Chapter 4: The Man Behind the Numbers
I stared at the documents on my desk until the words stopped looking real.
Ethan.
The man who held my hand during quiet dinners.
The man who told me I was the only person who understood him.
The man who kissed my forehead and promised we would build a future together.
The same man who had been secretly investigating my company.
The same man who had watched his mother humiliate me.
And now…
The same man who had destroyed his own family’s empire.
“Rachel,” I said slowly, “send me everything.””
“I already did.””
I opened the files again.
Financial reports.
Internal communications.
Investment records.
At first glance, Harrington Dynamics looked successful.
Strong revenue.
Major clients.
A respected name.
But numbers had a language most people ignored.
And I understood that language.
Hidden beneath the polished reports were cracks.
Large ones.
Money moved between departments without explanation.
Losses were disguised as investments.
Failed projects were buried under new acquisitions.
Someone had been moving money around to make the company appear healthier than it was.
I scrolled through the documents.
Then I saw it.
A signature.
Ethan Harrington.
I sat back.
“He approved these?””
Rachel sighed.
“Yes.””
“How long?””
“Almost two years.””
Two years.
I thought back.
Two years ago, Ethan had started becoming more interested in my work.
Two years ago, he began asking about my company’s partnerships.
Two years ago, he told me he wanted to “learn from me.””
I thought he wanted inspiration.
He wanted access.
“Olivia,” Rachel said carefully, “there’s something else.””
“What?””
“He wasn’t just hiding the losses.””
I waited.
“He was preparing a merger proposal.””
I frowned.
“With who?””
A pause.
“Bennett Technologies.””
I laughed once.
Not because it was funny.
Because it was unbelievable.
He had planned to destroy his own company, then use our relationship to attach himself to mine.
“He wanted my company to save him.””
“Yes.””
“And his family knew?””
“Victoria knew about the financial problems.””
My hands tightened.
“How much did she know?””
Rachel hesitated.
“Enough.””
That single word hurt.
Because it meant they weren’t just arrogant.
They were desperate.
And desperate people often became dangerous.
That evening, I received a message.
From Ethan.
*We need to talk face-to-face. Please.*
I stared at it.
A few months ago, I would have replied immediately.
I would have driven across the city.
I would have tried to fix whatever was wrong.
Because that was who I was.
I believed people could change.
I believed love meant standing beside someone when things became difficult.
But I had finally learned something.
Some people didn’t want a partner.
They wanted a shield.
I replied.
*Tomorrow. 10 AM. My office.*
Three dots appeared.
Then disappeared.
A few seconds later:
*Thank you.*
The next morning, Ethan walked into my office looking nothing like the confident man who had sat beside his mother the night before.
His suit was still perfect.
His hair was still neatly styled.
But his confidence was gone.
He looked smaller.
Not physically.
Emotionally.
“Olivia.””
I didn’t stand.
“Sit.””
He sat across from my desk.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then he said:
“I know you’re angry.””
I looked at him.
“Angry?””
He lowered his eyes.
“Yes.””
“No, Ethan.””
My voice was calm.
“I’m disappointed.””
That hurt him more.
“I never wanted to hurt you.””
“Then why did you?””
He opened his mouth.
Closed it.
I leaned back.
“You researched my company.””
“Yes.””
“You hid your family’s financial problems.””
“Yes.””
“You allowed your mother to insult me.””
His jaw tightened.
“I should have stopped her.””
“You should have.””
Silence.
Then he whispered:
“I was afraid.””
I almost believed him.
Almost.
“Afraid of what?””
“That if you knew the truth, you would leave.””
I looked at him.
“You mean if I knew you were using me?””
“No.””
“Yes.””
I pushed the documents across the desk.
“You didn’t fall in love with me, Ethan.””
His eyes moved over the pages.
“You fell in love with what I could give you.””
“That’s not true.””
“Then tell me I’m wrong.””
He said nothing.
And that silence was the answer.
Finally, he looked up.
“My family is losing everything.””
“I know.””
“You could save us.””
There it was.
The reason he came.
Not an apology.
Not regret.
A request.
I stood.
“Get out.””
His face changed.
“Olivia.””
“No.””
I walked around my desk.
“You had every opportunity to tell me the truth.””
“I was going to.””
“When?””
He looked away.
I nodded.
“That’s what I thought.””
He stood slowly.
Before leaving, he stopped at the door.
“You really would destroy everything?””
I looked at him.
“I’m not destroying anything.””
I picked up the documents.
“I’m stopping my company from being used.””
He left.
Ten minutes later, Rachel called.
“Olivia.””
Her voice sounded different.
“What happened?””
“We found the final piece.””
I froze.
“What piece?””
“The reason Ethan needed your engagement approved so quickly.””
I waited.
Rachel took a breath.
“Victoria wasn’t just trying to protect her family’s reputation.””
“What was she doing?””
“She was trying to stop someone from exposing Ethan.””
My eyes narrowed.
“Who?””
May you like
Rachel answered quietly.
“Someone inside Harrington Dynamics.””
