Chapter 13: The Accusation
777 Words
Chapter 13: The Accusation
Ethan stared at the folder.
His name stared back.
Black and white.
Clear as day.
Impossible to ignore.
For a moment, he genuinely thought there had to be a mistake.
A typo.
A misunderstanding.
Something.
Anything.
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"This isn't possible."
His voice sounded distant even to himself.
Julian remained silent.
Adrian's expression was unreadable.
Dangerously unreadable.
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Ethan opened the folder with trembling fingers.
Inside were printed emails.
Access logs.
Meeting schedules.
Documents connected to the confidential merger project.
A project he had briefly assisted with under Adrian's supervision.
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"What is this?" Ethan asked.
Julian crossed his arms.
"Evidence."
The word felt like a punch.
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"No."
Ethan shook his head immediately.
"I didn't leak anything."
His heart was racing now.
Fast.
Violent.
Uncontrollable.
"I don't even have access to half of these files."
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Julian nodded.
"I know."
That made Ethan pause.
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"You know?"
Julian sighed.
"Which is why this whole thing stinks."
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Adrian finally spoke.
One sentence.
Cold.
Precise.
"Who submitted the report?"
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Julian's expression darkened.
"Board Member Harrison."
The name seemed to mean something.
Because Adrian's eyes narrowed instantly.
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"You think it's him."
Julian shrugged.
"I think someone wants a convenient target."
His gaze shifted toward Ethan.
"And interns make excellent targets."
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The room fell silent.
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Ethan had worked too hard for this opportunity.
Too hard to have it destroyed by something he didn't do.
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"What happens now?"
The question slipped out before he could stop it.
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Julian looked at Adrian.
Adrian looked at the file.
Then back at Ethan.
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The answer came immediately.
"They investigate."
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Ethan's stomach dropped.
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"And if they think I did it?"
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Another silence.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
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Then Adrian answered.
"They won't."
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The certainty in his voice startled everyone.
Even Julian.
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"Adrian," Julian warned carefully.
But Adrian didn't look away from Ethan.
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"They won't."
He repeated it.
Calm.
Absolute.
Like it was already decided.
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Ethan should have felt relieved.
Instead, he felt uneasy.
Because Adrian wasn't saying he believed Ethan.
He was saying something else.
Something much more dangerous.
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As if nobody would be allowed to accuse Ethan in the first place.
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That evening, Ethan left the executive floor with the folder still fresh in his mind.
Every employee suddenly felt suspicious.
Every glance felt loaded.
Every whispered conversation sounded like gossip.
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Was everyone already talking?
Did they already think he was guilty?
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The elevator ride felt endless.
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When the doors opened, he almost collided with someone.
"Whoa."
Strong hands caught his shoulders.
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Ethan blinked.
Then groaned.
"Julian."
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The lawyer smiled slightly.
"Good reflexes, right?"
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Ethan rolled his eyes.
"I am not in the mood."
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Julian's smile faded immediately.
"Yeah."
His voice was softer now.
More genuine.
"I figured."
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For a moment neither spoke.
Then Julian handed him a small coffee.
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Ethan frowned.
"What is this?"
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"A peace offering."
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"For what?"
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Julian shrugged.
"For the fact that your life is becoming a disaster."
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Despite everything, Ethan laughed.
A short, reluctant laugh.
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"There he is."
Julian pointed dramatically.
"The human being I was trying to find."
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Ethan shook his head.
"You're weird."
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"Thank you."
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The humor faded quickly.
Then Julian became serious.
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"Listen carefully."
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Ethan's smile disappeared.
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Julian glanced around the hallway.
Making sure nobody was listening.
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Then he lowered his voice.
"Someone is setting you up."
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Ethan's stomach tightened.
"I figured that much."
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"No."
Julian's expression hardened.
"You don't understand."
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The hallway suddenly felt smaller.
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"This isn't just corporate politics."
Julian continued.
"This is personal."
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Ethan frowned.
"What do you mean?"
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Julian hesitated.
Longer than usual.
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Then finally said:
"Because whoever is doing this knows exactly how much Adrian cares about you."
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Silence.
Immediate.
Heavy.
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Ethan stared at him.
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Julian exhaled slowly.
Like he had already said too much.
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Then, before Ethan could ask another question—
a voice echoed from behind them.
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"Julian."
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Both men turned.
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Adrian stood at the end of the hallway.
Expression calm.
Eyes anything but.
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Julian sighed.
"See?"
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"What?"
Ethan asked.
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Julian pointed toward Adrian.
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"That's the look."
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Ethan frowned.
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"The look?"
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Julian smiled faintly.
Tired.
Knowing.
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"The reason people are starting to notice."
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And for the first time—
Ethan realized that maybe the biggest danger wasn't the accusation against him.
Maybe it was the fact that Adrian Blackwood was no longer hiding how much Ethan mattered.
- Writer
