chapter 5

Ethan sat at the long conference table, his fingers drumming impatiently against the surface as the shareholders continued their endless bickering. His mind wasn’t fully present. The voices around him seemed to fade into a dull hum. He was far more preoccupied with Riley. His thoughts wandered back to the way she had looked at him earlier, her uncertainty clouding her usual confidence making her irresistable. It unsettled him, but he couldn’t afford to show it. Not here, not now.

"Mr. Kensington, we need your input on the pricing strategy for the upcoming quarter," one of the shareholders insisted, snapping Ethan out of his thoughts.

He glanced up, offering a tight-lipped smile. "We’ll be adjusting our margins to stay competitive, but don’t mistake that for a sign of weakness," Ethan said, his voice steady but firm. "We’re leading this market. I want that reflected in the numbers, not just the rhetoric. We’re not cutting corners. We’re setting new standards."

The room fell silent for a moment, the tension palpable. Ethan could almost hear the collective sigh of relief as the shareholders nodded in agreement. They knew when he meant business, and when he spoke, they listened.

"Anything else?" he asked, his gaze sweeping over the room.

After a few moments of silence, the meeting began to wind down. The shareholders had gotten their answers. They’d been placated—for now. Ethan stood, adjusting his cufflinks with practiced ease, ready to retreat to the sanctuary of his office. He wasn’t interested in pleasantries; there was more pressing business to attend to.

As he made his way toward the door, his secretary, a sharp-eyed woman named Emma, caught his attention.

"Mr. Kensington," she said, her voice laced with urgency. "There’s a call for you. It’s… Amanda."

Amanda. Ethan’s stomach twisted at the mention of her name. He hadn’t expected her to call, not after what he has with Riley yesterday. His hand tightened around the doorknob, but he forced himself to turn around and walk back into his office, signaling for Emma to transfer the call.

The moment he sat behind his desk, his fingers hovered over the phone, then he clicked the receiver. "Amanda," he greeted her, his tone smooth and controlled. "How is your shopping going?"

There was a moment of silence on the other end, before Amanda’s voice came through, strained but calm. "Ethan, I need to know… how is Riley? I heard some things… Is she really okay?"

Ethan sighed inwardly. The subject of Riley was always a delicate one to him after the pleasurable night they had together. Her maternal instincts were unyielding, but her involvement—while strong—had been complicated by her own fears and insecurities. She never understood Riley. It wasn’t just about protecting her anymore; it was about helping her understand herself.

"She’s fine," Ethan replied, his voice even. "She’s not in any danger. But yes, there have been some… complications. She’s figuring herself out, Amanda."

He leaned back in his chair, twirling a pen between his fingers as he spoke. "You know how this is, don’t you? She’s got her own struggles. But we’re getting there. Slowly, but surely."

Amanda’s voice shook a little as she asked, "But what does that mean, Ethan? I don’t understand…"

Ethan’s jaw tightened. He didn’t want to lie to her, but he also didn’t want to open the floodgates. There was so much more going on beneath the surface, and Riley’s journey was only just beginning. The last thing she needed was her mother trying to intervene before she was ready. But there was no way to explain that to Amanda without creating even more turmoil.

"Riley’s… she’s still learning," he said carefully, his gaze flickering over the papers on his desk. "She’s growing, and in time, she’ll come to understand more about herself. But that doesn’t mean she’s not in control. I’ve got everything under control, Amanda."

"You really think she’ll be okay?" Amanda asked, her voice barely a whisper. "I worry so much about her, Ethan. You know I love her. I just… I don’t want her to get hurt."

Ethan’s expression softened for the briefest moment. "I know, Amanda. I know. And I assure you, Riley is safe with me. We’re building a connection. It might not be what either of us expected, but it’s progress."

Amanda let out a shaky breath. "I’m not sure if I can just trust you with her, Ethan. After everything that’s happened…"

"Listen to me," Ethan cut in, his tone firm. "I’m not asking you to trust me blindly. I’m asking you to trust that I’ll do everything I can to protect her. I’ve never lied to you about my intentions when it comes to Riley, and I won’t start now."

A long pause followed. The only sound was the distant hum of traffic outside his office window. Finally, Amanda spoke again, her voice quieter this time.

"Just… promise me you won’t hurt her."

Ethan’s lips twitched into a smile that never reached his eyes. "I promise," he said, though the words tasted bitter on his tongue. He couldn’t promise that everything would be smooth. He couldn’t promise there wouldn’t be pain along the way. But he could promise this: he was the one who would shape Riley’s future. Whether she liked it or not.

The line went quiet for a moment before Amanda spoke once more. "Thank you, Ethan. I just want her to be happy. And safe."

"You don’t have to worry," Ethan assured her. "She’s on her way to becoming both. I’m going to make sure of it."

When the call finally ended, Ethan sat back in his chair, exhaling slowly. Amanda’s concern had been palpable, but it wasn’t his responsibility to ease her fears. He’d taken Riley under his wing, and that was all that mattered. She would come to trust him in time. The bond they would build, however slow, was growing stronger with every passing day.

But there were other things to consider, other forces at play. As much as he wanted to keep Riley’s life in the palm of his hand, he knew there were people out there who would fight him for control. He had to remain vigilant, calculating, and always several steps ahead.

He picked up his phone, dialing a number with practiced ease.

"Yes, it’s Ethan," he said when the line connected. "I need you to make sure Riley doesn’t leave the house without an escort. I can’t afford to tarnish the my image because of her waywardness."

He listened for a moment, nodding as he absorbed the information. "Good. Keep me updated."

After hanging up, Ethan glanced at the clock on his desk. Another meeting was scheduled in thirty minutes. But before he could lose himself in more business dealings, his mind flickered back to Riley, her uncertainty, her struggles. He had a plan for her. It was just a matter of time before she realized she couldn’t fight it.

He had everything under control. It is not about her character, it is how he had become so obsessive of her within few hours.

"I have to teach her more lesson." Ethan said, with evil grin.