Chapter Twenty-Five: The Name on the Page
1232 Words
The report landed on Ethan’s desk just before noon.
It was thick, clipped neatly, marked CONFIDENTIAL on the cover. Ethan barely glanced at it at first. Development reports were routine—numbers, timelines, partnerships. He flipped through the pages while sipping his coffee, half-listening to his assistant giving updates.
“—and the legal team needs your approval by Friday,” his assistant, Mark, said.
“Mm-hmm,” Ethan replied absently.
Then he saw the name.
He stopped turning the page when he saw something familiar... Lee Strategic Development Group: Managing Partner: Daniel Lee.
Ethan stared at it for a long moment.
“Sir?” Mark said carefully. “Is something wrong?”
Ethan leaned back in his chair, eyes still on the page. “How long has this firm been in discussion with us?”
Mark checked his tablet. “Initial talks started two months ago. Finalized last week. It’s a solid partnership—strong international backing.”
Ethan nodded slowly. “Why wasn’t this flagged for me earlier?”
“It went through standard channels. Nothing unusual came up in due diligence.”
Ethan closed the folder. “Cancel my lunch.”
“Sir?”
“I need time.”
Mark hesitated. “Is the partnership an issue?”
Ethan met his gaze. “No. I just need to review it personally.”
After Mark left, Ethan reopened the report.
Daniel Lee.
The name sat there calmly, like it hadn’t just shifted something in his chest.
Clara had said the name once. Not with too much detail, but it's already enough.
Her ex-lover before he came to the picture... Daniel Lee.
Ethan exhaled slowly and stood up, walking toward the window. The city stretched below him, busy and indifferent.
So this was it.
The reason for her distraction. The reason she’d gone quiet.
He picked up the phone and dialed Mark again.
“Get me everything we have on Lee Strategic Development Group,” Ethan said.
“Past projects. Current ones. Especially anything connected to New York.”
“Right away,” Mark replied.
By mid-afternoon, Ethan had a full profile on his desk.
Daniel Lee was successful, an ambitious man with a clear record. His firm specialized in redevelopment projects—urban spaces, historic properties.
Ethan’s jaw tightened.
Historic properties.
He leaned back, fingers steepled together.
So Daniel wasn’t just back in the country. He was circling dangerously close to Clara’s world.
The irony wasn’t lost on him.
=======================================
When Ethan arrived home that evening, Clara was already there. She sat at the dining table, laptop open, papers neatly arranged.
“Hi,” Ethan said.
She looked up. “You’re home early.”
“Changed my schedule.”
She smiled faintly. “Long day?”
“Yes,” he replied honestly. “How about you?”
“Busy,” she said. “We’re reviewing potential partners for future projects.”
Ethan paused. “Any interesting names?”
She hesitated—just for a second.
“Nothing finalized,” she said. “Just early discussions.”
He nodded. “I see.”
They ate dinner quietly.
Halfway through, Ethan set his fork down.
“Clara,” he said calmly. “I saw a development report today.”
She looked up immediately. “Okay.”
“One of the partner firms listed was Lee Strategic Development Group.”
Her face went still.
“I thought so,” she said quietly.
“You knew?”
“Yes.”
“How long?”
“A few weeks,” she replied. “Nothing official on my side. Just… conversations.”
Ethan watched her closely. “And Daniel?”
She took a breath. “He’s back. He reached out professionally.”
“Only professionally?” Ethan asked gently.
She met his eyes. “Yes.”
He believed her. That wasn’t the problem.
“I wish you’d told me,” he said.
“I didn’t know how,” she replied honestly. “And I didn’t want to make it bigger than it needed to be.”
Ethan nodded slowly. “Is it big?”
She looked down. “I don’t know yet.”
They sat in silence for a moment.
“I’m not angry,” Ethan said. “I just don’t like surprises.”
“I understand,” Clara replied. “You deserved to know.”
“Yes,” he agreed. “I did.”
She looked uneasy. “Are you going to cancel the partnership?”
Ethan shook his head. “No. This isn’t about business decisions made out of personal discomfort.”
She seemed relieved. “Thank you.”
“But,” he added, “we need to be clear.”
“About what?”
“About boundaries,” he said. “Professional and personal.”
She nodded. “I agree.”
==========================================
Later that night, Ethan stood alone in his study, phone pressed to his ear.
“Daniel Lee,” the voice on the other end said.
“This is Ethan Cole,” Ethan replied evenly.
There was a brief pause. “I assumed I’d hear from you eventually.”
“Let’s be direct,” Ethan said. “You’re partnering with my company.”
“Yes.”
“And you have a history with my wife.”
Another pause. Longer this time...
“Yes,” Daniel said. “I do.”
“I’m not here to threaten you,” Ethan continued. “I’m here to set expectations.”
Daniel let out a quiet breath. “I figured.”
“Any interaction with Clara stays professional,” Ethan said. “Nothing else.”
“That was always the intention,” Daniel replied.
“Good,” Ethan said. “Then we won’t have a problem.”
After the call ended, Ethan stayed still for a long moment.
He felt calm. Too calm.
The next day, Clara came home later than usual. She looked tired.
“Rough meeting?” Ethan asked.
“Yes,” she said, slipping off her shoes. “Daniel was there.”
“And?”
“He was polite,” she said. “Careful. Almost too careful.”
Ethan nodded. “I spoke with him.”
Her head snapped up. “You did?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I wanted to be sure first,” he said. “It was brief.”
She studied his face. “Did he say anything… personal?”
“No.”
She exhaled in relief. “Good.”
They sat on opposite ends of the couch.
“I don’t want this to come between us,” Clara said quietly.
Ethan turned toward her. “It already touched us. That doesn’t mean it has to divide us.”
She looked at him, eyes searching. “You’re handling this very calmly.”
He smiled faintly. “I don’t have many other choices.”
“That’s not fair,” she said. “You could be angry.”
“I could,” he admitted. “But that wouldn’t help.”
She nodded. “Thank you. For trusting me.”
“I do,” he said. “Even when I don’t like the situation.”
"I understand. I promise I will never do anything to ruin your reputation and ruin your family name..." Clara promised with sincerity.
Ethan forces out a smile, but deep inside him, he will never give up on Clara without a fight.
- Writer
