Chapter 5 - The Bespoke Suit, The Ambush, and the Boardroom
We certainly did not go back to my cheap and vulnerable suburban apartment,
nor did we stay anywhere near the dangerous and violent city streets.
Ethan drove me safely in a sleek black car to a highly secure penthouse overlooking the dark waters of Lake Michigan,
a luxurious fortress made entirely of reinforced glass and solid steel,
guarded heavily by silent men who asked absolutely no questions.
I spent a restless and completely sleepless night lying on a plush velvet sofa,
clutching the printed corporate invoices tightly to my chest,
my exhausted mind racing rapidly through the impossible and dangerous reality of my current situation.
The very next morning,
Ethan thoughtfully provided me with a fresh and clean change of clothes,
a stunning designer suit that somehow fit my frame perfectly,
and a very simple but terrifying instruction.
"Go straight to work,"
he said calmly,
pouring hot black coffee into his father's battered and dented steel thermos,
a truly bizarre and fascinating contrast to his extremely luxurious surroundings.
"Act completely normal at your desk,
and when Richard Hale inevitably calls you into the executive boardroom,
do not panic or show any fear."
I arrived punctually at Whitmore Industries at exactly eight o'clock,
my anxious heart beating furiously inside my chest,
trying desperately to project a convincing aura of calm confidence I absolutely did not feel.
By ten o'clock in the morning,
the landline phone sitting on my desk rang sharply,
and Vanessa's shaking voice came through the receiver,
laced heavily with corporate venom and hidden fear.
"Mister Hale wants to see you right now,
up in the main boardroom on the fiftieth floor,
immediately and without any delay."
I gathered all of my remaining courage,
stepping confidently into the sleek glass elevator,
ascending rapidly to the silent executive level where my professional fate would finally be decided.
When I bravely entered the massive and intimidating glass room,
Richard Hale sat arrogantly at the very head of the long mahogany table,
surrounded completely by the exact same twelve wealthy investors from yesterday morning.
"Miss Morgan,"
Richard sneered loudly,
steepleing his manicured fingers together,
looking down at me with absolute and unfiltered contempt.
"It has quickly come to my personal attention that you foolishly breached our strict corporate security,
printing highly confidential and classified financial documents."
I stood incredibly tall,
remembering Ethan's firm promise from this morning.
"I printed undeniable documentary evidence of massive corporate embezzlement,"
I stated clearly and loudly,
my steady voice ringing powerfully through the completely silent and shocked room.
The wealthy investors murmured nervously amongst themselves,
exchanging highly worried and panicked glances,
while Richard's arrogant face turned a bright crimson red with sudden rage.
"You are officially fired from this company,
effective immediately,"
he barked aggressively,
standing up quickly from his expensive leather chair.
"Corporate security will forcefully escort you out of this building,
and our team of lawyers will definitely be pressing severe criminal charges for major data theft."
Before I could even open my mouth to respond to his threat,
the heavy solid oak doors of the executive boardroom swung open violently,
crashing loudly against the painted walls with a massive and thunderous boom.
Everyone in the room turned around instantly,
completely shocked and paralyzed by the sudden and aggressive intrusion.
It was Ethan.
But he was absolutely not wearing a dirty janitor's uniform today,
and he was certainly not humbly pushing a yellow mop bucket.
He wore a flawless and custom-tailored dark Italian suit,
radiating immense and undeniable power,
flanked closely by four massive and heavily armed bodyguards who immediately blocked the only exit.
Richard's angry face drained completely of all color,
his arrogant and proud corporate posture crumbling pitifully in a single terrifying heartbeat.
"Mister Moretti,"
Richard stammered weakly,
beads of cold sweat forming rapidly on his pale brow,
"what in the world are you doing here?"
Ethan walked slowly and deliberately toward the long wooden table,
his commanding presence completely dominating the entire executive room,
his dark eyes locked fiercely onto the terrified and shaking executive.
"I firmly believe there has been a massive and unfortunate misunderstanding today,
Richard,"
Ethan said incredibly smoothly,
placing his large hands flat on the polished table.
"Claire is absolutely not fired,
because as of very early this morning,
I have officially acquired a complete controlling interest in Whitmore Industries."
The formal boardroom erupted instantly into loud chaos and panic,
but Ethan silenced all of them easily with a single,
commanding,
and deadly glare.
"And my very first official order of business,"
May you like
he continued coldly,
turning his deadly and unforgiving gaze back to Richard Hale,
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