Ethan sat in the corner office of The Forge headquarters, sipping black coffee as the city skyline stretched beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows. The sun had barely risen, casting a golden hue over Charleston. It was peaceful—at least on the surface.
But Ethan's mind wasn't at ease.
He kept replaying the moment he locked eyes with Julian Sloane during the press conference. It wasn't just a random appearance. Julian wasn't the kind of man to show up without a reason. And the look he gave Ethan wasn't just about recognition—it was a message.
Julian had always operated in the shadows, working behind the scenes with big developers, politicians, and international investors. He was smart, connected, and ruthless. If he was back in town, it meant something was about to happen.
Ethan pushed back from his desk and called Victoria.
"Get in here," he said. "We need to talk."
Victoria entered moments later, hair tied back, tablet in hand. "You saw him again, didn't you?"
Ethan nodded. "Julian Sloane. He was at the press conference."
Her brow furrowed. "That's not good. Last time he was around, half our investors got poached, and we nearly signed a contract that would've cost us our licenses."
"Exactly," Ethan said. "And he's not the type to return without a plan. I need to know what he's doing in Charleston."
Victoria flipped through her tablet. "Already started looking. His name hasn't shown up in any recent filings or business registrations, but I did find something interesting. A shell company bought a large industrial property near the riverfront—an old textile warehouse. Paid cash. No paper trail, but the law firm involved used to represent Julian."
Ethan leaned forward. "He's trying to fly under the radar."
"Looks like it," Victoria replied. "But why buy a warehouse?"
Ethan thought for a moment. "Real estate. Redevelopment. Maybe even a front. Either way, I want eyes on it."
Victoria nodded. "I'll have someone check it out."
That afternoon, Alicia stopped by the office. She brought lunch—turkey sandwiches and bottled water—and gave Ethan a gentle kiss before sitting across from him in the small break room.
"You look tired," she said, studying his face.
"I haven't been sleeping well."
"Julian?"
He nodded. "He's back. I don't know what he's planning, but I can feel it. This isn't just a coincidence."
Alicia sighed, unwrapping her sandwich. "Do you think he wants revenge?"
Ethan shook his head. "Julian doesn't care about revenge. He cares about power. And now that Benton Holdings has fallen, there's a gap in the market. He's probably looking to fill it."
"Then what do we do?" she asked.
Ethan took a long sip of water. "We get ahead of him. Find out what he's planning. Expose it before it starts."
Alicia gave him a worried look. "You promised me you'd be careful."
"I will," he said. "But I can't just sit back and let someone like Julian poison this city again."
Meanwhile, across town, Julian Sloane stood inside the dimly lit warehouse. It smelled of dust and old wood, but the structure was solid. With the right architects and the right permits, he could turn it into a high-end residential complex.
He looked around at the wide beams, the exposed brick walls. It had character. And in Charleston's growing market, it had value.
His associate, a man named Darren King, handed him a folder.
"Everything's in place," Darren said. "The architects are on standby. We already got a few bribes ready for the zoning board. The new mayor is eager to bring in jobs and 'revitalize' the district."
Julian smirked. "Perfect. And Ethan Blake?"
"He knows you're here. He's already looking into it."
Julian closed the folder. "Let him. He's too careful. Too clean. That's his weakness."
Darren raised an eyebrow. "You planning to drag him into something?"
"No," Julian said. "I'm planning to let him drag himself in."
Later that week, Victoria's contact returned with intel from the warehouse. He was a private investigator named Nolan Grant—sharp, discreet, and loyal to The Forge since the early days.
"Place is crawling with activity," Nolan reported. "Heavy machinery showed up yesterday. Looks like they're prepping for construction. And there's talk of a new luxury complex—twenty units, rooftop pool, underground parking."
Ethan frowned. "They haven't even filed for permits yet."
"Exactly," Nolan said. "They're jumping the gun. Either they already bribed the right people, or they're planning to use forged documents."
Victoria crossed her arms. "This has Julian written all over it."
Ethan stood, pacing. "He's trying to bait me."
"What do you mean?" Victoria asked.
"He wants me to push back," Ethan explained. "To get involved publicly, make it look like a personal feud. If I do that, he'll frame me as the angry ex-businessman trying to block progress."
Victoria nodded slowly. "And the media will eat it up."
Ethan sighed. "So we stay quiet—for now. Let's gather everything. Zoning laws. Property deeds. Construction permits. If he's cutting corners, we'll find it."
That night, Ethan and Alicia went for a walk along the river. The cool breeze felt refreshing after a long day of planning and meetings. Boats drifted silently in the distance, and the sound of water lapping against the docks was soothing.
"I miss this," Alicia said. "Just being outside, no phones, no drama."
Ethan smiled faintly. "Me too."
She looked at him. "Do you ever regret it?"
He raised an eyebrow. "Regret what?"
"Getting into real estate. Leaving your old company. Taking this path."
He thought about it for a moment. "No. Not really. It's been hard—brutal sometimes. But it's also been meaningful. For the first time in my life, I'm building something that lasts."
Alicia nodded, slipping her hand into his. "Then let's keep building. Together."
He squeezed her hand. "Always."
Two days later, Victoria burst into Ethan's office holding a folder.
"I got it," she said breathlessly. "Julian's new company? It's registered under a fake name, but the funding comes from a Cayman Islands account linked to an old Benton Holdings shell corporation."
Ethan stood. "That's our connection."
"Better than that," Victoria said, opening the folder. "They've already started construction without permits. That's illegal. And one of the forged documents they used lists you—Ethan Blake—as a project partner."
Ethan's jaw dropped. "What?"
"They're trying to frame you. Make it look like you're involved. If this goes public, it'll ruin everything we've built."
Ethan took the papers, reading them carefully. It was his signature—copied from an old contract. The fake documentation listed him as co-developer of Julian's new project.
"He's setting me up," Ethan said.
Victoria nodded. "And we have to stop it before it hits the press."
The next morning, Ethan and Victoria met with Thomas Greer, the attorney who had helped them take down Senator Tillis.
"This is serious," Greer said after reviewing the documents. "Forgery, fraud, and conspiracy. If we act fast, we can file an injunction and expose the scheme before any damage is done."
Ethan looked at him. "And Julian?"
Greer smirked. "If he forged your signature and used shell corporations to launder funds, we can nail him. But we'll need a public statement—clear and direct. Set the record straight."
Ethan nodded. "Let's do it."
A press conference was held the next day.
Ethan stood at the podium with Alicia and Victoria by his side.
"I want to address a serious matter," he began. "A new development project in Charleston is using my name without permission. I am not involved in any way. In fact, the documents linking me to the project are forgeries. This is a criminal act, and legal action is underway."
The media buzzed with questions, but Ethan remained calm, collected, and precise. He refused to play Julian's game. Instead of throwing accusations, he presented facts.
The next morning, headlines read:
"Ethan Blake Targeted in Forgery Scandal"
"Luxury Project Under Fire for Fraud"
"Sloane's Empire: Cracks Begin to Show"
Julian watched the news from his hotel suite, drink in hand.
"So he fought back," he muttered.
Darren entered, holding a tablet. "And now the city's halted our construction. They're launching an investigation."
Julian smirked. "Let them. It's only a delay."
But in his gut, he knew—
Ethan Blake wasn't going to fold.
He was going to fight.
And this time, it was personal.