SARAH Stay at home on the most important day of my career as both chairwoman and Ceo? As if. The energy is off, but it doesn’t faze me, not with everything Wellspring has had to go through in the last few months. However, it does feel like that moment right before a thunderstorm when the air gets heavy and you know something bad is coming but you can’t quite see it yet. All twelve board members are already seated. That’s unusual—normally at least three are late. But today, they’re all here, waiting for me no doubt. And they do not look pleased. “Good morning,” I say, trying to steady myself while setting my files down at the head of the table. “Thank you all for coming on short notice. I wanted to address the recent situation with Julian Cross and reassure you of my continued commitment to—” Someone’s phone buzzes. Then another. Then three more. Nobody moves to silence them. Margaret Edward, one of my longest-serving board members, pulls out her phone. She takes one long, disbelieving look at her screen before her eyebrows shoot up. I watch, fingers and toes curling she passes the phone to David Rodriguez next to her. He narrows his eyes on the screen, shakes his head, and passes it to the next person. My heart plummets to the pit of my stomach. “Is something wrong?” I ask. The phone makes its way around the table. Each person who looks at it has the same reaction—shock, followed by something that looks disturbingly like disgust. “What’s going on?” I’m trying to keep my voice steady. The phone reaches Robert. He looks at the screen for a long moment. Then at me. “Is this true?” he asks. “Is what true?” He turns the phone around. And there I am. At the vineyard. With Ronan’s arms around me from behind, Malachi’s hand in mine, Jaxon kissing my forehead. The headline above the photo reads: “Tech Heiress in Shocking Polyamorous Relationship with Three Billionaire Brothers.”Oh God. I should have really stayed at home. “Sarah?” Margaret prompts. Her voice is careful, as though she’s holding herself back from saying something completely out of line. “Yes,” I hear myself say. “It’s true.” The room erupts into chaos. A quiet type I find even more bone chilling than noise. I can feel the shift; the collective intake of breath, the exchanged glances, the way they all suddenly sit a little straighter. “You’re in a relationship with three men?” David asks. He sounds like he’s confirming I just told him the earth is flat. “Yes.” “And you’re pregnant with… whose child exactly?” “Theirs,” I say firmly. “All of theirs. It’s twins.” Robert’s face goes red. “This is unacceptable.” “Excuse me?” “Your personal life has become a liability to this company.” He stands up, plants his hands on the table. “What kind of example does this set? What will our clients think? Our shareholders?” I am a majority shareholder for fucks sake. “My personal life has nothing to do with my professional performance—” “It has everything to do with it!” Another board member—Thomas Wu—cuts in. “You represent this company, Sarah. Your image is our image. And right now, you look like…” He trails off, but I know what he was going to say. “Like what?” I dare him. “Say it.” “Like someone with extremely poor judgment,” Margaret finishes quietly. And somehow, her saying it hurts worse than if Thomas had. “I have the same judgment I’ve always had,” I argue. “The same judgment that grew this company by forty percent in three years. That secured the HawkThorne contract. That—” “Are you sleeping your way through the shareholder list now?” Robert interrupts. “Is that how you plan to grow the company?”The words hit like a physical blow. “That’s completely out of line,” I say, but my voice sounds weak even to my own ears. Stupid, silly me is too busy fighting back tears to think of a witty comeback. “Is it?” David leans forward. “Because from where I’m sitting, it looks like you landed three billionaires and got pregnant by them. That’s not love. That’s a business transaction. Does Kevin know about this?” I ignore his last question. “You don’t know anything about my relationship—” “We know it’s four people,” Thomas rudely cuts in. “That’s not a relationship. That’s… I don’t even know what to call it.” “A circus,” someone mutters from the end of the table. “Gentlemen—” Margaret tries, but Robert talks over her. “I have daughters,” he says. “And I would be mortified if they thought this kind of behavior was acceptable. What you’re doing is an embarrassment. To yourself, to this company, to professional women everywhere.” That one hits different. Because part of me—a small, scared part—wonders if he’s right. “This board is about professional competence,” I say, fighting to keep my voice steady. “And professionally, I’ve delivered results. Consistently. My personal life—” “Your personal life just became very public,” Margaret interrupts gently. “Sarah, I say this with respect, but the moment those photos hit the internet, your personal life became everyone’s business. And people are talking.” “The company’s stability is fine. I’m fine.” “Are you?” Thomas asks. My hands are shaking. I press them flat against the table. “I’d like to table this discussion,” I say. “We can reconvene when—” “We’re not tabling anything,” Robert fires at me, face red and fuming with rage. “We need to address this now. Because frankly, Sarah, your judgment is in question. And if your judgment is compromised, how can we trust you to lead this company?” “My judgment is not compromised—” “You’re pregnant by three men!” His voice rises. “Men who, by the way, just became our largest client. So now we have to wonder—did you secure that contract on merit? Or did you sleep your way into it?” I stand up so fast my chair rolls backward. “That is enough.” “Is it?” Robert’s not backing down. “Because I think we’re just getting started. I think we need to seriously discuss whether you’re fit to continue as CEO given these… circumstances.”“Are you threatening to remove me?” “I’m saying we need to consider all options for the good of the company.” The room goes very quiet. I look around at all of them. These people I’ve worked with for years. And I see it now—the judgment, the disgust, the way they’re all mentally calculating how to distance themselves from me. Margaret won’t meet my eyes. And with Julian Cross fired from the board, they seem at a loss for what to do next. “I see,” I say quietly. “Well. I think I need some time to process this conversation. We’ll reconvene later this week.” “Sarah—” Margaret starts. “This meeting is adjourned.” I grab my files and walk out before anyone can see me cry. Nel is waiting outside my office. One look at my face and he’s on his feet. “What happened?” “Not now, Nel.” “Sarah—” “Please. Just… give me a minute.” I make it into my office, close the door, and lean against it. My phone is already blowing up. Notifications every second. Against my better judgment, I open X. Mistake. Huge mistake. The tweets are… God, they’re awful. “Imagine being having a hole so big you need THREE men to fill the void” “Gold digger of the century right here” “Those poor babies growing up in that sick environment” “She’s disgusting. Three brothers!! This is what happens when women have no morals” “The HawkThornes can do better. She obviously trapped them with pregnancy. Who even owns the babies?” “Slut”“Whore” “Homewrecker” I’m not even sure what home I allegedly wrecked, but okay. “What kind of mother—” I close the app. My hands are shaking so badly I drop my phone. There’s a knock on my door. “Sarah?” Nel’s voice cuts through my thoughts. “Your brothers—I mean, the HawkThorne brothers are on line one. They say it’s urgent.” I don’t want to talk to them. Don’t want them to hear how badly I’m breaking right now. But I pick up anyway. “Sarah.” Ronan’s voice, tight with worry. “Have you seen—” “I’ve seen.” “Where are you?” “My office.” “Are you okay?” I laugh. It comes out high and broken. “The board just implied I slept my way into our contract. X thinks I’m a whore. And I can’t stop shaking. So no, Ronan. I’m not okay.” “We’re coming to get you.” “No. I’m fine. I just need—” “We’re coming, baby.” “Jaxon—” “Don’t argue. Please.” I close my eyes. “Okay.”