Paul came to the rescue, shielding Ethan from the relentless paparazzi. Ethan wanted to keepthis tuxedo clean through and through. Suzan handpicked the suit herself. She should be here,Ethan thought guiltily. It wasn't healthy for such a woman to be at home. Yes, it was her duty tokeep him professionally satisfied, yet he couldn't shake the feeling that Suzan should be herewith him."Are you missing her?" the old man inquired, gesturing towards the camera. He gave a dazzlingsmile that almost blinded Ethan.Instead of responding, Ethan sighed and rolled his eyes. If he hadn't been certain of the oldman's loyalty, it might have seemed like the old man was stealing the spotlight. He, too, raisedhis hands and smiled.He didn't know what his smile did to the paparazzi.They all swarm around him with their cameras. As the flashes of the cameras blinded him,Ethan tried to maintain his composure.“Jesus Christ!” He muttered under his breath, not used to such attention. On
As expected, the press erupted into a frenzy, their cameras clicking furiously as they tried tocapture every word.Ethan felt his smile grow. He felt a sense of satisfaction at finally taking control of the situation,even if just for a moment. Clearing his throat, he ignored the old man's curious look.Just as he entered the large hall, someone bumped into him. He just wasn't expecting thatperson to be Rebekah. Ethan threw the old man an annoyed look. He should have taken care ofher that day. What the hell was she doing here?“Oh my God!” Rebekah yelled, but then she paused at the sight of him. Her face lit up with falsecheerfulness. Ethan swore he knew what she was going to do next.Humiliate him for the other day."Ethan? If it isn't, Ethan! I fancy seeing you here. How on earth did you manage to snag aninvitation to this event?" Ethan raised an eyebrow at her overly cheery greeting. He felt repulsedwhen her gaze raked over his suit hungrily.Was that the first th
There was something about Ethan, and the people could see it. He wasn't an ordinary man whochose to go after some thief. No. He was a man who had lived among thieves before. It knewthe man's every move, and soon they were circling a large table. Ethan took a deep breath tosteady his nerves.Clever, old man, clever. Ethan had three things the others didn't have—instincts, lightningspeed, and a dramatic confrontation.The thief, on the other hand, wasn't happy with the turnout. Earlier this afternoon, he received agreat tip about some donations going on. He knew rich people cared less about donations. Healso knew that if he took the box, nothing would happen. The thief didn't expect someone likeEthan to be there at the right time. While they were thinking of escape routes, Ethan sprang intoaction with the three things he’s got. First, his instincts kicked in as he moved in the oppositedirection to intercept the thief. Not expecting it, the thief tried to jump over th
Meanwhile, desperate screams bounced off the walls of a basement."Let me go!" Suzan's voice rang out, filled with fear and desperation as she struggled againstthe grip of the mafia boss.“And why would we do that?” The Mafia boss snarled. His expression twisted into a cruel sneeras he tightened his grip on Suzan's arm.Suzan coughed out in pain. “ “What do you want from me, you brutes?”With a savage grin, the mafia boss landed a heavy blow to the side of her face, the force of theimpact sending her staggering backward. She slammed her forehead against the wall, gaspingas reddish liquid trickled down her face.“Call Ethan. Tell him we have her.” The Mafia boss instructed his minions.______________“...and your worst nightmare.” The buff man growled, pulling Ethan into a bone-crushing hug thatelicited a deep groan from the young man.Ethan didn't expect a bear hug at first glance. He swore he heard his bones crack. "Well, theregoes my suit," he grimaced, his voice
The pathway seemed to clear, revealing Sandra Walton seated at a nearby table, sipping redwine. There was no difference between the swirling reddish liquid and her dark lips. It gave hera haughty look that taunted Ethan.Her attire was impeccably tailored, and with every word she spoke, she seemed to grow moreconfident. Her piercing gaze left Ethan feeling exposed and vulnerable. It was as if she knewsomething he didn't.That unsettled him greatly.She seemed to enjoy the stunned silence that followed her statement. "You may think you're thehero of the day, Ethan, but I see right through you," Sandra declared, her tone filled with aniciness that made Ethan shiver involuntarily.He has prepared for everything, but not this. She was damn unpredictable! "You've orchestratedthis entire charade, haven't you? You're not fooling anyone with your false smiles and emptypromises."Ethan felt a cold sweat bead on his forehead as Sandra's piercing gaze bore into him, strippingaway
The old man and Paul stopped in their tracks, their faces frozen with shock."What do you mean by 'old ways'?" The old man asked urgently. The news about Suzan hadthrown into the gutter what had otherwise been a successful event, and he wasn't happy aboutit.Unshed tears brimmed in Ethan's eyes as he spoke. "I have to save her."The old man's frustration radiated off him. "Can you give us a moment, Paul?" Once they werealone, he pressed Ethan for more information. "What do you mean by 'old ways'? You barelyknow this woman!""But you chose her to work for me for a reason!" Ethan's voice was filled with desperation. "Youmust tell me why!"The old man seemed to shrink under Ethan's intense gaze. He could no longer deny it. "You'reright. I selected your staff carefully."Ethan's heart ached at the thought of Suzan. She was more than just a servant. She was afriend who had always been there for him. Her unwavering support and understanding hadmeant the world to him. "S
“We need to invite him over and hear what he has to say,” Ethan insisted. Of course, Ethanwasn't fond of Alex, not after the way he had treated Lauren when they were still together. Whywould Alex sleep with Lauren knowing she had a boyfriend if not to spite him? But if there was achance Alex had valuable information about Suzan's whereabouts, Ethan was willing to putaside his personal feelings for the greater good. His mind didn't consider the fact that Alex couldbe pulling his legs or trying to get back into his good graces. After all, Ethan had fired him on thespot. This time, Ethan would do more than fire him if he came here with intangible news.On the other hand, the old man didn't think it was good to invite an enemy into the house. Itcould be all his plan! His disapproval was evident on his face even as Ethan made his decision.His brows wrinkled in skepticism. “I don't think so."“What?” Ethan inquired, meeting the old man's gaze with confusion. “What do you m
We should ask him how he knew we were searching for her! Even the cops are not aware ofthis," the old man insisted, still holding onto his suspicions about Alex. “Those vile peoplehaven't contacted you in weeks! How do we know he hasn't harmed her yet?”“He hasn't,” Ethan reassured calmly, though the old man remained unconvinced. "What do youknow? I have lived on the streets more than you, so I know when a man is being insincere," hecountered. “Alex isn't lying.” Ethan took a gulp of water to steady his nerves, continuing. "Alexhas been spying on me. He wants revenge for firing him from the company."The old man's eyes widened in shock at the revelation. "Spying on you? This is worse than Ithought,” he exclaimed, sounding worried.Ethan nodded solemnly. "And I have a feeling that Alex is connected to a much larger operation,possibly even with the Mafia boss," he added, his voice low and serious.The mention of the Mafia sent a shiver down the old man's spine, his exp