#Chapter 48: Drills and Doubts

Amelia POV I sat with Emma in the little break area, nursing cheap coffee that tasted like dirt. She was reviewing notes on her tablet while I tried not to hunch in on myself. She glanced up. "You know the rumors about you and Richard are making the rounds in the office, right?" I set the coffee down too hard. "Of course they are." She held my gaze. "It's not a big issue. No one has actual proof of anything, and nothing has leaked to the public. But we have to be careful." I snorted. "Careful? Like with the fallback plan? We both know someone had to leak it internally. I checked every system log, there was no hacking." Emma's mouth tightened. "I know. And it doesn't help that the House wants someone to blame. You make a convenient target." I looked away, fingers clenching. "Yeah. Story of my life." She sighed and closed her tablet. "Just try to keep your head down today. Please." I didn't promise her anything. I adjusted my jacket, ignoring the way my hands trembl