Sitting alone in his small, dimly lit cell, Andrew’s mind kept circling back to Gideon’s visit. He could still hear Gideon's voice clearly, even though he had left hours ago. Gideon had spoken with such intensity, and Andrew couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling that had settled over him since then. As Andrew stared at the cold, hard floor of his cell, he felt a growing sense of dread about what might come next. He could almost hear the echo of Gideon’s words, making his anxiety worse. "I shouldn't have done this," Andrew muttered under his breath, feeling a deep regret. His head hung low, and he stared at his lap, where his hands were clasped tightly together. "I shouldn't have let him take full advantage of the situation. It was a mistake.” “If only I had said no back then,” Andrew lamented, his voice filled with sorrow as he shifted uncomfortably on the narrow bed in his cell. He leaned against the cold, concrete wall behind him, trying to find some solace in the familia
“Ethan? Ethan!!!” James shouted loudly, his voice filled with urgency as he sprinted through the grand hallways of the mansion. His eyes darted around, frantically searching for any sign of Ethan. He had woken up before dawn and travelled across town just to have an important conversation with him.James hurriedly made his way to Ethan’s bedroom, but to his disappointment, the room was empty. He quickly checked the basement, but Ethan was nowhere to be found there either.“Could he have gone to the company already?” James wondered aloud, his brow furrowed with worry. “That doesn’t make sense. He’s still not fully recovered from his illness. He shouldn’t be going back to work just yet.” With that thought, James resumed his search, growing increasingly anxious.James climbed the ornate staircase two steps at a time, his voice echoing through the mansion with increasing frustration. “Ethan??? Where are you?” His shout grew louder and more exasperated as he reached the top of the stairs
Two weeks later...With Ethan's hands folded behind him, he couldn't help but stand close to the window, his eyes scanning the environment as a lot of thoughts raced through his mind.If there was one thing he wasn't expecting, it was the fact that he'd be living this peacefully for so long now. A smile crept across his lips as he enjoyed the view before him."Things are quiet, and that's heavenly," he mumbled to himself as he continued staring out of his office.Just as he was lost in his peaceful thoughts, a sudden call from behind him caught his attention, making him turn around to see who was calling him in such a way."Ethan? Mr. Ethan!"James stormed into his office, his breaths coming out in short gasps as he panted, trying to catch his breath. Ethan's brows creased as he stared at James in both confusion and anticipation.He wasn't sure why James was in such a state, but one thing was certain: something either good or bad had happened. At this thought, Ethan rushed towards Jam
James watched Ethan down another glass of liquor and felt a growing concern. “I think you should stop drinking now, Ethan,” James said firmly, his voice cutting through the loud music and chatter of the club. He stepped closer to where Ethan was slouched in his seat, clutching a nearly empty bottle of expensive liquor. “You're going to make a mess of yourself if you continue this way,” he added, noticing the unsteady way Ethan was holding the bottle.All of them had come to the city's most exclusive and bustling club to celebrate their recent success. After months of hard work and endless negotiations, they had finally secured a multi-billion dollar contract that would take their company to new heights. The celebration had started off with laughter and high spirits, but as the night wore on, Ethan had taken to drowning himself in drink after drink, his celebratory mood quickly turning into a drunken stupor. The once lively glint in his eyes was now dulled by the effects of the al
Reaching the vehicle, he yanked open the back door and tossed Ethan inside, his movements quick and decisive. Ethan landed in a heap on the seat, still too stunned and drunk to fully process what had happened. James slammed the door shut, his chest heaving with the effort it had taken to get him out of the club. He paused for a moment, rubbing his sore cheek, before heading to the driver’s seat, determined to get Ethan home before he could cause any more trouble.Ethan, still dazed from the alcohol, fumbled clumsily with the door handle, trying to find a way out of the car. His coordination was shot, and his mind foggy; he couldn’t figure out how to open the door, let alone escape. Every attempt he made ended in frustration as he slumped back against the seat, too drunk to understand how trapped he really was.Meanwhile, James settled into the driver’s seat, his patience worn thin by the night’s fight. He turned the key in the ignition, the car roaring to life. Glancing back at
Gradually, Ethan's eyelids fluttered open, revealing the familiar yet oddly distant ceiling of his bedroom. The cool, white surface above him seemed to be watching him, a witness to his confusion and disorientation.As his vision cleared, he noticed a slight frown forming on his face. The ceiling looked the same as always, but something felt off. A gnawing sense of unease began to creep in. With a sense of urgency, he pushed himself upright, his movements sharp and sudden, driven by the need to understand why he felt so out of place in his own home.But just as quickly as he sat up, a sharp, pounding pain erupted in his skull, stopping him in his tracks. His hands instinctively flew to his temples, trying to ease the intense throbbing that seemed to echo with every beat of his heart."Ahhh!" he groaned, his face contorting in pain as his eyes squeezed shut, seeking help from the bright light streaming in through the windows. For a moment, he remained still, trying to steady his br
The drive to the company felt much longer to Ethan than he had expected. He was deep in thought and felt nervous, which made the journey seem endless. Every few moments, he would glance at James, who was sitting right next to him, trying to gauge his mood.Ryker, who was also in the car, noticed Ethan's nervousness and started to think that they might have had a disagreement. However, he decided not to bring it up. James, observing Ethan's restless behaviour, saw him turning his head back and forth, but Ethan quickly looked away and focused on the file James had given him earlier that morning.“You know, Ethan,” James said, breaking the silence, “if you have something to say to me, just say it. Don’t make me guess if you’re upset or something.”Ethan shook his head and mumbled, “It’s nothing…” He avoided looking at James, who was trying to get him to talk.“Alright,” James said, sounding a bit frustrated, “but could you please stop staring at me?” He turned his eyes back to the road
As Ethan walked into the office, a wave of fear and uncertainty hit him hard. His heart pounded in his chest, and his hands felt clammy. The last thing he wanted was to be forced to work with Gideon, the one person he couldn't stand.Ethan couldn’t understand why they would want him to sign a deal with Gideon of all people. It seemed impossible, like some cruel joke. How could they expect him to work alongside his worst enemy?“Gideon, of all investors? Are they out of their minds?” Ethan muttered under his breath, disbelief and frustration mixing in his voice. A scoff slipped out as he shook his head. He made his way over to the large window in his office, gazing out at the city below. The view was calming, a clear difference to the rage churning inside him. He slid his hands into his pockets, trying to find some comfort in the familiar action.For a moment, the peaceful scene outside started to ease his nerves. But just as he began to relax, a loud, mechanical voice echoed inside