NOVEL NEXT Chapter 285: Darren's Compass
With the heavy oak door clicking, Darren knew that Rachel was coming in. It shut seconds after as sounds of her heels knocked on the floor.
Darren left the center of the office and walked behind his desk, wearing his coat around his chair rather than his own shoulders. No one said anything for a while, though he could feel Rachel waiting behind her, the air filled with tension that had built over almost two months since their last argument about this same problem.
Ileana.
He hadn't had a real conversation with Rachel since then. Not like they used to. Not since the Lotus Triad mess, and her clipped emails and curt nods had started seeping into their work.
At first, Darren wanted to ignore it, expecting that it would simmer sooner or later. But after today, he saw it was affecting the company, and he knew he couldn't dodge it any longer.
He sighed.
"You're being a bully, Rachel," he said, not even turning. "And you know it."
Rachel raised a brow. "You called me here to scold me?" she asked. "Like a child?"
"No," Darren sighed. "I called you here because you're not being yourself and I don't like you being this way."
Rachel fell silent.
Darren finally turned and their gazes locked, the tension between them simmering silently, causing their hearts to pound.
"Sit," he said to her, gesturing to the leather chair across from him, his voice softer than in the boardroom but still carrying a CEO's edge.
Rachel crossed her arms, staying by the door. "I'm fine standing. Say what you need to say, Darren."
Darren exhaled, running a hand through his dark hair. "Take a seat, Rachel. I'm not going to say it again."
After a short hesitation, she obeyed.
Darren paced for a moment. "Rachel, we haven't talked — really talked — in weeks," he began. "Now, it's messing with the company. You're dropping balls on projects, and I know it's because of me. So tell me, what do you want me to do?"
Rachel tightened her jaw. "That's unfair of you to ask."
"Unfair?" Darren raised a brow.
"You alienated me, Darren." Rachel cried. "Your plans, your moves. Everything. The move on the government and that nosy agent. Bringing Ileana in. You used to tell me everything."
"No I didn't. I used to tell you what was necessary."
"And now you don't tell me anything at all."
Silence fell.
Darren's chest tightened as he gazed at her, both of their hearts pounding. He leaned against the desk. "I made a decision with Ileana because I had a plan. The same plan you saw come to fruition with the government play. Our company's stocks multiplied by 25% because of it. We made over a 300 million profit from Bitcoin sales. Funding has increased for all sectors. This is a win that we can not let get tainted because of personal issues. This is a win because of that simple move of bringing Ileana in. Why can't you see that?"
Rachel lowered her eyes, knowing in her heart that Darren was right. "I'm not against Ileana being in the team," she said. "I just wished you had told me. I wished you had cared more to let me know about bringing someone in who put me in danger. Now I feel like you don't really care at all of what I think. Or of me."
Darren's brows raised.
"That's not what this is," he said, his voice low and urgent. "You can't think that way, Rachel. You know I care and I'm sorry for making you feel that I didn't. You are my compass. You keep me grounded. I didn't bring Ileana in to hurt you or anyone. I should've told you. I'm sorry. But I can not promise that I will always involve you in every quick decision I have to make when I think it's for the betterment of the company."
She stared at him, her jaw tight. "You're sorry?"
Darren nodded. "That's right. I've been dodging this, dodging you. I didn't want to face how much I've hurt you. But I'm here now. And I'm only asking that you don't be so mean to Ileana. She knows no one in this state, this country."
Rachel's shoulders slumped, some of the fire leaving her. Her exposed eye glistened with guilt as she realized herself. She rubbed her temples and hid her face.
"I've been a bitch."
Darren tightened his lips, surprised by the word. "I wouldn't use that word."
"No it's true. And it's not right. She doesn't deserve the way I've acted towards her. I regret it."
Then she looked up at him. "But then... That's not all of it. Sandy, Penelope, Kara... and I know there's something going on with Olivia Sinclair. I see how they all look at you. I'm not stupid. And I'm not sure I can keep being your 'compass' if I'm just one of many."
Darren stood straight. 'Her too,' he thought.
"I'm sorry," she immediately said. "I didn't mean to bring that up. I was just... jealous, I guess. No... curious, rather."
She got up. "I'll go. First I'll apologize to Ileana... and Sandy. Then I'll reschedule the meeting for the presentation."
Darren nodded slowly. "Okay." But once she reached the door, he stopped her.
"Rachel."
She turned.
"I'm going to figure this out," he said. "I can't lose you. The company's cracking because we're cracking. But can we start there? Work together, like we used to?"
She nodded, her gaze softening just a fraction. "Yes. Yes we can."
Then she turned and left. The door clicked shut behind her.
Darren immediately sank into his chair, his head pounding. The system chimed, its blue holographic panel flickering to life.
Ding!
┏Romance Radar Update: Rachel┛
┏Loyalty: 35% → 40% (Cautious: Trust slightly restored, but skepticism remains)┛
┏System Note: A step forward, but the road is long. Transparency is your only path.┛
He stared at the numbers, the weight of the Polycode Protocol settling in. It was all making sense now, why the system wasn't getting involved.
It wasn't just meddling in his love life for kicks; it was tied to his empire. If his relationships imploded, the trust he'd built with his team — Rachel, Kara, Sandy, all of them — would collapse. He'd fought tooth and nail to protect Steele Investments from outside threats. He'd be damned if he let it shatter from the inside.
Darren leaned forward, his jaw set. "Alright, system," he muttered. "You want me to fix this? I'm in." He grabbed his phone, pulling up his calendar. His birthday was in fourteen days, and the quest's deadline loomed like a guillotine. He couldn't keep dodging the chaos of his romantic entanglements. Rachel was just the start.
He was going to settle this once and for all. And he would do it by inviting the women to a meeting.
ALL OF THE WOMEN.
What could go wrong with this idea?