Two days later Marcus Hale walked into a private investor meeting expecting victory.
He believed he had quietly secured enough shares to pressure Ethan's logistics startup into negotiations.
Instead he walked into a room full of people already waiting.
Investors.
Lawyers.
And Ethan.
Marcus froze when he saw him.
"You?" Marcus said.
Ethan remained seated calmly at the head of the table.
"Hello Marcus."
Marcus frowned.
"You don't belong here."
One of the investors spoke before Ethan could respond.
"Actually," the man said, "Mr. Cole owns controlling interest in the company you attempted to acquire."
Marcus blinked.
"That's impossible."
Ethan slid a document across the table.
It showed the truth.
Every share Marcus had purchased… had been routed through companies Ethan secretly controlled.
Marcus hadn't been attacking Ethan.
He had been funding Ethan's expansion.
Marcus's face went pale.
"You set this up."
"Yes."
"You manipulated the entire deal."
"Yes."
Marcus clenched his fists.
"This isn't over."
Ethan finally stood.
For a moment he looked almost relaxed.
"You tried to undermine my company," Ethan said calmly.
Marcus glared.
"You stole everything."
Ethan shook his head slightly.
"No."
He leaned closer.
"You gave it to me."
Marcus stormed out of the room.
Cara, who had watched everything quietly from the back, smiled slowly.
"That was beautiful."
Aria nodded once.
"One rival down."
Ethan looked out the window.
"Several more to go."