The Billionaire's plaything

Chapter3

Ethan turned away from her and addressed the room. “From now on, there will be no late arrivals. No leniency. And definitely no sloppiness. If you work under me, you deliver.”

Luna’s mind whirled.

What exactly does he know she's thinking?

This wasn’t just a change in leadership.

This was a personal attack on her.

And something inside her whispered that Lenn’s departure wasn’t voluntary. Since this man turned his back on his first love, despite his wealth. He was capable of doing anything.

Ethan looked over his shoulder again. Right at her.

His smirk deepened.

“I’ve heard a lot about you, Ms. Shawn,” he said slowly, then continued, “I heard you owe this company a lot, and as your new boss, I demand you pay up before the end of next week.”

Luna felt her world spun right before her. Why today?

Today was supposed to be her six-year anniversary, turned out to be the worst days of her life.

Death was better, isn't it?

“Sir?” Secretary Claire called out. The staff mumbled inaudibly because of the lace of sultry tone in her voice, but she cared less.

Ethan turned to look at her, she leaned forward to his right ear, standing on her toes, whispering some words to him, but to Luna's hearing.

The atmosphere in the office was heavy, soaked with unsaid words and wary stares. Luna stood quietly near the corner, her arms folded tightly over her chest, trying to keep her breathing even. .

“Sir,” Claire said smoothly, her lips barely moving, “that girl… Luna Shawn… she’s been owning the company for years. Loans, salary advances, emergency funds. She’s in deep, sir. I doubt she’s capable of paying it all back. She's practically living off the system.”

Ethan’s eyes shifted from the documents in front of him to Luna. Cold. Piercing.

The room fell into an unbearable silence.

Claire smirked, confident she’d just secured Luna’s downfall.

But then,Ethan’s voice dropped like a hammer.

“Remind me,” he said, tone dry, “who approved those loans in the first place?”

Claire’s expression faltered slightly. “It was… under the former CEO, sir. Kris.”

Ethan leaned back in his chair, fingers interlaced over his chest. “Ah, of course. The same man who ran this company like a goddamn dating app.” He chuckled bitterly, shaking his head. “Nepotism, pillow talk, zero discipline.”

His gaze fixed back on Claire.

“And yet you, Claire , the supposed gatekeeper , sat behind that desk for years watching it all burn, didn’t you?”

Claire stiffened. “Sir, I only..”

“You failed to stop him,” Ethan cut her off, her voice sharp as broken glass. “And now, you're whispering like a snake, hoping I'll do your dirty work.”

Claire's eyes widened.

“Since Ms. "Shawn is so terribly in debt,” Ethan said, standing slowly, “and since you were so gracious as to bring that to my attention, let me offer a solution.”

He walked around the desk, each step calm, deliberate, predatory.

“If she doesn’t pay her debt before the end of the week,” he continued, “you, Claire, will be stripped of your position permanently and you've to take over her position till she clears her debts.

Claire gasped. “Sir…what?!”

Ethan ignored her and turned to Luna, whose brows were furrowed in stunned disbelief.

“You,” he said smoothly, “will assume the role of my personal secretary.”

Luna’s lips parted. “What? But…

“Without pay,” Ethan added flatly, “until your debts are cleared.”

Luna’s stomach turned.

This wasn’t an offer. It was a command dressed in a tailored suit.

“And let’s be honest,” Ethan added with a devilish glint, “you were already doing the heavy lifting of the role under the last CEO… weren’t you?”

There was a sharp intake of breath from someone across the room. Claire’s face went pale.

Humiliation washed over Luna like cold water. She didn’t need Ethan to say it out loud, everyone knew what he was implying. Her late-night “meetings” with Kris. Her conveniently fast-tracked promotions and approved loans. The way her lipstick was always slightly smeared when she exited the executive elevator.

Ethan took another step toward her, then stopped inches from her face. “Congratulations, Ms. Shawn. You're now my shadow. My eyes. My hands. You follow where I go, answer when I call, and make yourself useful… in every way I see fit.”

All this embarrassments was as a result of the sacrifices she made for Logan all washed down the drain. The money, the investments, everything!

And now, she was going to work without a pay.

His voice lowered to a dark whisper. “You owe me now.”

Luna’s fists clenched at her sides. She hated how her body still reacted to the sound of his voice. How her knees trembled under that piercing gaze. How much of herself she’d already given away without realizing it.

You're a slutty w***e! Her mind screamed loudly to her.

And yet.

Her lips parted, defiant but breathless. “Fine.”

Ethan smiled like a man who just won a rigged game.

“Perfect.”

But as Claire turned to leave, seething and humiliated, Ethan added one final blow.

“Oh, and Claire?” he called after her. “Clean out your desk. I don’t tolerate incompetence or backstabbing snakes in my circle. You can get down back to her place, and hope she repays her debts on time. You’re done here.”

Claire’s face contorted in rage. She looked like she wanted to scream, but Ethan had already turned his back on her.

Luna stood frozen, her heart pounding with equal parts fury and fear.

“Luna, you get to my main office, and wait while I assign your duties to you”