The article went live thirty-seven minutes later. I knew because my phone began vibrating nonstop while Ethan was still speaking.
Notifications, emails, messages. News alerts. The screen lit up like a warning flare in my hand.
COLE GROUP MERGER UNDER INTERNAL INVESTIGATION
EXECUTIVE STRATEGIST LINKED TO COMPROMISED FINANCIAL MODEL
BILLION-DOLLAR DEAL FACES POSSIBLE INTERNAL FRAUD REVIEW
My stomach dropped so hard it physically hurt.
“No,” I whispered.
Ethan took the phone from my hand before I could spiral further.
His expression darkened as he skimmed the article. “They moved fast,” he muttered.
The article itself was carefully written, with no direct accusations or outright lies.
Just enough truth twisted into implication. The source chose to remain anonymous. Raising questions
