Chapter 4: The Stolen Project

Olivia's POV

Ethan walked into the center of the office floor. Everyone looked up from their desks.

"Good morning, everyone." His voice was flat and Professional. "I want to introduce our new manager. This is Mara Ashford. She'll be taking over the Meridian project."

Whispers erupted in the room.

Ashford, the same last name as the CEO.

Mara stepped forward, a bright smile planted on her face. "Hi, everyone. I'm so excited to work with you all. I know I have a lot to learn, but I promise to do my best." She looked up at Ethan through her lashes. "With my brother's guidance, of course."

Brother. She said it like it meant something else.

More whispers came in.

"Is she his sister?"

"I thought he didn't have siblings."

"She came with him. In his car."

"The CEO personally assigned her?"

I stood frozen on the spot. My emotions began to fail me as my stomach started to fold in.

Two years. I'd worked here for two years and nobody knew I was his wife.

I had to hide, had to pretend. I had to keep our marriage a secret because Ethan said it would cause problems at work.

But Mara? She walked in on his arm. Took my project. Stood beside him like she owned the place.

And everyone just accepted it.

My vision blurred red.

I turned and walked straight to Ethan's office.

***

I didn't knock, I didn't even bother. I shoved the door open, my eyes locked on him.

Ethan was at his desk. He looked up, surprised.

"Olivia."

"What the hell was that?" My voice shook.

He stood up. "Close the door."

"Answer me!"

"Close the door first."

I slammed it shut. "Why did you give her my project?"

"Mother arranged for her to work here." He spoke slowly. Calmly. Like I was being irrational. "The project is almost finished. It's good for Mara to practice with. Learn the ropes."

"Practice?" I let out a dry chuckle. "I worked six months on that project. Six months! And she gets the credit without doing anything?"

"You'll still get credit internally."

"Internally? What does that mean?"

"It means the people who matter will know you did the work."

"The people who matter?" I stepped closer. "Everyone out there matters! This was supposed to be my breakthrough project. My chance to prove myself."

"You don't need to prove yourself. You're my family." He sighed. "So is Mara. Just help her. It's not a big deal."

Not a big deal?

Something cracked in my chest, now I understand it. "This is your company. Not mine."

"Olivia, we're husband and wife. That means it's yours too."

"You really believe that?" I asked, my heart beginning to believe otherwise.

"Of course."

"Then prove it." The words came out hard. Sharp. "Transfer me shares. Right now."

I expected him to refuse. To make excuses. To tell me I was being ridiculous.

Instead, he opened his desk drawer.

Pulled out a document.

Set it in front of me.

I looked down at it. What was it?

It had the title: Stock Transfer Agreement. My name was already on it. Olivia Bennett Ashford. Twenty percent of company shares.

"What... what is this?"

"I had it drawn up the day we got married." Ethan's voice was quiet. "I wanted you to have security. You and our future children. If anything ever happened to me, you'd be taken care of."

My throat closed. Was he serious?

I felt my eyes burn slightly as years began to well up.

He'd done this. Two years ago. Before I even knew if he cared about me.

"You... you really..."

"I know I'm not good at showing it." He came around the desk and stood before me. "But I do think about our future. About the family we'll have."

Family. Children.

The pregnancy test in my purse felt like it was burning. It needed to be let out.

"Ethan, I need to tell you something." My voice cracked. "It's important. I'm..."

A knock on the door.

"Ethan?" Mara's voice. "Are you in there?"

I closed my eyes. Of course.

"Come in," Ethan called.

The door opened. Mara stepped inside. Her eyes went wide when she saw me.

"Oh! I'm sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt." She looked between us. "Are you two fighting? Is it because of me?"

"It's fine," Ethan said.

"No, it's not fine." Mara wrung her hands. "Sister in law, don't be mad at my brother because of me. If you really don't want me to have the project, I'll give it back. I don't want to cause problems."

Yes, I really didn't want her to have the project. I didn't want her having what I had worked so hard for…but, Ethan had thought three steps ahead, he had thought to secure our future and that was all that mattered.

He did care. In his own way.

"Keep the project," I said. My voice was flat. "Do it well."

I walked past her and out of the office.

"Wait!" Mara hurried after me. "Olivia, please. I'm so sorry."

"It's fine."

"It's not fine. You're upset. I can tell." She followed me down the hallway. "I just want us to be friends. We're family now, right?"

I pressed the elevator button. Hard.

I was trying my best not to think too much about the whole thing, but she was pushing.

"I really didn't know he'd give me your project," Mara continued. Her voice was loud. Other people could hear. "I feel terrible. Please don't hate me."

The elevator dinged. The doors opened.

I stepped inside and Mara followed.

I pressed the button for the lobby. She didn't press any button. Just stood there.

The doors closed.

"You can stop now," I said quietly.

"Stop what?"

"The act. Nobody else is here."

Mara's expression changed. The sweet, apologetic look melted away. She smiled. Small and sharp.

"You're smarter than you look."

"Why are you following me?"

"I wanted to see your face." She leaned against the elevator wall. "When you realized how special he treats me. Did it hurt?"

"You're his sister."

"Stepsister." She examined her nails. "No blood relation at all."

My stomach turned. "What do you want?"

"Nothing. I just think you should know your place." Her eyes met mine and her expression turned cold "You might have a ring and a piece of paper. But I have history. I have his heart."

"He gave me shares in the company."

Her smile faltered. Just for a second.

"He what?"

"Twenty percent. Signed the day we got married." I smiled back at her. "So maybe you should focus on doing your project well. Try not to mess it up."

Her face went tight. Pale.

"You..."

The elevator shook. A loud bang echoed through the shaft.

The lights flickered and we went down.

A scream escaped my lips, Mara’s as well.

My body slammed against the wall and a sharp pain exploded through my side. My stomach.

My stomach!

The elevator jerked to a stop. Emergency lights came on. Dim and red.

I was on the floor. When did I fall?

Mara was against the opposite wall. Crying. Hyperventilating.

"Help!" she screamed. "Somebody help us!"

My hand moved to my stomach. The pain was getting worse. It was spreading fast.

No. Please no.

"Help!" Mara screamed again. "We're stuck! Ethan! ETHAN!"

Footsteps above us. Running. Shouting.

"Mara?" Ethan's voice was muffled through the metal. "Mara, are you okay?"

"We're stuck!" Mara sobbed. "The elevator dropped! I can't breathe! I can't..."

"It's okay. We're getting you out. Just breathe."

Metal scraped against metal. The elevator shook violently.

"Ethan." My voice came out weak. Barely a whisper. "Ethan, please."

He didn't hear me.

"Almost there," he shouted. "Hang on."

The doors started to open. Inch by inch. Hands reached through the gap.

Ethan's hands.

He pushed the doors wider. Climbed down into the elevator.

His eyes went straight to Mara.

"I've got you." He pulled her up. She clung to him. "You're okay. I've got you."

"I can't breathe," she gasped. "The space. It's too small. I can't..."

"I know. Claustrophobia. I know." He lifted her through the gap. Handed her to someone above. "Take her to the medical room. Now."

He started to climb back up.

"Ethan." I tried to make my voice louder. "Ethan, please."

He paused. Looked back. He finally saw me.

"Olivia."

"Help me." I clung to my stomach.

"The maintenance crew is coming. They'll get you out."

"Please. Something's wrong. I..."

"Mara has claustrophobia. You know that. She needs help first." His voice was firm. Patient. "Just wait a few minutes. Be understanding."

He pulled himself up and disappeared in seconds.

Voices above. Footsteps moving away.

The elevator shook again. I gasped as pain shot through my abdomen.

My hand pressed against my stomach.

"My baby," I whispered. "Please. My baby."

The world tilted. Darkness crept in from the edges.

I couldn't feel anything anymore.

Just darkness.

And then nothing at all.