CHAPTER ONE — THE ULTIMATUM

The first thing Ethan Cole noticed when he walked into his office that morning wasn’t the silence. It was the red notification flashing across his phone screen when he wanted to make a transfer: Account Access Denied.

He blinked. Then again, another message appeared Transaction Blocked.

“What the fuck” he muttered, jaw tightening as he tapped through his banking app. Every account and card was locked.

“Mr. Cole?” Noah’s voice came from the doorway, calm and crisp as always. “You’re five minutes late to the quarterly—”

“Cancel it,” Ethan cut him off, standing abruptly. “Get my father on the line. Now.”

Noah paused, eyebrows knitting. “Sir, Mr. Cole Senior said you weren’t to—”

“I don’t care what he said!” Ethan snapped, voice rising before he caught himself. He exhaled sharply, then rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Sorry. Just… get him.”

Noah hesitated for a moment just long enough for Ethan to see the flicker of concern behind his professionalism then nodded and left.

A few minutes later, the intercom buzzed.

“Your father is here.”

Ethan’s was surprised. He came himself?

The door opened before Ethan could reply.

Richard Cole entered like a storm in an Armani suit sixty two, iron gray hair, eyes that had the warmth of polished steel. “So,” he said, voice low and cold. “You finally made it to work.”

Ethan straightened his tie, masking the unease that rippled through him. “Good morning to you too, Dad.”

“Don’t play with me, boy.” Richard’s gaze swept the room, lingering on the sleek glass desk and the empty whiskey glass beside it. “You think you can run this empire with your arrogance and your women? You think being a Cole is a game?”

Ethan’s expression hardened. “Last I checked, I brought in two new acquisitions this quarter and increased revenue by—”

Richard slammed a folder on the desk. “You’re reckless. You’re distracted. And you’re still single.”

Ethan's froze in shock. “You froze my accounts because I’m single?”

“No.” Richard’s voice was sharp as a blade. “I froze your accounts because I’m done waiting for you to grow up.”

Ethan’s jaw clenched. “What is this really about?”

Richard leaned closer, eyes narrowing. “It’s about legacy. About control. About image. You’ll marry the woman I’ve chosen Isabella Grant. Her father’s company is merging with ours. It’s the perfect alliance.”

Ethan stared at him, then laughed low, and incredulous. “You want to sell me off like a damn asset.”

“If it keeps this company in family hands? Yes.”

“I’m not marrying Isabella.”

“Then you can say goodbye to your inheritance. Every cent of it.” Richard straightened, buttoning his jacket. “You have one week to make a decision.”

Ethan’s throat tightened. “You can’t just—”

“Can’t I?” Richard interrupted, his tone deadly and calm. “You’ve been coasting on my name long enough. Maybe it’s time you learn what it’s like to earn your way without it.”

There was a long silence.

Then Richard added, almost casually, “Unless there’s another reason you’re refusing to marry her.”

Ethan frowned. “What the hell does that mean?”

Richard’s smirk was sharp. “Are you gay, Ethan?”

The question landed like a punch.

Ethan blinked, caught between disbelief and fury. “Are you seriously—”

“I’ve heard things,” Richard said smoothly. “Rumors. That you’re... fond of your assistant.”

Ethan’s chest went tight. “You’ve been spying on me now?”

“I’ve been watching you,” Richard corrected. “And I see a man who’s lost control. Who doesn’t even know what he wants.”

“I know exactly what I want,” Ethan said through gritted teeth.

“Then prove it,” Richard said, stepping closer. “Marry Isabella. Settle down. Act like a man. Or I cut you off, permanently.”

For a moment, Ethan said nothing. The silence stretched until the air felt heavy.

Then he exhaled, a cold, hollow laugh slipping out. “You think marriage will fix me?”

“I think obedience will.”

Richard turned to leave, but paused at the door. “One week, Ethan. Decide wisely.”

The door clicked shut behind him.

Ethan stood there, fists clenched so tight his knuckles turned white. His reflection in the glass wall stared back at him sharp suit, perfect tie, blue eyes.

He wanted to throw something. Instead, he reached for his phone. “Noah,” he said, voice low.

Seconds later, Noah reappeared, tablet in hand. His usual calm expression faltered when he saw Ethan’s face. “What happened?”

Ethan’s lips pressed into a thin line. “My father just cut me off.”

Noah blinked. “As in—”

“As in everything. Cards. Access. Control.” Ethan dragged a hand through his hair, pacing. “He wants me to marry some woman to merge companies. Said he’ll disinherit me if I don’t.”

Noah hesitated. “And… are you going to?”

Ethan stopped pacing. Their eyes met. For a second, neither of them looked away.

“No,” Ethan said finally. “I’d rather burn everything down.”

Noah nodded slowly, watching him. “Then what’s the plan?”

Ethan stared at him, an idea flickering behind his eyes. Dangerous, reckless and brilliant.

“You trust me, right?” Ethan asked.

Noah raised a brow. “That depends on what you’re about to say.”

Ethan’s lips curved faintly the first ghost of a smile since the morning began.

“Then let’s make a deal,” he said quietly.

Noah frowned. “What kind of deal?”

Ethan took a step closer, voice dropping.

“The kind that’ll make my father choke on his own arrogance.”

Noah blinked. “Ethan, what are you talking about?”

Ethan’s smirk deepened. “If he wants a marriage so badly… fine.” He paused. “I’ll give him one.”

Noah tilted his head. “With who?”

Ethan’s gaze lingered on him intense, unreadable, just long enough for Noah’s heartbeat to skip.

And then Ethan said, softly, “You.”

The room fell silent. Noah blinked once, twice. “I

what?”

Ethan crossed his arms, tone perfectly calm, as if he’d just proposed a business merger. “You’ll marry me.”

Noah’s jaw dropped. “You’ve lost your mind.”

“Temporarily,” Ethan admitted. “But it’s brilliant. My father wants marriage? Fine. I’ll marry my male assistant. The board can’t say I didn’t follow orders.”

“That’s not—” Noah stammered, then laughed in disbelief. “That’s insane, Ethan.”

“Not if it works.”

Noah stared at him, eyes wide. “You’re serious.”

“Completely.” Ethan’s voice softened. “It’s a contract marriage. One year. You’ll walk away with half a billion dollars and your freedom.”

Noah froze. “Half a billion?”

Ethan nodded. “You deserve it. You’ve been holding my company together for years.”

Noah blinked again. “You realize this could ruin you.”

“Or save me.”

For the first time that morning, Ethan smiled the kind of smile that said he’d already decided, and there was no going back.

Noah exhaled, running a hand through his hair. “You’re serious about this, aren’t you?”

“Deadly.”

Noah laughed softly half nervous, half amazed. “You’re unbelievable.”

Ethan’s eyes met his again, a flicker of something unspoken between them.

“Then you’ll do it?” Ethan asked quietly.

Noah hesitated, the air suddenly thick with tension. “I don’t even know what to say.”

“Say yes,” Ethan said simply. “And we both get what we want.”

The silence stretched between them fragile, and dangerous.

Then Noah said, almost under his breath, “This is going to get us both killed.”

Ethan smiled faintly. “Probably.”