CHAPTER SIX

Granny Rosa gently led Caleb Monroe to one of the dining chairs. “Come, sit. Join us for dinner,” she said softly.

The moment Lauren caught the smell of mushroom risotto, her stomach turned. She felt sick. Rushing to the guest bathroom, she threw up. When she returned, all eyes were on her.

“You caught a fever?” Caleb asked, his voice full of concern.

“I just need some rest,” Lauren muttered, avoiding eye contact. “I’ve been through a lot lately.”

She noticed Ethan eating quietly, not saying a word. The air felt heavy.

“I just want to lie down for a bit,” she added and quickly headed to her room, shutting the door hard behind her.

The room fell silent again. They continued eating, but no one said a word—until Caleb finally broke the silence.

“Why are you here, Ethan?” he asked, staring at him.

Ethan chuckled lightly. “You sound ridiculous asking that.”

Granny Rosa looked up with a sigh. “Can’t we just eat in peace?”

“Peace?” Caleb scoffed. “We had peace—until he came back. And now you expect everything to be normal?”

“Can you stop this, Caleb?” Granny Rosa snapped.

“This is your fault, Granny Rosa! If you hadn’t brought him here, Ethan wouldn’t be sitting in that chair!” Caleb said, his voice rising.

“My fault?” she repeated, shocked. “Lauren has a mind of her own. It’s her decision to make!”

“You always twist things to your side. You're manipulative, and I can’t stand it! Ethan needs to leave!”

Ethan dropped his cutlery and stood. “You raise your voice like this in someone else's house? I cooked dinner for us—and you think you can shout at the host?”

Caleb stood too, his jaw tight. “This is just the beginning, Ethan.”

Ethan smiled coldly. “No, Caleb. This is the end.”

Without another word, Caleb stormed out of the house.

Granny Rosa placed a hand on her chest, clearly shaken. “You people will be the death of me.”

Ethan smiled calmly. “Don’t worry, Granny Rosa. Everything’s under control.”

After clearing the dishes, Ethan walked over to Lauren’s bedroom door and knocked gently. “I need to tell you something important.”

“You don’t have to,” she said from inside. “Just go, Ethan.”

What she didn’t know was that Ethan had received a report on his phone. A journalist—who chose to remain anonymous—had spread a false story about Lauren. He had contacted the American government, and the report was taken down immediately.

Later that night, Ethan stepped outside for a walk. His mind was full of thoughts about the Geneva Link project and his next move.

As he walked, a motorbike sped past him. The rider, dressed in all black and wearing a helmet, tossed something to the ground near him. Ethan stopped and picked it up. It was a letter.

He opened it and read:

“Three people are after your life. One of them started the fire. The other two know who did it. I am the fourth person. And I’m going to kill Lauren Whitmore.”

Ethan froze. His heart pounded in his chest. It was dark. The rider had vanished into the night.

And now... Lauren’s life was in danger.

***

When Ethan returned home, the house was quiet and dark. Lauren was sitting alone at the dining table, the lights still off. She didn’t look up when he walked in.

“What did you want to tell me?” she asked flatly.

He paused, watching her from the doorway. “I’m going to buy the building across from yours. We’ll be neighbors soon.”

Lauren slowly turned her head toward him. “Why would you do that?”

“Because I’m going to protect you, Lauren Whitmore. With my life.”

She scoffed lightly. “My life is not in danger.”

Ethan gave a short laugh. “In the business world, things aren’t always what they seem. Sometimes... the games involve lives. People.”

Lauren sighed, still trying to understand. “The fire... the one that nearly killed you—was it really planned?”

He held her gaze for a long second. “I don’t know yet. But I intend to find out.”

She looked down at the table. “Madeline Carter’s back. She mentioned it. She said she’s investing in your company.”

“Yes,” he nodded. “She’s one of our biggest investors now.”

Lauren gave a faint smile. “Must’ve been easy for her... considering your childhood connection.”

Ethan’s face didn’t change. “Her father owns Carter Airlines. Their support helps push our projects forward. We have a lot in the works. What did she say to you when you met?”

Lauren hesitated. “Er... nothing, really.”

Ethan walked to the microwave, heated something up, then returned with a plate. He placed it in front of her. Steak—hot and fresh.

“We made reservations,” he said simply.

Lauren blinked in surprise. How did he even know I was hungry?

Without saying another word, she dug in and ate like she hadn’t all day.

Ethan sat across from her, watching her closely.

“We made love after three years, and then you disappeared for two months,” he said quietly. “What’s going on in your head, Lauren?”

“It was a mistake, okay?” she said quickly, eyes still on her plate.

“I don’t believe that,” Ethan replied. “The way you held me... touched me... that wasn’t lust. It felt deeper. You were all in.”

Her hands trembled slightly. Her heart was pounding. And when she finally looked at him, her eyes were filled with tears.

“You make me so uneasy, Ethan. Can you just go? Please—go and never come back.”

But he shook his head. “I’ll never leave you again, Lauren. No matter what you do. Nothing will make me walk away.”

“You don’t love me,” she whispered. “You’re just obsessed.”

Ethan gave a bitter smile. “I’m sorry if that’s how it looks.”

He stood up and walked away, heading to the guest room without another word, leaving Lauren behind—confused, hurt, and more unsure than ever about the two men who both had a hold on her heart.

***

A few bus stops from Beverly Hills, in the busy business district of Century City, stood tall glass towers where America’s biggest corporations had their headquarters. This place was the heart of power and wealth, where deals worth billions were made every day.

One of these towers belonged to Blackspire Global, the company founded by Raymond Whitmore and now run alongside his son Ethan.

Blackspire was known worldwide for its work in defense technology, rare earth metals, AI logistics, and real estate. Blackspire's first headquarters was in Los Angeles before they moved it close to Beverly Hills after the tech fire.

Inside the top-floor boardroom, the long table was surrounded by powerful shareholders and company directors. The walls were glass, giving a clear view of Los Angeles below. On one side sat Raymond Whitmore, calm and commanding. Beside him was Ethan, focused on a large screen showing live data.

Madeline Carter was also there, listening carefully, but most of the talking came from the seasoned board members.

Raymond spoke first. “At the end of this month, there will be an important auction in Zurich for exclusive rights to a new AI-powered global supply chain software. This software can reduce logistics costs worldwide by more than 35%. Winning this auction means controlling much of the supply chain market in Europe and North America.”

One older shareholder asked, “What if NovaCorp tries to outbid us?”

Ethan replied confidently, “NovaCorp can’t compete here. Our contracts with the original developers of this AI system are exclusive. NovaCorp can’t legally use this software without breaking international law.”

Nods and murmurs of agreement spread around the table.

Madeline added, “If we win, we not only lead the Zurich auction but also control the future of the Geneva Link Project starting next year. This software will be the gateway for many companies.”

Raymond nodded. “Exactly. We can’t let NovaCorp get close to this technology. Jonathan Monroe’s company isn’t just a competitor—they use underhanded tactics.”

Another board member asked, “What’s our next step after Zurich?”

Ethan leaned forward. “Two weeks after the auction, we will launch the upgraded system at the Boston Global Tech Expo. That will set the market’s direction before the Geneva project even starts. NovaCorp will be forced to follow us.”

Laughter and agreement filled the room.

Raymond concluded, “We don’t need to fight dirty. We win by being better. Zurich will send a clear message.”

After the meeting, the room emptied quickly. Madeline stayed behind and quietly walked toward Ethan’s office, waiting for a private moment.

***

Ethan hung his jacket on the back of his chair and walked over to look out through the blinds.

Madeline sighed as she watched him. “You’re getting more handsome every day, Ethan.”

He smiled. “Thank you, Madeline Carter. You’re not looking bad yourself.”

She leaned closer. “Aren’t you curious about who was behind that assassination attempt?”

Ethan raised an eyebrow. “What assassination?”

“The tech fire in Los Angeles.”

“Why does that interest you?”

She shrugged. “I saw the report once. But then the government took it down. That made me curious.”

Ethan’s smile turned sharp. “Don’t let a report like that appear again. Or I might have to cut off some of my investors. The ones who aren’t useful.”

She gasped. Shocked, she said, “You’d drop my investment—even if it puts the whole company at risk?”

He chuckled softly. “Even if you didn’t invest, Blackspire Global would still stand strong. We’ve had backup plans ready for a year. We won’t back down.”

Madeline smiled darkly and pulled out several photos, dropping them on his desk one by one.

“You made love with Lauren Lancaster on July 17th,” she said. “These are pictures of her with Caleb Monroe—on the same day. Was she wearing this dress when she came to see you?”

She pushed the last photo forward. It showed Lauren taking off Caleb’s clothes, wearing the exact same dress she wore when she met Ethan that night.

Madeline’s grin widened. “Lauren slept with both of you on July 17th.”

She chuckled quietly as Ethan stared at the photos, silence filling the room.