Chapter Sixteen: Standing Together
944 Words
The silence in Ethan’s office was deafening.
Ava stared at the headline.
BLAKE CAPITAL UNDER FEDERAL INVESTIGATION
Her pulse raced.
“This isn’t real…”
Ethan’s expression remained unreadable as he continued reading the article.
“It says anonymous sources claim Blake Capital manipulated overseas investments,” Noah said. “Every financial network has picked up the story.”
Ava looked at Ethan.
“Did you?”
He met her eyes.
“No.”
She didn’t hesitate.
“I believe you.”
For the first time since Noah had burst into the office, something shifted in Ethan’s face.
Relief.
Small.
Almost invisible.
But it was there.
Within thirty minutes, Blake Capital’s crisis team filled the boardroom once again.
“This is market manipulation,” the company’s legal counsel said. “Someone wants investors to panic.”
Another executive looked uneasy.
“Our stock has already dropped seven percent in pre-market trading.”
“Seven?” Noah repeated.
“And falling.”
Ethan stood at the head of the table.
“No statements.”
The room looked at him.
“Not until we know who’s behind this.”
One board member objected.
“Sir, the media—”
“I said no statements.”
His voice wasn’t loud.
It didn’t need to be.
The room fell silent.
After the meeting ended, Ava caught up with him outside.
“You haven’t eaten.”
“I’m not hungry.”
“You’ve had coffee.”
“I’m aware.”
“And that’s it.”
He stopped walking.
“Ava—”
“No.”
She folded her arms.
“If you’re going to drag me into fake engagements and media disasters, the least you can do is eat lunch.”
For a second…
He simply stared at her.
Then, to Noah’s complete surprise—
Ethan sighed.
“Fine.”
Noah blinked.
He’d watched executives argue with Ethan for years.
None had ever won.
Yet somehow…
Ava Bennett had just ordered the CEO of Blake Capital to lunch.
They slipped into a quiet café a few blocks away.
For the first time in weeks, there were no cameras.
No reporters.
No family.
Just the two of them.
Ava stirred her tea.
“I’ve been thinking.”
“I can tell.”
She ignored the comment.
“What if the contract was never the real target?”
Ethan looked up.
“What do you mean?”
“First, they steal the contract.”
“Then they don’t release it.”
“Instead…”
She pointed at the headline on her phone.
“They attack your company.”
His brow furrowed.
“So?”
“So maybe the contract was just a distraction.”
Silence.
Ethan slowly leaned back.
“I missed that.”
She smiled.
“I know.”
“You were too busy trying to solve the obvious problem.”
A slow smile spread across his face.
“I hired the right fake fiancée.”
That afternoon…
Noah burst into Ethan’s office carrying another file.
“I found something.”
He spread several documents across the desk.
“Every false accusation against Blake Capital originated from one public relations firm.”
Ethan looked at the company name.
Sterling Media Strategies.
He frowned.
“I’ve never heard of them.”
“You haven’t.”
“They were created…”
Noah flipped another page.
“…three weeks ago.”
Ava looked over his shoulder.
“A fake company.”
“Exactly.”
“And guess who funded it.”
Another document slid across the desk.
The payment trail stopped at an offshore account.
The account holder’s name wasn’t listed.
But the authorized representative was.
Lucas Blake.
The room went still.
“So it was him,” Ava whispered.
“No,” Ethan said quietly.
She looked at him.
“He doesn’t have the money or the influence to do this alone.”
“You think someone’s using him?”
“I know they are.”
That evening…
Arthur invited Ethan and Ava to dinner again.
The atmosphere was noticeably different.
Arthur watched Ethan throughout the meal.
Finally, he set down his fork.
“Something’s wrong.”
“No.”
Arthur smiled sadly.
“You’ve had that answer since you were twelve.”
Ethan didn’t respond.
Arthur turned to Ava.
“My grandson carries the world on his shoulders.”
“He always has.”
“He thinks protecting everyone means carrying every burden alone.”
His eyes softened.
“If he ever forgets…”
“Remind him he doesn’t have to.”
Ava glanced at Ethan.
He didn’t look up.
But she knew he’d heard every word.
Later that night, as Ethan walked Ava to her apartment building, neither spoke.
When they reached the entrance, she gently reached for his hand.
He looked down at their intertwined fingers.
“You don’t have to carry this alone.”
His gaze lifted to hers.
For the first time…
He didn’t have an answer.
Instead, he squeezed her hand.
A silent thank you.
A silent promise.
As Ava disappeared into the building, Ethan stood on the sidewalk for a long moment.
Across the street…
A black sedan remained parked with its lights off.
Inside, Lucas Blake lowered a pair of binoculars.
He wasn’t alone.
Nathan Sinclair sat beside him.
“So,” Nathan said quietly.
“Are they in love?”
Lucas watched Ethan continue staring at Ava’s apartment long after she had gone inside.
He smiled.
“Oh…”
“They’re definitely in love.”
Nathan’s expression remained cold.
“Good.”
Lucas frowned.
“Good?”
Nathan looked toward the apartment building.
“Because now we know exactly where to strike.”
- Writer
