2026-01-16 23:57:27
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There was no judgment there.No disappointment.Just calm.And that somehow hurt the most.“I misjudged you,” she said softly, almost to herself.Ethan didn’t deny it.“We all misjudge,” he replied. “What matters is what we do once we know better.”Her throat tightened. She nodded, biting down on the rush of emotion threatening to spill over.That did it.Jenna looked away again, blinking fast. “Thank you,” she whispered.Ethan turned as Vivienne approached, already issuing quiet orders into her comm.“I’ll check on you later,” he said to Jenna.Then he walked away—composed, controlled, as if he hadn’t just dismantled lives in the span of minutes.Jenna watched him go, heart pounding.He really is exactly who he said he was…And she had almost convinced herself he wasn’t.****Outside the building, the scene was far less composed.Max was still shouting.“You think this is over?!” he roared as security shoved him toward the curb. “You think you can humiliate a Saler and walk away?! We
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“Get out now,” he said. Max spun back. “Or what?” Ethan didn’t raise his voice. He didn’t threaten. He simply said, “Or you leave now—on your own—or security removes you.” Max laughed, wild and furious. “You really think you can kick me out? After this?” “Yes,” Ethan said. “I do.” “And if I refuse?” Max challenged. Ethan glanced at Vivienne. “Escort him out,” he said calmly. Vivienne nodded once. “Security.” The guards straightened instantly. Max’s anger finally cracked into disbelief. “You’ve got to be kidding me.” One guard stepped forward. “Sir, you need to come with us.” Max backed up a step, eyes flashing. “Touch me and you’ll regret it.” The guard didn’t blink. “Sir.” Lana looked up, sobbing. “Max—please—” He didn’t look at her. “You’re not done,” Max snarled at Ethan. “You think this ends here?” Ethan met his glare without flinching. “Nothing ever does.” The guards closed in. Max jerked his arm free once, but the second grip held firm. “This is bullshit!”
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“Over consequences,” Ethan said softly. Max swallowed. “You’re done here,” Ethan continued. “Leave. Now.” “And if I don’t?” Max challenged weakly. Ethan’s eyes darkened. “Then you’ll learn how little protection arrogance provides.” Max hesitated. Then he looked at Lana—broken, sobbing on the marble floor. Lana sobbed openly now. Her hands were pressed flat to the marble floor as if it might anchor her, shoulders shaking violently, breath coming in broken, panicked gasps. She didn’t understand—didn’t really comprehend what had just happened. She hadn’t known who Ethan was. Hadn’t known whose authority she’d trampled. All she knew was that her world had collapsed in seconds. “I—I didn’t know,” she cried hoarsely, looking up at Vivienne like a condemned woman. “I swear—I didn’t know who he was—I thought—” “No one asked,” Vivienne replied flatly. Lana’s gaze darted to Ethan then, terror naked in her eyes. “Please,” she whispered. “I’ll apologize—I’ll do anything—please
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Max stared at her, shock finally cracking through his arrogance. “You—You hit me!” “Yes,” Vivienne replied. “And if you speak again, security will escort you out face-first.” She turned sharply to the guards. “If either of you ever take an unlawful order again, you’ll be reassigned to basement logistics—permanently. Am I understood?” “Yes, ma’am,” they said in unison, voices shaking. Vivienne turned last to Lana. Lana was pale. Trembling. Vivienne didn’t give Lana time to gather herself. Lana’s knees buckled as she stepped forward, hands clasping together desperately. “P–Please—Director Hale—I was only trying to calm the situation,” she rushed out, voice cracking. “She was shouting, causing chaos—I was doing my job. I didn’t mean any disrespect—” “Shut the fuck up.” The words were quiet. Absolute. Lana froze mid-breath. Vivienne stepped closer, her heels precise, merciless. “You do not speak unless spoken to,” she said coldly. “Not after what you’ve done. Not after yo
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Then footsteps echoed behind him. The liaison arrived just behind Ethan—and the moment she saw the scene, her face drained of color. Her gaze snapped from the guards’ hands on Jenna… to Lana… to Max. Then to Ethan. And something in her expression hardened instantly. “How dare you speak to him like that,” she said sharply. The words cracked through the lobby like a gunshot. The guards blinked, confused. “Ma’am?” The liaison stepped forward, voice rising, authority cutting clean and unforgiving. “Do you have any idea who you’re addressing?” The effect was immediate. The guards went rigid. Not alert—afraid. Hands loosened on Jenna’s arms without being told, their faces draining as recognition slammed into them a second too late. Lana’s expression changed completely. The color fled her face, fury collapsing into naked fear. “D–Director Hale…” she whispered. The liaison stepped fully into the light. Vivienne Hale. Chief Executive Liaison to the CEO. D
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The lobby was chaos. Not loud chaos—worse. The kind charged with humiliation, fear, and spectacle. Ethan stepped out just in time to see it. Jenna. Her arms twisted behind her back. Guards gripping her like she was dangerous. Her heels scraping uselessly against the marble as they dragged her forward. Her voice raw. Furious. Breaking. “This is assault! You can’t do this!” Lana stood nearby, arms crossed, face alight with vicious satisfaction. Max leaned against the railing, smiling. Something inside Ethan snapped cleanly in two. “ENOUGH.” The word cracked across the lobby like a gunshot. Everything froze. The guards stiffened. Jenna went still, chest heaving. Lana spun around. “Who do you think—” “Leave her,” Ethan said, already striding forward, his voice deadly calm. “Immediately.” The guards turned fully now.Even Jenna turned.Her head snapped toward the voice, breath hitching mid-gasp.For a split second she didn’t understand what she was seeing—only that the sou
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