CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED –SEVERE CONSEQUENCES

Deonna nodded, wiping away tears she hadn't realized she'd shed. "I feel so stupid, Nia. I trusted him completely. I let him manipulate me, turn me against Logan..." "Hey," Nia said firmly, taking Deonna's hands in hers. "You are not stupid. Michael Thompson is a master manipulator. He took advantage of your trust and your ambition. That's on him, not you." Deonna managed a weak smile. "Maybe. But I still feel like I've ruined everything. My company's reputation is in tatters, I've lost the GlobalTech contract, and Logan... God, the things I said to him. How can I ever make that right?" Nia squeezed her hands. "One step at a time, Dee. First, you need to take care of yourself and Kayla. Everything else can wait." As if on cue, Deonna's phone buzzed with a message from her nanny, asking when she'd be home. The reminder of her daughter brought a fresh wave of emotion. "What kind of example am I setting for her, Nia?" Deonna asked, her voice small. "I've been so focused on proving my