Chapter 14: Rumors
778 Words
The next Monday was a disaster.
Not because of the investigation.
Not because of the board.
Not even because of the leaked merger documents.
It was because people were talking.
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The moment Ethan stepped into the office, he felt it.
The glances.
The whispers.
The conversations that stopped the second he walked by.
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His stomach tightened.
News traveled fast in a corporation.
Rumors traveled faster.
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"Ethan."
A familiar voice called out.
He turned.
His friend and fellow intern, Noah Bennett, hurried toward him.
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Noah was one of the first people Ethan had met during orientation.
Friendly.
Talkative.
Completely incapable of minding his own business.
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"Thank God," Noah said dramatically.
"I've been looking for you all morning."
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Ethan groaned.
"That doesn't sound good."
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"It's not."
Noah grabbed his arm and pulled him toward an empty break room.
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The second the door closed, Noah turned around.
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"What exactly is going on between you and the CEO?"
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Ethan nearly choked.
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"What?"
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Noah pointed accusingly.
"See? That's exactly the reaction guilty people have."
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"I am not guilty of anything."
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"Then explain."
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Ethan rubbed his temples.
"Noah—"
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"Half the company thinks you're secretly related."
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"What?"
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"The other half thinks you're dating."
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Ethan stared.
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Noah continued.
"One department thinks you're a corporate spy."
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"That's ridiculous."
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"I know."
Noah nodded seriously.
"My money is on secret dating."
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Ethan grabbed the nearest cushion and threw it at him.
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Noah dodged easily.
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"Violence isn't an answer."
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"It is today."
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For the first time in days, Ethan actually laughed.
A little.
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Noah smiled.
Then his expression softened.
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"Seriously though."
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Ethan looked up.
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"Be careful."
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That made Ethan freeze.
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Not because of the warning.
Because everyone seemed to be saying it lately.
Julian.
Noah.
Even Adrian in his own strange way.
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"What do you know?"
Ethan asked quietly.
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Noah hesitated.
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Then shrugged.
"Only that powerful people don't like it when someone gets special treatment."
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The words settled heavily.
Because Ethan knew exactly what Noah meant.
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And deep down—
he couldn't honestly deny it anymore.
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Adrian treated him differently.
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The realization was uncomfortable.
Because Ethan had never asked for it.
Never wanted it.
And yet everyone else could see it.
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Everyone except him.
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Or maybe he'd simply refused to acknowledge it.
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Later that afternoon, Ethan was summoned to the executive floor again.
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At this point, he was starting to feel like he lived there.
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When he entered Adrian's office, the CEO looked exhausted.
Not physically.
Mentally.
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Several folders covered his desk.
Board reports.
Investigation documents.
Financial projections.
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"Sit."
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Ethan sat.
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For a while, neither spoke.
The silence wasn't awkward anymore.
That realization startled Ethan.
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Eventually Adrian closed a file.
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"The board meeting was moved forward."
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Ethan frowned.
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"Why?"
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"They're pushing for immediate action."
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Ethan's stomach dropped.
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Against him.
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Of course.
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Adrian watched his reaction.
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Then calmly said:
"I won't allow it."
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There it was again.
That certainty.
That refusal to even consider another outcome.
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Ethan leaned forward.
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"Why?"
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The question slipped out before he could stop it.
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Adrian raised an eyebrow.
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"Why what?"
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"Why are you doing this?"
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The room fell silent.
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Ethan continued.
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"You've known me for years."
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A pause.
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"You looked for me."
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Another pause.
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"You recognized me immediately."
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His voice softened.
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"But why?"
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For the first time, Adrian looked genuinely caught off guard.
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Not by the question.
By the honesty behind it.
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The answer took a while.
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When it finally came, it was quiet.
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"Because you matter to me."
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No games.
No avoidance.
No cryptic half-truths.
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Just honesty.
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Ethan's breath caught.
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The room suddenly felt very small.
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Very quiet.
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Very dangerous.
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Before either of them could say anything else—
the office door burst open.
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Neither man had time to react.
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A woman stormed into the room.
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Elegant.
Beautiful.
Confident.
Furious.
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Her gaze landed directly on Ethan.
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Then narrowed.
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"So this is him."
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The room went completely silent.
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Adrian stood immediately.
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For the first time since Ethan had met him—
the CEO looked alarmed.
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And that terrified Ethan more than the woman's arrival.
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Because if Adrian Blackwood was worried—
something was very, very wrong.
- Writer
