Blood Ties

Chapter 4

Ethan

My New York office was one of my favorite places in the world. Floor-to-ceiling windows framed the city skyline, stretching as far as the eye could see. It made me feel like I was sitting right on top of the city. Dark mahogany furniture filled the space, polished to perfection, contrasting against the modern steel fixtures. A custom Italian leather couch sat in the corner, accompanied by a fully stocked bar, though I barely drank. Everything in this room, from the rare art on the walls to the imported marble flooring, spoke of power, wealth, and control.

It was my very first office. When my father stepped down and made me president of Caelum Group, I was like a kid who just discovered crack for the first time. I needed to prove a point to myself, to my family, and to the world. This office was designed with that singular goal in mind. Seven years later, I’d achieved more than I set out to achieve, and the office now served as a reminder that I could do anything I wanted if I put my mind to it.

However, my mind was preoccupied with the woman who wanted nothing to do with me.

“You’re joking,” Michael said, sprawled on the leather couch, his tie loosened and an amused smirk on his face. “Eve Carlisle actually managed to impress you?”

I leaned back in my chair, rolling a whiskey tumbler between my fingers. “Not impressed,” I corrected. “Intrigued.”

He gave me an amused look, “Same thing, man.”

I exhaled, shaking my head. “She’s nothing like she was described.”

He gasped dramatically, “You mean she’s not boring and stuck up?”

“Well, she’s anything but boring, I’ll tell you that.”

“And wasn’t she supposed to be easy to deal with? I don’t know, the kind that just does what she’s told?”

“Wrong again, my friend. She actually has a spine and a sharp tongue.”

Michael whistled, “Better you than me.”

The problem was, I didn’t even mind. It took me a while, but I finally admitted to myself that I was happy she could stand up for herself; it made me respect her more. But that was something I couldn’t quite explain to Michael yet.

“Can you blame her?” I asked instead, “She’s angry, yes. But there’s something else beneath it. I don’t think she’s ever really had a choice in anything, and now I’m just one more thing being forced on her.”

Michael scoffed. “Welcome to the world of arranged marriages, my friend.”

I shot him a look, and he held up his glass in a toast. He was also a victim of the system, and both he and his wife- well, ex-wife- were barely old enough to understand what it meant to be with one person for the rest of their lives. It took a couple of years, but they realized that they didn’t want to be with each other for the rest of their lives, and they had a quiet divorce. I’d known Michael all my life; I’d never seen him as happy as he was after the divorce. He was finally free; the perfect kid had disappointed his parents for the first time in his life, and it was a high on its own. He didn’t stop at the divorce- oh, no, Micheal had a lot of scores to settle before he wore himself out. Thankfully, he stopped just short of total ruin.

“Let’s just hope the divorce is easy.” Michael said, “Not everyone can be as lucky as I was.”

“Or maybe we won’t get a divorce.”

He rolled off the couch and fell hard on the floor. When he looked up at me, his eyes were pretty much about to pop out of his head. “What?”

I shrugged, “Maybe, just maybe, we’ll make it work.”

He looked like he’d seen a ghost. If I didn’t think he was seriously shocked, I would have laughed.

“You’re really serious about this.” He gasped.

I let out a low chuckle. ’I am, Micheal. And get off the floor, man.”

Michael blinked. “Huh. That’s… surprising.” He got off the floor and perched on the couch, looking unsure of himself

Was it really surprising that I’d want to settle down? I mean, I never actively pursued it before; all my dates were casual and feeling, but I always imagined that I’d settle down with a woman like Eve. She was perfect. And well, my parents had found a way to stick together for more than thirty years; I wanted that as well.

I tapped my fingers against the glass. “I don’t think she realizes it, but I get where she’s coming from. If my father had worked me to the bone for years, only to hand my birthright over to some stranger, I’d be furious too.”

Michael let out a deep sigh, dragging a hand down his face. “You’re really trying to understand her- Man, what the hell’s wrong with you? Married? Do you even know how hard that s**t is? Women are crazy. They don’t know what they want. If her own father won’t let her run the company, doesn’t that tell you anything?”

“Charles Carlisle was hardly a sane man, Mike?”

“He had three daughters. Can you blame the man?”

I met his gaze. “I want to help her. I’m going to help her.”

Michael snorted. “That’s rich, coming from the man who told her ‘the deal is airtight.’” He gulped down his drink and poured himself another, “Real sympathetic, Ethan.”

I sighed, pressing my fingers against my temple. “Yeah. I might have made the wrong impression.”

Michael laughed. “Might have? She probably wants to strangle you in your sleep.”

“Exactly,” I muttered. “And I don’t know how to change that. I was just blindsided, you know.”

“No, I don’t.”

“Come on, I walked in there ready to have a civil conversation about the rules of engagement. I wasn’t prepared to be asked to walk away. I was basically under attack. But I’ve had time to think about it, and I want to make amends. Help me out, man.”

Michael took a deep breath and leaned forward, elbows on his knees, as if deep in thought. Then he snapped his fingers. “Flowers.”

I frowned. “What?”

“Send her flowers,” he said, rolling his eyes. “Women love flowers. A nice, expensive bouquet. White roses. Maybe some peonies.

Throw in a little note—make it something charming but non-threatening.”

I let out a short laugh, shaking my head. “Eve Carlisle is not the kind of woman who falls for pretty flowers.”

Michael scoffed. “They all do. It’s science.”

“She’s not like other women,” I said, thinking back to the woman I’d met with two nights ago.

He gave me a look. “Oh? And how would you know that, exactly?”

I hesitated. “She’s just different, Mike.”

“I don’t hear reasons, Ethan.”

“Let’s just say I know her, ok? I know that she’s not our average socialite.”

Michael gave me a long look, then his eyes went to slit before his lips stretched in a wide smile. “You had her investigated.”

I didn’t respond.

Michael’s eyes widened. “Oh my God, you did!” He sat up straight, looking at me like I had just confessed to murder. “Jesus, Ethan, what the hell did you find?”

I got out of my seat, suddenly feeling uncomfortable. “That she’s either single or really good at hiding her relationships.”

Michael frowned. “What… no boyfriend?”

“Not even an ex.”

“Even in high school?”

I shook my head. “No high school sweetheart. No past lovers. Nothing. Not a single trace.”

Michael let out a low whistle. “Well, that’s interesting.”

I started to pace. “It is, isn’t it?”

Because what kind of woman made it to her late twenties without a single known romantic entanglement? Either she was impossibly private, or…

Or she had never let anyone get close enough.

“Maybe she’s into girls,” Micheal said with a shrug.

“If she was, we’d have found something. I don’t think that is.”

Not for the first time in the last two days, I found myself pondering the enigma that was Eve Carlisle.

Michael resumed his initial position on the couch. “Alright, then. If flowers won’t work, what’s your next move?”

I considered that for a long moment.

Eve Carlisle didn’t need romance gestures. She didn’t need charm, empty words, or grand displays.

She needed something real.

Something solid.

And I was going to figure out exactly what that was.

The sharp knock on my office door cut through my thoughts, pulling me back into the present.

“Come in.”

The door swung open, revealing Derek, my assistant, his face tight with urgency. He never interrupted unless it was important.

“Sir,” he said, stepping inside briskly. “We have a situation.”

“Go on.”

“It’s Marcus Langford.”

That name was enough to put me on edge. Langford had been circling Carlisle Enterprises like a vulture ever since Richard Carlisle died. He was a ruthless businessman, the kind who thrived on exploiting weakness. And right now, Eve’s position was anything but secure.

Derek continued, “He’s been making moves—subtly at first, but now he’s getting bolder. He’s been reaching out to board members, trying to stir doubt about Eve’s leadership. And right now, he’s at Carlisle headquarters.”

I balled my hands to fists. “Doing what exactly?” I seethed.

“Meeting with the executives. From what I’ve gathered, he’s pressing them to consider alternative leadership—insinuating that Eve isn’t capable of running the company alone.”

Of course, he was. It was exactly the kind of opportunity a man like Langford would seize, leveraging the uncertainty surrounding Eve’s inheritance.

I pushed back from my desk and stood. “Where’s my car?”

“Waiting downstairs.”

I grabbed my coat. “We’ll talk later, Mike.”

“Say hi to Marcus for me.”

I didn’t even bother thinking of a reply.

Fifteen minutes later, I pulled up in front of Carlisle Enterprises. The glass tower loomed over me; its sleek, modern architecture was a symbol of the family’s empire. I didn’t waste time admiring the view. I stepped out of the car, buttoned my coat, and headed straight inside.

I’d been here enough times to know my way around. The executive floors were on the nineteenth floor. I was sure the staff at the front desk would have tipped someone off about my presence.

The elevator doors slid apart to reveal a slender woman. “Good day, Mr. Donovan. I’m afraid—”

“You should be,” I said, walking past her straight to the boardroom.

She kept up with me in sky-high heels. “Ms. Carlisle is currently—Sir, you can’t go in there, ” she all but yelled as I pushed through the heavy wooden doors.

The room filled with men in tailored suits went quiet as I walked inside.

At the head of the table sat Eve, her expression blank but her eyes burning with quiet fury.

“I’m terribly sorry, Ms. Carlisle. I tried to stop him, but he wouldn’t listen. I’ll have security-”

“It’s fine, Lana,” Eve said. “Please, close the door.” It was surprising how she managed to sound calm when she looked like she was about to jump across the table and do bodily harm.

“Well, well, if it isn’t the great Ethan Donovan.” standing at the far end of the room, smirking like he owned the place, was Marcus Langford. “To what do we owe the pleasure?”

I slid my hands into my pockets, taking my time as I let my gaze sweep across the room. “I heard there was a meeting. Thought I’d sit in.”

Langford raised an eyebrow. “And what business do you have here?”

I frowned, “Didn’t you hear? I’m Eve’s fiancé.” Then I offered him a big smile. “As her fiance, I have a stake in this company. Which means I have every right to be here.”

The silence that followed was deafening.

“I’ll just grab a seat,” I said, literally grabbing an empty and dragging it until I was beside Eve.

All eyes turned to her.

She stiffened in her chair. I could feel the conflict radiating off her, the hesitation, the irritation. But after a long moment, she lifted her chin and said, “He’s right. As per my father’s will, when we’re married, the company will belong to Ethan.”

Langford chuckled, shaking his head. “Ah, so that’s how it is.” He turned back to me, his smirk deepening. “This is quite the arrangement. But don’t think for a second that I’ll just sit back and let this happen.” He straightened his tie, but I saw his hands shake.

“I’ll be looking into this. Thoroughly.”

With that, he turned and strode out of the room, leaving a tense silence in his wake.

Eve exhaled sharply, pushing back her chair and standing. She didn’t say a word as she stormed out.

I followed.

She led us straight to her office, slamming the door behind her. The damned thing almost broke my nose. Despite common sense, I walked in after her and barely had time to take in the space before she whirled around, fire in her eyes.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” she hissed.

I tucked my hands in my pockets and shrugged. “Helping you.”

She scoffed. “Helping me? You just waltzed in there, claimed to be my fiancé, and practically handed Langford more ammunition!”

“He already had enough ammunition,” I pointed out. “Now he knows he won’t be facing you alone.”

She crossed her arms. “I don’t need you to fight my battles.”

I studied her carefully. “Are you sure about that?”

Her jaw tensed, but she said nothing.

Good thing she’s neither delusional nor a liar.

I took a step closer. “Look, I know we didn’t start off on the right foot. And I know you don’t trust me. But I’m on your side, Eve.”

She didn’t respond.

“At least I’d like to be.” Then I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “I shouldn’t have handled dinner the way I did. I came in expecting you to be a certain way, and that was a mistake. I’m sorry.”

Her face remained expressionless; I couldn’t tell what went on in her head.

I continued, “I know you don’t like this, but neither of us really has a choice. So let me help you.”

For a long moment, she said nothing. Then, slowly, she exhaled. “Fine.”

It wasn’t exactly trust. But it was something.

I smiled slightly. “Good. Now, let’s start over.”

She narrowed her eyes. “How did you even know Langford was here?”

I grinned. “A little bird told me.”

Her eyes darkened. “You have a spy in my building?”

I shrugged. “I’m only protecting our best interests.”

She studied me for a moment as if weighing whether or not to believe me.

Finally, she sighed. “Whatever.”

I glanced at my watch. “I’ll call you.”

She rolled her eyes. “Sure you will.”

I reached for her hand, lifting it gently—surprisingly, she didn’t pull back—and pressed a kiss to the back of her fingers. Her breath hitched—just slightly.

“Try not to miss me too much.” I winked.

With that, I turned and walked out without looking back. I would have paid good money to know what she was thinking, to at least see the look on her face, but it would have ruined the effect.

At least one thing was certain; she’d be thinking about me long after I was gone.