Ethan woke to the faint patter of rain against the guest room window, the gray light matching his mood. His fifth day in New York felt like a marathon, each step deeper into Victor's world pulling him further from the life he knew. The estate, with its polished floors and silent hallways, was starting to feel like a cage. He couldn't shake away the fact that everyone was playing a game he didn't understand.
He got up, pulling on his last clean T-shirt and jeans. His duffel bag was a sorry sight, a reminder of how out of place he was. He checked his phone, no reply from Sarah, just a text from Jamal: Yo, you still in one piece? Ethan smirked, typing back: Still kicking. It's wild. Talk soon. He needed Jamal's humor, but it wasn't enough to cut through the fog of doubt in his head.
Downstairs, the dining room was empty again, a spread of coffee and pastries waiting. A note from Claudia said she and Victor were at the company already, and a driver would take Ethan in an hour. Elise wasn't mentioned, but after their talk last night, Ethan hoped she might be an ally. He grabbed a coffee and a bagel, eating quickly. His mind kept replaying Victor's story about threats, the note sent to Sarah when she was pregnant. It made sense, but it didn't erase the years of absence. Ethan needed more than excuses,he needed the whole truth.
The driver took him to Langston Enterprises' main headquarters, the glass tower that still made Ethan feel small. Inside, the place buzzed with people in suits, screens flashing numbers, voices talking fast about deals and deadlines. Claudia met him in the lobby, her smile as sharp as ever.
"Ethan, good to see you," she said, her tone too polished. "We're meeting with the board today. Victor wants you to sit in."
Ethan nodded, his guard up. "Sure. Where's he at?"
"With the doctors," Claudia said. "He'll join us later. Follow me."
She led him to an elevator, then up to a boardroom on the top floor. The room was huge, with a long table and windows showing the city skyline through the rain. A dozen people in suits sat around the table, their faces a mix of boredom and curiosity. Richard Hale was there, his slick smile in place, his eyes locking on Ethan as he walked in.
"Ethan Grey," Claudia said, gesturing to him. "Victor's guest. He's observing today."
The board members nodded, but Ethan felt their stares, like he was a puzzle they didn't want to solve. He sat at the end of the table, feeling like a kid in a room full of adults. The meeting started, and it was all numbers and strategies of mergers, investments, something about a tech deal in Asia. Ethan tried to follow, but it was like listening to a foreign language. He caught Hale glancing at him, a smirk tugging at his lips.
Halfway through, Victor arrived, leaning heavily on his cane. His face was gray, his cough worse, but he took his seat at the head of the table with authority. "Let's get to the point," he said, his voice cutting through the chatter. "The Singapore deal needs to close by next week. Ethan, what do you think?"
Ethan froze, every eye in the room on him. He hadn't expected to be called out. "I... don't know much about it," he said, his voice steady despite his nerves. "Sounds like a big move, but I'd need more details."
Hale chuckled, a low sound that grated on Ethan's nerves. "Details are everything in this game, kid. Takes years to learn."
Victor's eyes narrowed. "Ethan's learning. He's got time."
The room went quiet, the tension thick. Ethan felt a spark of gratitude for Victor's defense, but it didn't ease the heat of Hale's jab. The meeting dragged on, and Ethan stayed silent, watching. Claudia spoke smoothly, charming the board, but her glances at Ethan were cold. Hale was worse, his comments were sharp, like he was testing Ethan's limits.
After the meeting, Victor pulled Ethan into his office. "You did fine," he said, sitting behind his desk. "Don't let Hale get to you. He's always been a snake."
Ethan stood, hands in his pockets. "He's not the only one. Claudia's got it out for me too. What's her deal?"
Victor sighed, coughing into a handkerchief. "Claudia's been with me for years. She's loyal to the company, but she wants to run it. You're a threat to that."
"So why keep her around?" Ethan asked. "If she's trouble, fire her."
"It's not that simple," Victor said. "She knows the business inside out. I need her, for now. But you need to be careful. She's smart, and she's not afraid to play dirty."
Ethan's jaw tightened. "And Elise? She said she's been working for you forever. Why not make her your heir?"
Victor's eyes softened. "Elise is family, but she's not my blood. You are. And you've got something she doesn't. You've fought for everything. That's what this company needs."
Ethan shook his head, pacing. "You keep saying that, but I don't see it. I'm a mechanic, not a businessman. And I don't trust anyone here."
Victor leaned forward, his voice firm despite his cough. "You don't have to trust them. Trust yourself. You're tougher than they are."
Ethan didn't answer, his mind racing. Victor's faith in him felt like a weight. He didn't want to be tough, he wanted to know why his life had been a struggle while Victor sat in this tower.
"I need to ask you something," Ethan said, stopping in front of the desk. "You said you paid off those people who threatened Mom. Who were they? Are they still out there?"
Victor's face darkened, his hands clenching. "I don't know who they were. I dealt with it through intermediaries. They got their money and disappeared. I made sure they couldn't find you or Sarah."
"But you don't know for sure," Ethan pressed. "What if they're still around? What if they come after me now?"
Victor's eyes met his, steady but tired. "That's why I'm telling you this. If you take my place, you'll have enemies. But you'll also have power. You can protect yourself, and Sarah."
Ethan's throat tightened. Protect Sarah. That's all he'd ever wanted. But stepping into Victor's world meant stepping into danger, and he wasn't sure he was ready.
They were interrupted by a knock. Claudia stepped in, her tablet in hand. "Victor, the Singapore team needs your approval on the contract."
Victor nodded, waving Ethan off. "We'll talk more tonight. Think about what I said."
Ethan left the office, his head spinning. He wandered the building, ending up in a quiet break room with vending machines and a view of the rainy city. He needed to talk to someone who wasn't part of this mess. He called Ava, and she picked up on the first ring.
"Hey," she said, her voice warm. "How's it going?"
Ethan leaned against the wall, closing his eyes. "It's a lot. Victor's pushing me to take over, but everyone here's got an agenda. Claudia's shady, this guy Hale's a jerk, and I'm starting to think Elise might be okay, but I'm not sure."
"Sounds like a snake pit," Ava said. "What's Victor saying?"
"He says I'm his heir because I'm his son," Ethan said. "But he's got enemies, Ava. People who threatened my mom years ago. I don't know if I can handle that."
Ava was quiet for a moment. "You're handling it now, Ethan. You're there, facing it. That's more than most people would do."
Her words eased the knot in his chest. "I just don't know if I want this. It's not me."
"Maybe it's not," she said. "But you won't know until you see it through. Just be careful, okay? You don't have to trust them, but don't let them push you around."
"Thanks," Ethan said, smiling despite himself. "You're keeping me sane."
"Good," she said, laughing. "Call me tomorrow. I want to know you're still in one piece."
"Deal," he said, and hung up.
Back at the estate that evening, Ethan ate dinner alone, the house quiet. He tried calling Sarah again, but it went to voicemail. Her silence was starting to worry him. Was she avoiding him, or was something wrong? He left another message: "Mom, I need to talk. Call me."
As he headed to bed, he passed the library and saw Elise inside, working late. She looked up, her face softer than before. "You surviving?" she asked.
"Barely," Ethan said, pausing in the doorway. "You?"
She shrugged. "It's always a fight around here. Watch out for Hale. He's got his own game."
Ethan nodded, grateful for the heads-up. "Thanks. And... I meant what I said last night. I'm not here to take your place."
Elise studied him, then nodded. "We'll see."
He left, her words lingering. He was starting to see the cracks in Victor's world—Claudia's ambition, Hale's scheming, Elise's guarded trust. Tomorrow, he'd push harder for answers. He wasn't just here for Victor's truth, he was here for his own.