Ethan re-entered the KG Entertainment office, watched by the employees until Ethan went into an elevator. Ethan was already thinking about what he wanted to do to Eve. The evidence he got helped threaten Eve so that she would confess.
It didn't take long for Ethan to reach the floor where the directors worked. He clearly saw Eve's office; the man stepped slowly toward the room and opened it.
Hannah didn't seem to be holding any files in her hands. Eve was still behind her desk, while the man was already sitting on the chair before Eve's desk. The door opened, and Hannah's eyes snapped open to see Ethan had arrived alone.
"How was it?" asked Hannah, curious.
"Unfortunately, I got information that might affect someone's position in this building," Ethan said, walking over to Eve, who looked confused and scared.
The man who had been sitting on a chair before Eve's desk started to stand up and gave the chair to Ethan. Ethan turned his head sharply and then focused his eyes on Eve.
"Is there anything you want to say before I tell you everything?" Ethan asked.
Eve stopped what she was doing, typing on her computer keyboard. She dared to look into Ethan's eyes with her heart pounding, afraid of what Ethan might find.
"What do you mean? I don't have anything to tell you," Eve said, insisting on showing that everything was fine.
Ethan gave her a crooked smile. He took out his phone and played voice recordings of the talents working under KG Entertainment. Alice's voice clearly answered all Ethan's questions, especially about their facilities and rights.
The high volume made the voice recording clearly audible; even Hannah could hear it without getting closer to the sound source. Eve and the men in this place were shocked, their faces turned white, and their hands trembled with fear.
Just as Ethan played the voice recording of the funding part of the company, Eve suddenly stood up from her sitting position on the chair, walked over to Ethan and seemed to start bowing obediently.
Her voice was hoarse, begging for forgiveness and saying she was at fault for the financial deficit. She said she cut the monthly money for the talents for her profit.
Ethan turned his body around, looking at the man who was none other than Eve's friend, "Is he also involved with you?"
"Y-Yes," Eve said.
"Hannah, call all the directors to come here," Ethan said, surprising Eve.
"Wh-What are you doing, Mr Ethan?" asked Eve.
"The finances at KG Entertainment have been in deficit for a year. Because of these investigations, I believe you're working with someone other than him," said Ethan.
He picked up his cell phone, calling someone to come over. He called Astrid with a specific purpose.
"Astrid," Ethan greeted her on the phone.
"Yes. Do you need anything, Mr Ethan?" asked Astrid.
"Call Kingsley's auditor to KG Entertainment. You and Finnley should also come here," Ethan replied.
"All right, Mr. Ethan."
"Auditors?" asked Eve, even more, taken aback as her head snapped up, staring at Ethan sitting in front of his desk.
Ethan walked away from the place, approaching the guest table as he poured water into a glass, "This matter will be done quickly if you confess."
Eve was kneeling obediently, not moving her body in the slightest, and neither was her male companion. Both of them were already on the edge. Now, it was up to Ethan to decide whether they would continue working here.
It didn't take long for the finance director's office door to open, revealing Hannah, who arrived with three people dressed neatly in suits. They held important positions in this company, ranging from director of operations, marketing to director of HR.
"News is spreading among the employees. They say the CEO of KG Entertainment has come. Is that you, Ms Hannah?" asked one of the men, wearing glasses and white hair.
"No, it's him," said Hannah, pointing at Ethan, standing in front of Eve's desk.
The three directors seemed to widen their eyes, clearly seeing Eve kneeling facing Ethan. It was unusual among the directors, considering they knew Eve's bitchy attitude was unbeatable among the people in this place.
"The reason I called you here is to ask you an important question," said Ethan.
"Eve is accused of corruption. She cut off the monthly money for the talents to her benefit," Ethan said, surprising the three people who spontaneously stared at Eve.
"Oh, so you're the reason the company's finances keep running a deficit?!" snapped one of the women, the HR director.
"I'm sorry," Eve whimpered, bursting into tears at being found guilty by her co-workers.
"Do you have any evidence, Mr...?"
"Ethan. My name is Ethan Kingsley," Ethan said, grabbing his phone again and playing the voice recordings of the talents he had met.
The three listened carefully to the ten-minute voice recording, from the confessions of the talents to the amount of money the company gave. The operations director replied that the talents had signed a contract with KG Entertainment, where it was written in the contract that the company would give $800 to each group, making the two groups around $1600 each month.
"You gave them $300? They could have charged us and caused the stockholders to leave!" snapped the man with white hair and glasses.
"Alright. You don't have to judge her like that. I have called in a group of auditors to look into every one of you," Ethan replied.
They were all surprised because the guilty one was Eve, but why should they also be affected by Eve's actions. One woman asked Ethan the reason why he wanted to have each director examined by auditors.
"KG Entertainment's financial deficit has been going on for two years. Eve can't commit her corruption alone; there must be people who took part in her actions," Ethan replied.
"If you're telling the truth, then there's nothing to be afraid of in this audit, right?" asked Ethan, trying to get at the people Eve was working with.
"Of course, I will cancel the audit process if Eve intends to say who is involved," Ethan retorted.
Now, all the pressure was on Eve's back. The audit process would take a long time and concrete evidence. Not only that but also the audit process is likely to continue to the police, which will certainly tarnish the good name of KG Entertainment.
If the company's name becomes bad, it will be difficult for idol groups under KG Entertainment to be popular. Eve's corruption scandal will be an obstacle for them to be famous.
"If the audit process is complete, maybe those of you who are guilty will deal directly with the police," Ethan said.
"A-All right. I will tell you the truth," Eve insisted, raising her head and looking puffy-eyed.
Ethan smiled as he squatted before Eve, his right hand holding the woman's chin with their eyes on each other, "Tell me. Who are they?"
"Come here, you jerk!" David ordered.The 185cm tall, athletically muscled man was standing with a woman who was none other than his girlfriend, Mia. Not only that woman but there were also two men who were always close to David, Darren and Martin.Ethan, a man in shabby clothes, walked by nodding at the difference in status between them. David was the son of the CEO of Eclipse Enterprises, a company in the technology industry, unlike Ethan, who was just an ordinary student from a small town."What's wrong?" asked Ethan, his voice soft with fear in his heart."Did you listen to the lecturer? I need you to do our assignment," David replied."Why would I do that?" asked Ethan.David narrowed his eyes. He released his hold on Mia as he walked toward Ethan. His muscular right hand immediately tugged on Ethan's collar, causing the other students besides David's group to move away."Cause you'll need money to pay for your tuition, right?" asked David sarcastically.Ethan didn't answer the q
Ethan was certainly suspicious of them, strangers who suddenly asked him to go along. The dark-haired man had heard the news about human trafficking cases. Perhaps in the back of his mind, what they were about to do was part of a human trafficking plan."I-I'm not going. Maybe you have the wrong person; there are many people named Ethan in this world," Ethan explained, stumbling while trying to walk slowly away.After seeing an opportunity, Ethan ran quickly away from the place, which was suddenly chased by them. Unlike the woman who seemed silent while sitting on a sidewalk chair, the men in black suits ran quite fast.Ethan didn't run out of ideas; he entered a narrow alley that only he knew. According to Ethan, the men in black suits would not pass through this dirty, muddy, smelly alley. So, Ethan thought he was safe from them.The alley connected to the other side of the apartment block where Ethan lived. When the young man made it out with his breath ragged from running fast, he
The furniture inside the Kingsley residence was much more luxurious than it looked outside. Ethan walked in with Astrid, while Sara and the rest of the family entered earlier than Ethan.Ethan, who had never seen such luxury, was silent, pensive, and amazed. He still didn't expect to live in a place like this, different from his small apartment.They led Ethan into the living room, between rows of long, soft sofas. Sara was seen sitting on one of the single sofas there. Not only her but four people were sitting on the long sofa, two boys and two girls."Astrid," Sara called, her voice soft."Yes, Madame?" said Astrid, walking over politely."Bring Finnley here," Sara requested.Astrid nodded. The woman who had been accompanying Ethan was now seen walking away from him toward the second floor of this residence. Ethan continued to stare at the woman from a distance."Astrid is calling Mr. Finnley. He's Mr. Kingsley's lawyer," Sara replied.Ethan smiled awkwardly. He was nervous about be
"Is there anything you want to ask?" asked Finnley.He had already packed his files into his black suitcase, planning to leave since the discussion on inheritance rights was over. Finnley, who had worked as Kingsley's lawyer for ten years, was satisfied and relaxed."If no one has any questions, I'll leave," Finnley replied.The man began to stand up from his seat on the sofa, followed by Astrid, who was about to escort him away. Seeing him as the leader in this place confused Ethan about where to start.The young man also stood up and walked over to Finnley outside the Kingsley residence. Finnley and Astrid were surprised when Ethan called him back."What is it, Ethan? Or should I start calling you Young Master?" asked Finnley jokingly."You know, I didn't come from a rich family before. I don't know how to run a company and manage all this wealth," replied Ethan, confused."Then you need the best teacher who can teach you. A teacher who has experience with companies and financial ma
***The next day.Ethan returned to his campus as if nothing had happened. He came out with the door opened by one of his bodyguards. Astrid also accompanied Ethan by sitting in the front seat close to the driver."You don't have to wait for me," Ethan said, speaking through the open car window on the driver's side."But what about your safety?" asked Astrid, worried."Haha, am I really going to war? I'll be fine. It's just college," Ethan replied, laughing softly when he saw Astrid's anxious face.At first, Astrid insisted on accompanying Ethan, even when he was on campus. However, Ethan would feel limited in his activities and attract too much attention from the rest of the students."My class will end at three in the afternoon. You can come at that time to pick me up," Ethan explained, reluctant to have them follow him around campus."Alright. Take care of yourself, Young Master," Astrid pleaded.Ethan smiled broadly. Astrid said goodbye to Ethan, the car window closed, and the bla
***In the evening.Ethan continued to read the books Finnley provided for him, many of them explaining entrepreneurship and companies. In addition to the college assignments he had to do, he also had bigger responsibilities than in college.The door to Ethan's office was knocked softly. The sound of the knock was clearly heard by Ethan's ears until he invited the guest to come in.The wooden door opened, revealing the late-night visitor was Hannah. She arrived in white pajamas with abstract patterns, her gray-white hair loose and untied."Oh, Hannah. Do you need anything?" asked Ethan, marking the last page of the book he was reading to continue."I want to talk about what happened on campus," Hannah replied, still standing in the open doorway."Why? Are you worried they'll tease you because you chose to save me?" asked Ethan, standing up from his cushioned chair and walking over to the woman."No, I'm not. I'm just worried about your mental state. I'm afraid you're depressed and str
Feeling humiliated by Ethan, Sara turned around quickly and left Ethan's office without saying goodbye. Her body disappeared after she passed through the wooden door of Ethan's room. Ethan took a deep breath. He felt that with this situation, his burden as the Kingsley heir would be even heavier and more difficult. However, Ethan couldn't complain. He wanted this new life, and he had to accept it with its consequences. Looking at the clock on the wall, it was 9pm, a sign for Ethan to start resting his body. He closed the book he was reading and would resume it the next day. He walked away from his desk to leave the room. Just as Ethan was outside about to lock the door using his fingerprint, he was shocked by a rough tug from a man who was waiting for him there. Ethan looked back; he was Luke Kingsley, Sara's second son. Luke roughly grabbed Ethan by the collar and slammed Ethan's body against the wall. "How dare you make my mom cry!" snapped Luke. Ethan squinted with his eyebrow
*** The next day. Today, Ethan had no classes scheduled. However, his activities were quite busy today. He was already waiting for Finnley's arrival in neat clothes on the first floor. Ethan planned to participate in a seminar related to corporate leadership at Eclipse Enterprises. He disguised himself as an ordinary student with the name tag provided by Finnley. Ethan certainly didn't want people to know that he was the CEO of Kingsley Enterprises. It would only cause his learning to be disrupted. Ethan occasionally turned his head to the third floor. That morning, he had yet to meet any of Sara's family. He worried that his relationship with them would worsen due to last night's dispute. As the front door opened, Astrid arrived with Finnley at her side. The woman smiled as she invited Ethan to go immediately. "You came as a student, not the Kingsley heir," Astrid said, handing Ethan a name tag to wear. "How many people are attending the event?" Ethan asked. "It's about 20 pe