Chapter 7 - The Test of Trust
Derek’s face drained of all color. He looked as though he might faint. "Mr... Mr. Cole... I was just... we were just discussing a personal matter..."
"I heard exactly what you were discussing, Mr. Vance," Ethan said, his voice dangerously calm. He walked over to my side, his presence instantly making me feel safe. He didn't look at Derek; his eyes were fixed on me. "Are you alright, Clara?"
"I'm fine," I said, my voice steady now.
Ethan turned his gaze to Derek. The sheer coldness in his eyes was enough to freeze water. "You abandoned your pregnant partner. You left your daughter to starve in a freezing apartment while you spent your signing bonus on luxury items. And then, you threatened an employee of my company in our parking facility."
"Mr. Cole, please!" Derek begged, taking a step back, his hands shaking. "It was a mistake! I'll pay child support, I'll do whatever she wants!"
"You will indeed pay child support, because the state of Indiana will mandate it," Ethan said coldly. "But you will not do it while working for Cole Industries. You are fired, Mr. Vance. Effective immediately."
"You can't do that!" Derek yelled, panic making him bold. "My uncle is the CFO! He'll fight this!"
"Your uncle is well aware of my standards," Ethan replied smoothly. "And he will not risk his own career to defend a man who threatens women in parking garages. Security has already cleared your desk. You have ten minutes to leave the property before you are arrested for trespassing."
Derek stared at us, his eyes filled with a desperate, impotent rage. He looked at me, then at Ethan, and finally realized he had lost everything. Without another word, he turned and ran toward his car, the tires screeching as he sped out of the garage.
The silence that followed was heavy. I looked down at my shoes, suddenly feeling incredibly vulnerable. The drama of my past had just exploded in the middle of Ethan's corporate empire.
"I'm so sorry, Ethan," I whispered, tears threatening to fall again. "I never wanted to bring this drama to your company. Derek was right about one thing... I've created a mess for you."
Ethan walked over to me. He didn't care about corporate boundaries or professional distance. He reached out and gently took my hands in his. His hands were warm, strong, and reassuring.
"Clara, look at me," he commanded softly.
I raised my eyes to meet his.
"You did not create this mess," Ethan said, his grey eyes shining with a deep, undeniable emotion. "Derek Vance created it through his own cowardice. You survived it. And as for my company... I don't care about corporate gossip. I care about you."
My heart hammered against my ribs, this time not from fear, but from a sudden, beautiful hope. "Ethan..."
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"The night I brought that formula to your apartment, I was in a dark place myself," Ethan admitted softly. "My life was nothing but meetings, numbers, and superficial relationships. But when I saw you—how fiercely you loved your daughter, how hard you fought for her survival—it woke something up in me. I realized what was missing in my life."
He stepped closer, his thumb gently tracing the back of my hand. "I don't want to just be your boss, Clara. I want to be the man who stands by your side. I want to help you carry the load. If you'll let me."
