POV Milo
HR was already circling like vultures when we walked in—four of them, clipboards clutched like they were here to conduct an autopsy. Their eyes flicked between me, Victor, Leo, and Mira like they’d just stumbled onto the juiciest scandal in company history.
“I’m going to say this once,” Leo’s voice was low, clipped, honed like a knife. “Whatever rumors you’ve heard—stay out of them. They’re personal.”
One of the reps, a wiry man who looked like he’d memorized every HR policy in existence, crossed his arms. “Personal or not, this is affecting the company. Whispers travel fast.”
Victor leaned back against the desk, smirking like he had all day to play chicken with them. “Maybe you should be more concerned with productivity instead of gossip.”
Mira stood still beside me, arms folded tight across her chest, chin tipped down, shoulders drawn in. She looked like she wanted the floor to open up and swallow her whole.
The wiry man’s gaze slid to her. “Miss Kensington—”
“No.” My voice cut through before his could go further. I stepped forward, planting myself between them. “She’s not answering your questions.”
The other rep, a woman with sharp bangs and an even sharper voice, spoke up. “Mr. Stern, you can’t dictate—”
“I can,” Leo said, sudden thunder in his tone. “This is over. Out.”
They exchanged glances, muttered about “documenting this,” and filed out stiffly.
The door had barely clicked shut before Leo turned on us. “My office. Now.”
We went in. Victor first, Leo behind him. Mira lingered at the doorway like she was debating if she even wanted to walk into whatever storm was waiting. I waited until she crossed the threshold, then shut the door.
The air felt dense, heavy with unspoken things. My pulse was pounding, my hands restless. I looked at her—really looked—and whatever filter I’d been holding onto disintegrated.
“I love you.”
Her eyes widened, breath catching, but she didn’t look surprised so much as… rattled.
Victor straightened. “Are you seriously doing this right now?”
Leo’s voice was sharp steel. “It’s unfair for you to say that, Milo, when you know we both feel the same way.”
Mira’s gaze swung to him, then to Victor. “So we’re just… saying it now?”
I hated the way her voice sounded—small, unsure. I’d seen her stand her ground, I’d seen her light up a room. This wasn’t her.
“Don’t look at me like that,” I told her, softer. “I’m not trapping you. I’m telling you the truth. I can’t pretend anymore.”
Leo’s jaw ticked. “You blindsided her. That’s selfish.”
Victor scoffed. “Like you haven’t been dying to say it yourself?”
“This isn’t about me,” Leo shot back.
“Yes, it is,” Mira said suddenly, her voice cutting in. “It’s about all of you and that stupid pact you keep hiding behind.”
Her words landed like a slap.
She looked at each of us, her tone steady but sharp. “I know about it. I’ve known for weeks. What I don’t understand is why you’re still clinging to it when you’ve all already crossed the line.”
Victor rubbed his jaw, exhaling. “It wasn’t just about… you. We made that deal a long time ago. To keep business and personal separate. To keep us from tearing each other apart over one person.”
Her eyes narrowed. “So I’m just the hypothetical woman who accidentally became the real one?”
Leo leaned forward, elbows on his knees. “It was meant to protect all of us. But… it’s not working anymore.”
I shook my head. “It never worked. We’re already in too deep.”
Mira’s eyes locked on mine. “Then tell me why you didn’t just break it before now.”
“Because,” Leo said, his voice quiet but rough, “once it’s gone, there’s no going back. And I didn’t want to lose my brothers over this.”
Victor’s tone was bitter. “Guess what? We’re already lost. We’re all in the same fire.”
I stepped closer to her. “So maybe it’s time we stop pretending we’re not.”
Her voice trembled, but her eyes stayed on mine. “I can’t choose between you.”
The room went still.
“Why not?” I asked.
She swallowed hard. “Because I’m in love with all three of you.”
Silence followed—heavy, charged.
Victor cursed under his breath, dragging a hand down his face. Leo’s eyes flicked to her, then away, like he was fighting himself.
“The pact’s dead,” I said finally.
Leo’s brow furrowed. “Milo—”
“No. We’re in love with her. All of us. And I’m done pretending otherwise.”
Victor glanced at Leo, then back at her. “Yeah. Fuck the pact.”
Leo exhaled slowly, his shoulders dropping. “It was a stupid pact anyway.”