Chapter 7 Ethan’s Reconciliation

Ethan's body went taut, his gaze fixed on Cara Simmons as she strode into his penthouse as if she owned the place.

The sound of her black stiletto luxury heels ominously clicked against the marble floor, echoing across the wide space. She was every inch the femme fatale, and her amazing scarlet dress fitted her to absolute perfection, her dark hair cascading down her shoulders like an angel sent from above .

A wicked, tantalizing smile seemed to curve those scarlet lips and to promise all lures and all destruction.

"What the hell are you doing here, Cara?" Ethan asked, his voice low but laced with the sharpness of steel.

Cara's laughter was light, almost melodic, yet there was poisonous venom in her eyes. "Now, Do you think of any way to greet an old friend?" She stepped closer, her perfume a heavy, cloying scent-lingering in the air between them.

"Especially one who's here to save you from yourself."

Ethan's jaw clenched. "If this is some kind of game, count me out."

Cara's eyebrows arched with feigned surprise. "Games? Oh, Ethan, you cut me to the quick. I'm trying to help."

"Help?" Ethan crossed his arms, the muscles across his shoulders strained. "You've done nothing but cause problems since the moment you walked back into my life.

Cara's grin now was wide, but her eyes clouded. "Problems? That is what you call me exposing your little arrangement?" She leaned in, her voice dropping low to a whisper. "Come on, Ethan.

We both know this farce with Emma won't hold. The media's already starting to tear it apart."

Ethan's hands fisted at his sides. "If you're so convinced it's a farce, why do you care?

Cara's face changed, the playful mask slipping to reveal something colder, more calculating.

"Because I don't like losing. And you, Ethan Carter, are slipping away. But I can fix that.

Ethan stepped back, his charming eyes narrowed . "Whatever it is you're peddling, I'm not interested and will never be."

Cara smirked, unfazed. "Oh, but you will. Because if you don't, Marcus will. And I don't think either of us wants to see what he'll do with the information I have in hand.

Ethan’s breath caught, his mind racing. Cara had always been a dangerous and deceptive woman, but the mention of Marcus made his blood run cold and at this point his nemesis was ruthless, willing to exploit any atom weakness to gain the upper hand.

And Ethan had just handed him one on a silver platter.

“I’ll handle Marcus,” Ethan said, his voice steady despite the storm brewing inside him.

Cara leaned her head to one side, surveying him with a very seductive but predatory glint in her eye.

"You always were stubborn. Fine, have it your way. But don't say I didn't warn you."

With one last, chilling but dangerous smile, she turned on her heel and sauntered toward the door. "Oh, and Ethan?" she called over her shoulder.

"You might want to check the tabloids tomorrow. It's going to be. enlightening and full of interesting information.

With a faint click, the door closed itself behind her. In an instant, he felt her words settle over him, an unseen shroud. He turned back to the window where the man he thought was Ethan stared at him, in fragments.

Cara and her threats, Marcus and his ambition, Emma walking out-the whole world was spinning way out of hand.

For the first time in many years, an influential and powerful billionaire like Ethan couldn’t fix up his mess.

On the other side, Emma, devastated , sat at her desk, staring at her laptop screen. The cursor on the empty document in front of her blinked tauntingly.

She had been trying to work for some hours but couldn't get her mind to stay on it, Recalling her entire contract with Ethan, his guarded expression and cryptic words, the slight crack in his voice when he called her name.

She clamped the laptop shut and slouched back in her chair, massaging her temples. "Pull it together, Emma," she told herself. "He isn't worth it."

But despite saying these words, Emmanuel knew they were all lies. Ethan Carter wasn't just some arrogant billionaire. He was the man who'd looked at her like she mattered, even if it had all been a lie.

And that was what hurt the most.

Her phone rang on the desk, and she stretched out on it, grateful for the distraction. It was Sophie.

Sophie Hey, are you alive? Or do I need to stage an intervention?

Emma let out a sigh, her fingers flying across the keyboard in a fast response.

Emma: Alive. Barely.

Within seconds, Sophie's name flashed across the screen. Emma answered, and instantly, her best friend's voice filled the silence.

"Okay, spill. What happened? And don't you dare leave out the juicy details.

It slowly dawned on Emma as the events of the night replayed themselves in her head. "It's over, Soph. Whatever this was with Ethan, it's done."

"Done? As in, really done? Or 'Emma done,' which generally means you're just obsesso about it?

Emma groaned. "Can you not psychoanalyze me right now?"

"Fine," Sophie said, though her tone was anything but. "But if you ask me, you're not done. Not even close.

Emma laid her forehead against the desk. "Why does it even matter? He's a liar, Soph. And I deserve better."

"Of course you do," Sophie said softly. "But maybe-just maybe-he deserves a second chance to prove it."

Emma scowled as the words struck a nerve she hadn't expected. "Why are you defending him?

"I am not," Sophie said. "I am just saying, people are complicated. And sometimes, the ones who hurt us most are the ones who need us more than anything."

Emma didn't say a word. She couldn't.

Because, deeply in down, she knew Sophie was absolutely right.

Ethan stood in his office, staring at the stack of papers on his desk. There was a clutter of thoughts going through his mind, but one resounded above them all-he couldn't lose Emma.

Not to Cara, not to Marcus, and not because of his own damn pride.

Liam came into the room without knocking, as was his custom. "So, what's the plan?" he said, dropping into the chair opposite Ethan.

There is no plan," Ethan replied, his voice tight.

Liam raised an eyebrow. "Really? That does not sound like you.

Ethan let out a sigh, running a hand through his hair, "Cara's got something on me. Something she'll use to destroy everything if I don't stop her."

"And Emma?" Liam pressed.

Ethan hesitated, his chest tightening at the thought of her walking away for good. "I have to fix this.

Liam leant forward, his face deadpan serious for once. "Then stop moping around here and do something about it. Fight for her, Ethan.

Because if you don't, somebody else will."

Ethan's eyes darkened; the set of his face turned grim. "You're right. It's time to end this."

When Ethan stood up, resolution unshakeable, Liam smirked. "That's more like it. Now go get your girl.

But as Ethan left the office, he had a feeling that was growing in him that the fight was just beginning, and the stakes were higher than ever.