Synopsis:EITHER WAY I LOSE is the story that mixes both romance and action. Emma is a young professional with a neglectful fiance and a future that is stagnant. Jake is a divorcee and boss, working and fighting with his wife for mere moments with his young daughter.
There are two stories in EITHER WAY I LOSE.
The first is the love story between Jake and Emma. This position is Emma's first job and she is eager to succeed. She works hard but is unappreciated in the job and at home. She finds comfort in her boss, Jake, who pushes her to excel. When he invites her and the rest of the office to his birthday party, their attraction ignites. Emma has a few too many drinks and she ends up dancing closely to her boss. The dance ends when Emma's fiance of seven years, Will, comes in and threatens to beat him up.
Emma is mortified and does everything she can to apologize. Jake realizes that, even though she is taken, he still loves her. He invites her to his daughter's birthday party. This party is the first time he has seen his little girl in weeks, the result of an intense custody battle with his ex-wife. At the party, the pair grow even closer, sharing a bonding moment during an intense hide-and-seek game.
This part of the story ends with Emma and Jake at the same restaurant. Emma is having her 8th anniversary dinner with her fiance and Jake is going on a first date. Emma sees him with another woman and grows curious and jealous. Making an excuse, she gets up and spies on the couple. Jake bumps into her and they have a discussion- Will comes up, insanely jealous and beats up Jake. Emma is horrified and she believes her chance with Jake is ruined.
The second story is that of the office shooting, an event that takes place shortly after the dinner scene. Emma and Jake are working on a presentation when they hear a thud and a pop in the distance. Jake walks outside the conference room and sees the body of his good friend, bleeding on the ground.
They are trapped in the conference room, desperately calling for help. When the shooter finds a way to send the police away, they must find a way to safety. Emma makes an attempt to get a cell phone from her office and comes into an attack with the killer, almost getting shot in the process. Shaken, she returns to the conference room...and so does the killer who smashes the rifle into the window.
Jake pulls them out of the room and into a small closet where they see another one of their own get shot. Jake remembers he has a weapon in his office. He leaves Emma alone in the closet as he runs out to his office. She watches, in horror, as the killer follows him right to his office.
In his office, the killer confronts Jake and threatens to shoot him. The shooter is Alisa, a woman that, in the first story, has a deep unrequited crush on Jake and a crumbling family life. Once Emma comes into the room, trying to help, Alisa gives her the choice. Give up Jake and escape or they both die. Emma steps in front of Jake in attempt to save him. Alisa shoots but, at the same, instant, another shot rings out. Alisa falls to the ground as a cop stands behind her.
Jake falls as well. He's been shot. Emma stands over him and tells him that she's left her fiance after his actions.
And they finally kiss.
The two stories of EITHER WAY I LOSE are intercut within each other, building the suspense and love story simultaneously.