Chapter 3

The office was silent that morning, except for the low sound of Ethan’s espresso machine. He had come in earlier than usual, his mind restless after the board dinner. Daniel had sat across from powerful investors like he was born for it. Confident and unshaken. Ethan couldn’t forget it.

Daniel was just an assistant—or at least, that was the title. Yet, everything about him screamed otherwise.

“Good morning, sir.”

Ethan looked up. Daniel entered, his calm tone was the same as ever, as though last night hadn’t happened. He placed a stack of files on the CEO’s desk.

“You’ve already compiled the audit?” Ethan frowned. “That’s the finance department’s job.”

Daniel smirked. “Yes, but they weren’t going to show you everything. I thought you might want the full picture.”

Ethan leaned back in his chair. “The full picture?”

Daniel flipped the file open, sliding it forward. Rows of numbers highlighted in red popped out. “The company’s Asia branch has been leaking funds. Not a minor error. Someone’s skimming.”

What... What? He yelled. Ethan had suspected issues, but no one had dared confirm them. “How did you—”

“I used to work in finance before joining you,” Daniel interrupted. “Old habits die hard.”

That answer was too quick. Too neat. Ethan didn’t buy it.

“Daniel,” Ethan called, “assistants don’t usually dig through international ledgers at midnight.”

Daniel met his gaze without flinching. “Maybe I’m not just an assistant.”

Ethan froze.

There it was—the first crack in the mask Daniel wore every day.

Later that afternoon, Ethan called a discreet meeting with his head of security, Raymond. He handed over the file Daniel had given him.

“Run this quietly. I don’t want anyone to know we’re looking.”

Raymond frowned. “Where did you get this?”

“Daniel found it.”

Raymond hesitated. “Sir, with respect… how did your assistant know something our own finance officers didn’t?”

Ethan had no answer.

By evening, Ethan tried to corner Daniel. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

Daniel was typing at his desk, unbothered. “Would you have believed me?”

Ethan leaned closer, lowering his voice. “Stop playing games. Who are you really?”

Daniel’s eyes flicked up, calm. “I’m the man making sure your company doesn’t fall apart while you’re busy fighting board politics.”

Ethan clenched his fists. He wanted to press harder, but just then, his phone buzzed.

It was a text from that say unknown number:

“Your assistant isn’t who you think he is. Watch your back.”

Ethan’s pulse quickened. He looked at Daniel. The man hadn’t even blinked.

The next day, an emergency meeting was called. One of the directors, Mr. Henry, had suddenly resigned, claiming “personal reasons.” But Ethan knew better—Henry had been on the board for decades. His departure, just as Daniel uncovered fraud, wasn’t coincidence.

Daniel whispered as they walked out of the meeting, “Henry didn’t resign. He was forced out.”

Ethan stopped in his tracks. “How do you know that?”

Daniel slipped a folded piece of paper into Ethan’s hand. “Because someone sent me this.”

Ethan unfolded it.

Inside were copies of confidential emails—conversations between Henry and an unknown buyer, negotiating to sell company patents.

Ethan’s blood ran mad. “This is treason.”

Daniel only shrugged. “And it’s just the beginning.”

That night, Ethan stayed late, staring at the city through his office. His thoughts spun. Every time he thought he had control, Daniel appeared with another revelation.

But why? Why was Daniel helping him?

And why did Ethan feel drawn to him—beyond gratitude, beyond curiosity and something more dangerous?

“Still working?” Daniel’s voice broke his thoughts.

Ethan turned. Daniel stood at the door, his tie loosened, his sleeves rolled. Something about him looked less like an assistant and more like… a man used to being in charge.

“You should rest,” Daniel said.

Ethan chuckled bitterly. “Rest? When my own board is betraying me?”

Daniel walked closer. “Then don’t fight alone. Trust me.”

Ethan’s chest tightened. “That’s the problem, Daniel. I don’t even know who the hell you are.”

For a second, Daniel hesitated. Something flickered in his eyes—pain, maybe regret. Then he said:

“You will. But not tonight.”

And he walked out, leaving Ethan with more questions than answers.

The next morning, Ethan found his office door slightly ajar. Inside, his desk drawers had been ransacked. Files scattered. Someone had broken in.

But nothing was stolen. Except one thing.

The audit Daniel had given him.

His phone buzzed again. A new message from the unknown number:

“I warned you. He’s playing both sides.”

Ethan’s heart raced.

Was Daniel protecting him… or destroying him from within?

At lunch, Ethan confronted Daniel directly. “My office was broken into. The audit’s gone.”

Daniel raised an eyebrow. “And you think I took it?”

Ethan slammed his palm against the table. “Tell me the truth. Who are you working for?”

Daniel leaned forward, his voice cutting. “If I wanted to destroy you, Ethan, I wouldn’t be sitting here. I’d already be gone.”

The intensity in his eyes made Ethan falter. For once, he didn’t know whether to believe him… or fear him.

That evening, as Ethan entered his car, a black SUV screeched to a stop beside him. Masked men jumped out.

Before Ethan could react, Daniel appeared out of nowhere—precise, like he had been trained for this. He knocked one man down, grabbed another’s weapon, and barked, “Get in the car, now!”

Ethan stumbled inside, shocked. Daniel drove them out of the parking lot, tires screeching.

Ethan’s voice shook. “What the hell was that?!”

“A warning. They’ll be back.” Daniel whispered.

Ethan grabbed the dashboard. “You fight like a professional soldier—”

Daniel cut him off. “I never told you everything, Ethan. And if you don’t start trusting me, you won’t survive what’s coming.”

Ethan stared at him, stunned.

The twist was undeniable now: Daniel wasn’t just his assistant. He was something far more dangerous.

And for the first time, Ethan realized—he wasn’t sure if he wanted to push Daniel away… or pull him closer.