Morning didn't come gently.
It came loud.
Shemmy woke to the constant vibration of her phone on the bedside table. At first, she stayed still, staring at the ceiling, hoping it would stop.
It didn't.
She reached for it.
Notifications flooded her screen. Messages. Tags. News alerts. Her chest tightened before she even opened anything.
The first headline hit immediately.
"TechWave Faces Leadership Crisis as Board Moves to Remove CEO."
She sat up.
Another followed.
"Internal Breach Raises Questions About Daevyd Kng's Control."
Then her name appeared.
"Is Shemmy Esther Part of the Problem?"
That one landed deeper.
She pushed the covers off and stood up slowly, her body already tense.
Daevyd was in the living room.
Dressed.
Awake.
Working.
His laptop was open, phone pressed to his ear as he paced.
"Yes," he said. "Delay it."
Pause.
"No. Today. Not tomorrow."
Another pause.
"I said hold it."
He ended the call and looked up.
Their eyes met.
Everything unspoken passed between them.
"It's everywhere," Shemmy said.
"I know."
"They're dragging me into it now."
"They will," he replied. "It's part of the pressure."
She walked closer, folding her arms.
"My studio is gone. Now my name too?"
Daevyd stepped toward her without thinking. His hand came up to her face, brushing lightly against her cheek before resting there.
"I'll handle it," he said.
That word again.
Shemmy shook her head gently, but she didn't pull away.
"No."
He frowned slightly. "No?"
"You're not handling this alone."
"I need you out of this part."
"I'm already in it."
Silence.
Then she stepped closer, closing the space between them.
"You said they're using me to get to you," she said quietly.
"Yes."
"Then stop treating me like I'm something fragile."
His hand slid from her cheek to the back of her neck, pulling her a little closer.
"I'm trying to protect you."
"And I'm trying to stand with you."
They held each other's gaze.
The tension didn't disappear, but it softened.
Just slightly.
Daevyd leaned in and pressed a slow kiss to her forehead.
It wasn't rushed.
It wasn't dramatic.
It was steady.
"I hear you," he said quietly.
That was enough.
Ruth called minutes later.
Shemmy put it on speaker.
"Nne, have you seen what's happening online?"
"Yes."
"It's bad," Ruth said. "They're dragging everything. Your brand, your past, even your personal life."
Shemmy leaned slightly into Daevyd without thinking. His arm came around her waist, holding her there.
"I expected that," she said.
"I've already lost two clients this morning," Ruth added. "Not because of your work. Because of the noise."
Shemmy closed her eyes briefly.
That one hurt.
"Okay," she said.
"Okay?" Ruth repeated.
"I'm not folding."
Ruth paused.
Then smiled through her voice.
"Good. Because if you fold now, they win."
"They won't."
Across the room, Daevyd's phone rang again.
He released her slowly and answered.
"Yes."
He listened.
His expression shifted.
"What do you mean the shares moved?"
Shemmy turned immediately.
"They bought how much?"
Silence.
"Who approved it?"
Another pause.
"No. Find out."
He ended the call.
Shemmy stepped closer again.
"What happened?"
Daevyd ran his hand through his hair.
"They've started buying in."
Her stomach tightened.
"That's the takeover."
"Yes."
"How bad is it?"
"Bad enough to pressure the board."
That changed everything.
Shemmy pulled away slightly, pacing now.
Thinking fast.
Then she stopped.
Turned back to him.
"Then we stop reacting."
Daevyd looked at her.
"What?"
"We stop reacting," she repeated. "We move first."
He watched her carefully now.
"What are you thinking?"
"They're using the media against us," she said.
"Yes."
"Then we use it too."
He didn't interrupt.
"We go public."
That made him pause.
"Public?"
"Yes."
"About everything?"
"Yes."
Silence filled the space between them.
"That's risky," he said.
"It's already risky."
That was true.
And he knew it.
Shemmy stepped closer again.
"No more hiding. If they want a fight, we don't wait for them to hit first."
Daevyd studied her.
This wasn't hesitation.
This was decision.
"You're sure?" he asked.
"Yes."
A pause.
Then she reached for his hand.
"We do it together."
That mattered.
He tightened his grip on her hand and pulled her closer again, this time without hesitation.
"Together," he repeated.
Then he leaned down and kissed her.
Not rushed.
Not soft either.
It carried everything they hadn't said.
Fear.
Pressure.
Choice.
When he pulled back, his forehead rested briefly against hers.
"I won't let them take everything," he said quietly.
She held his shirt slightly.
"Then don't."
Her phone buzzed again.
She picked it up.
Unknown number.
Her chest tightened.
She opened it.
And froze.
Daevyd noticed immediately.
"What is it?"
She didn't speak.
She just handed him the phone.
A video.
Her studio.
Burned.
Destroyed.
But that wasn't the problem.
The camera shifted.
Zoomed slightly.
And revealed someone standing behind the building.
Watching.
Still.
The video ended.
Another message followed.
"We're not done with you yet."
Shemmy felt something shift inside her.
Not fear.
Something colder.
More steady.
Daevyd's hand found hers again.
Tight.
Grounding.
This wasn't just business anymore.
And whoever was behind it…
Was getting closer.