The Callous CEO

Chapter 5Why is she here

"Mr. Ethan," Kate called out, bringing him back to the present. He looked at her with wide eyes, still lost in his thoughts.

"What did you say?" he asked, his mind racing to catch up.

She noticed his distraction and realized that everything was happening too quickly for him. It was important to prepare him mentally.

"I asked if you're okay," she repeated, her voice filled with concern.

He cleared his throat, feeling the dryness in his mouth. Kate wasted no time and handed him a glass of water. He thanked her and took a sip, quickly draining the entire glass. It became evident to her that he hadn't even eaten that day.

Concerned about his pale face, she prepared some sandwiches. Ethan looked at her for a moment, unsure, but realizing she wouldn't back down, he accepted them. He devoured the sandwiches, satisfying his hungry stomach.

"I'm sorry about the way I addressed you earlier. I just wanted to get her off my back," he apologized, taking a drink of water.

"It's okay, sir. Whatever you want me to do, I will do it. I'm only a maid of the Willow family, and your every order must be followed," she replied, pausing for a moment.

She decided it was time to disclose everything.

"And you, Mr. Ethan Willow, are the sole heir of this family," she dropped the bombshell.

"What?" he exclaimed loudly, causing the driver to glance back momentarily. But he quickly refocused on the road, as if what had just happened was an illusion, never to be acknowledged. He was a professional, after all.

"Is this some kind of joke?" he asked, his voice filled with skepticism. He thought they were playing a cruel prank on him.

"What do you mean I'm the heir to the Willow family? Have you mistaken me for someone else? Or is it just because my name is Ethan Willow? Please don't confuse me with someone else. Stop the car and let me get out. I can't handle any more disappointments," he said angrily.

"Please, calm down," Kate tried to reason, hoping to prevent him from making a rash decision.

"How can I be calm when you're saying this? Why would the Willow family, who controls the entire county, the richest family here, have a broke heir like me? I've been played by my wife for years, left without a job, without any income. Do you think this is some kind of television show, and you're trying to boost ratings? Please, stop the car and let me out. I'm not ready for anything like this," he vented, frustration consuming him.

Ethan wanted this to end before he became too entangled in a situation he couldn't handle.

"Please, give me a chance to explain. I think my words came out wrong," Kate pleaded, clearing her throat before continuing.

"I am Kate. I have been working for the Willow family for a very long time, and I am also a secretary at HD Company. And you, Mr. Ethan Willow, are the sole heir to everything in the family. That's why I am here for you," she explained, hoping to ease his anger.

She smiled, fully understanding his reaction.

She remained silent for a moment, then pulled out her phone and made a call. It was answered after the first ring.

"Yes," Kate responded, nodding her head as she listened to the instructions on the phone.

"I have the young master here, but he still seems to be fixated on the fact that he isn't the one we're after," she said, smiling as she looked at Ethan, who still wore a confused expression on his face.

"Okay," she replied before ending the call, maintaining her wide smile as she gazed at him.

Ethan sensed that she had something up her sleeve with the way she was acting. He checked his phone's notifications, thinking he must be hallucinating.

"Is this some kind of scam?" he asked, shock evident in his voice as he looked at Kate.

Kate sat there, smiling but saying nothing, allowing him to draw his own conclusions.

Just as he was about to examine it more closely, a strange number called his phone. He hesitated for a moment, thinking it might be related to the now-empty account he had never deposited any money into.

"Congratulations, Mr. Willow. Your account has been credited with one billion dollars. We are delighted you chose our bank. Please continue to work with us," the bank manager personally called him to congratulate him and shower him with flattery.

If he still believed this was a scam, then he would be an even bigger fool than he had ever been.

Ethan looked at Kate in disbelief and asked, "So it's true, I'm the heir. But why was I abandoned?"

Kate nodded, knowing that he was starting to be convinced, at least to some extent.

"Please, I am not in a position to tell you everything, but there is more you need to see. Please prepare yourself for what I'm about to show you," she said, her excitement palpable.

She was relieved that he was finally beginning to come around.

Ethan watched as the car entered a grand and beautiful gate. He expected to reach the house shortly after entering, but even after five minutes, the car continued to drive. Along the way, he witnessed sights he had never seen in his entire life, leaving him deeply impressed.

Finally, the car came to a stop, and the chauffeur hurriedly opened the door for him.

He was taken aback when he laid his eyes upon the mansion before him. Even the act of having the car door opened for him felt like a luxury he had never experienced.

The mansion resembled an ancient palace, grand and stunning in its appearance.

He noticed a line of people outside, seemingly waiting to welcome him.

It felt as though he had stumbled into a drama series, unable to believe that such things could happen in real life.

"Welcome, young master," they all greeted him, bowing their heads in respect.

He even saw Kate and the chauffeur who had brought him also joining in the gesture of reverence.

Overwhelmed, Ethan tried to find the right words to respond, but they eluded him.

A man who appeared to be in his early fifties approached him.

"Welcome, young master. I am Steve, the butler of this mansion. Please come inside for some refreshments. You must be tired from the journey," he said respectfully.

Surprised and almost as if controlled by an invisible force, Ethan followed Steve into the mansion. Everything was new and unfamiliar to him, leaving him unsure of how to react.

He was served with dishes he had never been able to afford in his entire life. He ate what he could, still feeling like he was living in a dream and waiting for the moment when he would wake up.

Kate led him into the study room, where the weight of the situation began to sink in.

"Here are all the possessions of the Willows, and now you are in charge of them all," she said, handing him a large file that also contained a DNA test result.

"So I truly belong to the Willow family?" he asked, needing confirmation to dispel any lingering doubts that this might all be a figment of his imagination.

"Yes, young master," she replied, her voice filled with assurance.

Ethan remained silent, his mind racing as he tried to process the enormity of the situation. He opened the file and started reading the contents. As he turned the pages, he realized that the HD company, hailed as the biggest and most profitable company in the entire country, represented only a mere 1% of the vast wealth owned by the Willows.

Ethan felt a wave of dizziness wash over him, wondering how he had won such an unimaginable jackpot in life.He glanced at Kate, who wore a knowing smile but remained tight-lipped."All of this is mine now?" he asked, needing confirmation once again.

"Yes, young master," she responded, her smile widening. Kate couldn't help but wonder how he would react when he saw the tangible evidence of his newfound wealth. She feared he might experience such a shock that he would need to be rushed to the hospital, unable to handle the overwhelming revelation.

"Shit!" Ethan cursed, his head spinning as he continued to read through the documents, each revelation sending shockwaves through his system.