Ethan didn't immediately turn his head again.
Years of training his mind to stay calm under pressure kicked in instantly.
Across the rooftop restaurant, the man in the dark suit had already stood up and begun walking toward the elevator area. His movements were smooth—too smooth for someone casually leaving dinner.
Cara noticed the shift in Ethan's expression.
"You see him too, right?" she asked quietly.
"Yes."
"Friend of yours?"
Ethan shook his head.
"Unlikely."
Cara folded her arms lightly against the railing, pretending to admire the skyline while she kept the man in her peripheral vision.
"So… should I be worried?" she asked.
"Not yet."
The man disappeared into the elevator.
Ethan remained still for another few seconds before speaking.
"I'll walk you home."
Cara raised an eyebrow.
"That sounds serious."
"It's cautious."
She studied his face again.
"You really are living a complicated life now."
Ethan didn't answer.
Because she wasn't wrong.
Later That Night
After Cara left, Ethan drove straight to his office.
The building was mostly empty at this hour. Only a few lights remained on across the upper floors.
When he stepped into his office, he wasn't surprised to see Aria still there.
She sat at the long conference table surrounded by three open laptops and several glowing data screens.
"You stayed," Ethan said.
Aria didn't look up.
"I expected you might need help."
"With what?"
"Figuring out who's watching you."
Ethan closed the door behind him.
"So you already noticed."
"Of course."
She tapped one of the screens.
Security footage from the restaurant appeared.
The man in the dark suit stepping into the elevator.
Aria zoomed the image.
"He wasn't just watching you," she said calmly.
"He was recording."
Ethan leaned closer to the screen.
Sure enough, the man's hand had briefly lifted his phone.
Taking pictures.
"Professional?" Ethan asked.
Aria shook her head slightly.
"No."
"What makes you say that?"
"If it was a professional surveillance team, you wouldn't have noticed him."
Ethan nodded.
"That's true."
Aria leaned back in her chair.
"Which means he wanted you to see him."
Ethan's eyes narrowed slightly.
"A message."
"Exactly."
Silence filled the room for a moment.
Then Ethan spoke.
"Run facial recognition."
"Already did."
Aria pulled up another screen.
The man's face appeared next to several data entries.
But most of the information was blocked.
"Private security network," Aria said quietly.
"That's not cheap."
"No."
Ethan crossed his arms.
"So someone with money is interested."
Aria looked at him carefully.
"Or someone with power."
Midnight Visitor
Just as Ethan began reviewing the data himself—
A knock echoed from the office door.
Both of them froze.
At this hour, almost no one should be in the building.
Aria stood slowly.
"You expecting someone?"
"No."
The knock came again.
Three calm taps.
Ethan walked to the door and opened it.
Standing outside was a tall man in a dark blue suit.
Silver hair.
Sharp eyes.
And the calm confidence of someone used to being respected immediately.
"Mr. Ethan Cole," the man said politely.
"Good evening."
Ethan studied him carefully.
"Do I know you?"
The man smiled slightly.
"Not yet."
He stepped inside without waiting for an invitation.
Aria's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Security usually stops people from wandering in here."
"They tried," the man replied calmly.
"They decided it wasn't necessary."
That alone told Ethan something important.
This man had serious connections.
He extended his hand.
"My name is Victor Halden."
Ethan shook it.
"Why are you here?"
Victor glanced around the office.
"Impressive place for a young man."
"That wasn't my question."
Victor smiled again.
"Direct. I like that."
He turned slightly toward the window, looking out at the city lights.
"I represent someone who is very interested in you."
Ethan's expression remained neutral.
"The Palvin siblings already visited today."
Victor chuckled softly.
"Oh, I know."
His gaze shifted back toward Ethan.
"But the people I represent…"
His voice lowered slightly.
"…operate at a different level."
Aria stepped forward.
"And what exactly do they want?"
Victor studied Ethan again.
"To meet him."
"Why?"
Victor's smile returned.
"Because Mr. Cole is becoming… very difficult to ignore."
The room went silent.
Ethan finally asked the obvious question.
"Who do you represent?"
Victor adjusted his cuff calmly.
"A group of investors."
"What group?"
Victor's eyes gleamed slightly.
"One that once rejected your request to join their bunker meetings."
Ethan's mind flashed instantly to that memory.
The room of powerful investors.
The dismissive laughter.
The door closing in his face.
Victor's voice cut through the silence.
"They would like to correct that mistake."
End of Chapter 47 Hook
Victor Halden walked toward the door.
"Tomorrow evening," he said calmly.
"A private gathering."
He placed a black invitation card on Ethan's desk.
"You'll want to attend."
He paused before leaving.
"Oh…"
His gaze shifted briefly to Aria.
"…and you might want to decide which of your allies you trust most."
Then he left.
The office door closed softly behind him.
Ethan stared at the invitation card.
The same investors who once refused him entry…
were now inviting him back.
But this time—
the game would be very different.
....
The next chapter will reveal something big.
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