions aside. There would be time for answers later. For now, I had to focus on making Cynthia pay for betraying me, now that Connor was kicked out of my way.