Chapter Eighty-one

“We can just talk here. I told you. I'd say yes immediately if there's anything I can do.” Belle was desperate to help Nikolai.

“You know I'm not that attached to the business before. I only felt forced to take over because no one else would. I had to give up practicing law and continue to run this business.”

“Are you saying that you don't want to be involved with this?”

“No.” His eyes were on the ground. Belle can feel the weight on his shoulders with those deep breaths. “Even if I'd want to, there's no way out of this. My face is on every article about the company. Backing out now is a cowardly move that would confirm what people are already saying about me. That I'm a ruthless and corrupt business person.”

“You know you are not that kind of person.”

“I know, but no matter what I’d do, they won’t believe me, Isobelle. It’s so easy to spread information these days. People won’t even bother verifying if it’s true or not.”

Nikolai is right. You can defend yourself and use ev