GAME OVER ETHAN: HER FINAL MOVE

CHAPTER THREE

"You're making this difficult for yourself, Uncle."

I ended the call and dropped my phone onto the sofa. My jaw tightened as I stared at the screen, still annoyed by Clinton's usual complaints.

I leaned back and let out a slow breath before my eyes settled on the invitation Ana had left behind. Her automobile company's inauguration was written across the front in elegant lettering.

A small smile tugged at my lips. I had known Anastasia to be ambitious since we were children, and she had never been the type to sit around waiting for someone to build her dreams.

Whenever our parents gathered for board meetings, she would sit quietly nearby, listening to their discussions. Sometimes, she would interrupt with questions that even the adults found difficult to answer.

She had always been independent and determined to build something of her own. Watching her grow into the woman she was today had only made me admire her more.

I dragged a hand through my hair and glanced at the invitation again. I had liked Ana for years, but she had turned me down every time I tried to make my feelings known.

She once told me she didn't want someone as sophisticated as me because she already had enough ambition for both of us. I remembered laughing at her response, even though it had stung more than I cared to admit.

Eventually, I stopped pressing the matter. When she got married, I forced myself to bury the feelings I had carried for so long.

The truth was, Ethan only had a position in my company because of Ana. I could have easily hired someone more qualified, but she had personally asked me to employ him, and I couldn't bring myself to refuse her.

I picked up my phone and opened the photograph I had sent her the previous day. Ethan was kneeling in front of Mia, holding out a ring while she stared down at him.

My fingers tightened around the phone.

A day earlier, I had taken my helicopter to Dubai for a short break. While relaxing near a yacht, I spotted Ethan at a nearby reservation, and I hadn't thought much of it until I noticed the woman sitting across from him.

I wasn't sure whether he had noticed me, but I watched as he suddenly rose from his seat and walked around the table. Before I could make sense of what he was doing, he dropped to one knee and brought out a ring.

A married man proposing to another woman.

I had stared at them, waiting for some reasonable explanation to present itself, but none came. My first thought was Ana, and I immediately wondered how she would react if she saw what I had just witnessed.

How could Ethan do something like that to her?

I lowered my phone and rubbed my forehead. Regardless of how much I loved Ana, I couldn't bear the thought of watching another man destroy her.

That was why I had sent her the photograph anonymously. I didn't want her tracing the message back to me or thinking I had deliberately involved myself in her marriage.

Ethan had no idea how close Ana and I had been growing up. He didn't know she was the woman I had loved for years, and I intended to keep it that way.

I stood up and walked towards the glass windows overlooking the city. Whoever made Ana shed even a single tear would have to answer for it.

My phone suddenly rang, and I glanced at the screen. The moment I saw the caller's name, my expression hardened.

Uncle Clinton.

I stared at his name for a few seconds before answering. My late father's younger brother had never made running Harrington Corporation easy for me.

Ever since my parents died, Clinton had managed the company because I was too young to take over. But even after I became old enough to lead, he struggled to accept that his time at the top was over.

"Dominic," he began. "We need to discuss something important about the company."

I walked back towards the sofa and sat down. "What is it this time, Uncle?"

He ignored my question and went straight to the point. "I think you're making decisions without considering the people who helped build this company."

I rubbed my temple as he continued. "You can't keep running things as though you're the only one who matters."

A humourless chuckle escaped me. There it was again, another reminder of how much he believed I owed him.

"Uncle, I'm the CEO," I replied, my voice firm. "Every decision concerning this company is my responsibility."

There was a brief silence before he spoke again. "We'll see about that, Dominic."

I ended the call and placed my phone on the table. My shoulders stiffened as memories of my parents came rushing back.

They had died on their way to my high school graduation, leaving me to face a world I had barely prepared for. Clinton had taken control of Harrington Corporation because I was still too young to manage it.

Fortunately, my father had left behind an ironclad will. Without it, Clinton would probably have taken over the entire company and never handed it back.

I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees. Even now, he behaved as though the company belonged to him, and I was growing tired of having to remind him otherwise.

I pushed those thoughts aside and picked up Ana's invitation again. Her upcoming inauguration wouldn't just be an ordinary business event, and I had a feeling she was planning something.

Whatever she had in mind, I would support her. She had worked hard to build her automobile company, and I wanted to see her succeed.

I got up and paced around the living room, my thoughts returning to the photograph. Just then, my phone vibrated against the table.

I picked it up and glanced at the message.

It's all done.

My eyes remained on the screen for a moment. I read the words again before locking my phone and heading towards my bedroom.

Part of me wanted to call Ana and remind her that she didn't have to face everything alone. But she was still married to Ethan, and I didn't want her thinking I was waiting for their marriage to fall apart.

I slipped my phone into my pocket and decided to keep my distance. She would tell me what she wanted me to know when she was ready.

The following morning, I arrived at Harrington Corporation with my secretary trailing behind me. She hurried to keep up as she read through my schedule.

"Your first meeting is with the textile department at nine, followed by the shareholders' review at eleven," she said. "You also have a lunch appointment with the representatives from Whitmore Corporation."

"Cancel. Cancel. Cancel."

She stopped walking and looked at me. "Sir, should I reschedule them?"

I loosened my tie as I entered my office. "I'll let you know."

My secretary nodded and placed the documents on my desk before leaving. I settled into my chair and glanced towards the office across from mine.

Ethan wasn't there.

I checked the time on my wristwatch, then reached for the attendance report on my desk. This wasn't the first time he had been absent from work without a proper explanation.

I flipped through the pages, my expression growing colder. I had overlooked enough of his behaviour simply because Ana had asked me to give him a chance.

I dropped the report onto the desk and leaned back. That favour was no longer going to protect him.

Ethan could take his time returning to the office. When he did, he would discover that his position was no longer secure.

He was getting demoted.