Underestimated: The Rise of Ethan Cole

Chapter 4

Chapter Four

"I think there's been a mistake," Ethan said, his voice calm but commanding. "I'm the guest Ms. Chen is expecting."

Silence.

Then Drake burst into laughter—loud, sharp, disbelieving.

"Are you serious right now?" He looked around the lobby like he was performing for an audience. "B Corporation isn't some prison yard where you can run your mouth without consequences! You think you're the VIP guest Victoria Chen is waiting for?" He scoffed, shaking his head. "That's embarrassing. A disgrace to B Corporation's reputation."

Sarah stepped forward, flipping her hair dramatically. "I had no idea squatting in jail for two years made you this shameless, Ethan." Her voice dripped with mockery. "You should be thrown out for this! Do you even understand what you just said?"

She crossed her arms, smirking. Ethan couldn’t stand watching her walk in with Drake, could he? This was just another desperate ploy to get her attention. Pathetic.

Ethan’s eyes slid over them both—cold, unbothered—then returned to the secretary.

"You’ve made a mistake," he repeated, his tone rougher now, commanding. "Check again."

Sarah’s face flushed red. She hated being ignored.

The secretary frowned, studying Ethan with renewed skepticism. Her earlier uncertainty had vanished, replaced by irritation. This plain-dressed man had already wasted too much of her time, and Ms. Chen was waiting.

"What proof do you have that you're the guest Ms. Chen is expecting?" she asked, her tone sharp.

Ethan reached into his pocket. "I have a gift from Ms. Chen's father."

His fingers brushed the black-gold card.

Before he could pull it out, Sarah lunged forward and grabbed his wrist, yanking him back.

"Stop this!" she hissed through clenched teeth. "You're speaking nonsense! Ms. Chen's father? That's laughable!" She shook his arm. "This isn't a place for ex-cons like you. Stop being crazy!"

Ethan jerked his hand free, his expression darkening.

Sarah spun toward the secretary, her voice rising. "Throw him out! He's wasting our time with his delusions!"

The secretary's patience snapped. She'd spent enough time on this. Ms. Chen had been very clear—do not keep the VIP guest waiting. And this man? He was clearly lying.

"Security!" she called sharply.

Three guards appeared almost immediately.

"Escort this man out. He's not welcome here."

Without another glance at Ethan, she turned to Drake and Sarah, her expression shifting to polite professionalism, confidence radiating from her. She was absolutely certain now. These were the guests Ms. Chen was expecting.

"Please, follow me," she said warmly. "I apologize for the delay. Ms. Chen is waiting for you in the VIP room."

"It's not your fault," Sarah said sweetly, linking her arm through Drake's. "That fool wasted everyone's time."

Drake puffed out his chest, smirking with satisfaction as they were led toward the VIP room.

---

The VIP room was pristine—leather chairs, polished wood, floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city.

"Please, have a seat," the secretary said. "Ms. Chen will be with you shortly."

Sarah sat down with exaggerated elegance, crossing her legs. Drake settled beside her, grinning ear to ear.

The secretary excused herself, her confidence still high. She'd handled the situation perfectly. Ms. Chen would be pleased.

She headed for the elevator, ready to notify Ms. Chen that her distinguished guests had arrived.

The elevator doors slid open.

Victoria Chen stepped out.

The secretary froze mid-step, bowing quickly. "Ms. Chen! I was just coming to notify you—"

Victoria's sharp gaze swept the lobby, her brow furrowing. "Why hasn't my guest arrived yet?"

The secretary straightened, still confident. "I've already escorted the two distinguished guests to the VIP room, ma'am. They're waiting for you now."

Victoria's frown deepened. "Two people? I was expecting one guest. A man."

"The other is his female companion, ma'am."

"I wasn't informed that my guest had a companion." Victoria's tone was clipped. Her father had never mentioned anything about a companion.

The secretary hesitated, confusion flickering across her face. "Ma'am, haven't you seen the recent news? There have been dating rumors about Drake Hastings and Sarah, the rising social—"

"Drake Hastings?"

Victoria's voice turned ice-cold, cutting through the air like a blade.

The secretary blinked, startled by the sudden shift. "Yes, ma'am. Drake Hastings and Sarah are the guests I escorted to the VIP room."

Victoria pinched the bridge of her nose, frustration radiating off her. "Drake Hastings? When did someone of his caliber become my VIP guest?"

The secretary's confidence cracked. "But ma'am, there was no one else downstairs except—"

"Think carefully," Victoria cut her off, her voice sharp. "Was there truly no one else?"

The secretary's mind raced, panic beginning to set in. "No one, ma'am. I'm certain. Only Drake Hastings and Sarah were—"

She stopped.

Wait.

There had been someone else.

The plain-dressed man. The one she'd just had security throw out.

"Ma'am," the secretary said slowly, her voice trembling. "Can I... describe the guest you were expecting?"

Victoria's eyes narrowed, but she nodded curtly.

The secretary swallowed hard, her palms beginning to sweat. "Is he... handsome? Tall? Sharp facial features, defined looks?" Her voice dropped to almost a whisper. "And... was he recently released from prison?"

Victoria's expression shifted—surprise, then understanding. "Yes. That's him."

The secretary's blood ran cold.

Oh no.

The man she'd just ordered security to throw out. The man she'd dismissed as a nobody. The man Sarah had mocked and humiliated.

That was Ms. Chen's VIP guest.

"Oh God," she whispered, her face going pale. "Oh no, no, no—"

She spun on her heel and bolted toward the entrance.

Her heels clicked frantically against the marble as she sprinted, heart pounding, adrenaline surging.

What has she done? Ms. Chen is going to end her.

"Stop!" she screamed as she burst through the doors. "Stop! Leave him alone!"

The security guards had Ethan cornered near the entrance, still barking at him to leave.

The secretary shoved past them and dropped to her knees in front of Ethan, her entire body trembling.

"I'm so sorry!" Her voice cracked. "Please, Mr. Cole, forgive me! I didn't know—I made a terrible mistake!"

The guards stared, bewildered.

"Leave!" she snapped at them, her voice shaking with panic. "Just leave!"

They backed away slowly, glancing at each other in confusion.

Onlookers whispered, watching the scene unfold. The secretary—who'd just escorted Drake and Sarah into the VIP room with such confidence—was now on her knees, begging this plain-dressed man for forgiveness.

"Please, sir," she begged, tears gathering in her eyes. "I didn't know. I—I made a grave mistake. Please forgive me."

Ethan straightened his shirt where the guards had roughed him up, then looked down at her, his expression unreadable.

The silence stretched.

The secretary's hope shattered. She was going to lose her job. Worse—she'd be punished. She bowed her head lower. "Please, Mr. Cole. I didn't know—"

Finally, Ethan spoke.

"Big people don't hold grudges against small people."

The words hit her like a slap and a reprieve all at once.

She looked up, relief flooding her face. "Thank you. Thank you, sir. I swear I'll never make this mistake again."

"Lead me to Ms. Chen," Ethan said coolly.

"Yes, sir. Right away."

She stood quickly, blinking away tears, and led him to the elevator.

Not to the VIP room where Drake and Sarah waited—

To the top floor. Directly to Victoria Chen's office.

---

The secretary stopped in front of a large office door. "This is her office. You can go in, sir."

Ethan nodded and stepped inside.

Victoria was at her desk, organizing files. When she heard the door open, she looked up.

The moment their eyes met, Ethan paused.

She was stunning—sharp, poised, commanding. Everything about her radiated power and grace. This was Victoria Chen. The woman who'd built an empire. The woman who made men twice her age respect her.

A smile curved her lips as she walked toward him.

"Mr. Cole." Her voice was warm but respectful. "I'm so sorry for whatever trouble you encountered downstairs. I've been a poor host. You were mistreated, and that's unacceptable."

She glanced at the secretary, her expression turning cold.

"You may go."

The secretary fled without a word.

Victoria turned back to Ethan, her smile returning. "I hope this doesn't leave a bad impression."

For the first time all day, Ethan smiled—a real smile.

"It's nothing," he said. "What do you want from me, Ms. Chen?"