Underestimated: The Rise of Ethan Cole

Chapter 5

Chapter Five

"What do you want from me, Ms. Chen?" Ethan asked.

Victoria stepped back, gesturing toward the seating area. "Please, have a seat, Mr. Cole."

"Ethan is fine."

He moved to the leather couch, settling into it with the ease of someone who'd been on his feet far too long today.

Victoria studied him as he sat—young, sharp-featured, composed. But she'd noticed the way he'd looked at her when he first walked in. That brief, unguarded moment when his eyes had lingered just a beat too long. Admiration, yes. But something more.

Interest. Attraction. Maybe even a crush.

Her lips curved slightly. So the young Mr. Cole wasn't as unaffected as he pretended to be.

That made him seem... flippant. A bit too easily swayed by a pretty face. Her father had warned her repeatedly to treat this man with the utmost respect, insisting he was someone capable of helping her. But looking at him now—so young, and clearly a little starstruck—she couldn't help but wonder if her father had misjudged him.

Still, she kept her expression warm and respectful. Her father wouldn't have sent him if he were completely useless.

She’d just... start with something smaller. Test the waters.

Victoria sat across from him. "Call me Victoria, then. First names only—I'd be more comfortable that way."

Ethan nodded. "Fair enough. So what's the matter, Victoria?"

"Tonight, I'm hosting a charity gala," she explained, leaning forward slightly. "I'm using it to recruit new partners—people who can strengthen my position and help me resolve some... difficulties I've been facing. I'd like you to attend. Help me figure out which potential partner would be the best choice."

Ethan watched her carefully, his expression unreadable.

He knew exactly what she was doing. She was underestimating him—testing him with something minor instead of trusting him with real power. He'd caught the way she'd sized him up, the flicker of doubt in her eyes before she'd masked it with politeness.

But he understood. She didn't know him. She had no reason to trust him yet.

He let the silence stretch for a beat, then nodded.

"I'll attend."

Before Victoria could respond, a sharp knock interrupted them.

She frowned, irritation flashing across her face. "Come in."

The secretary entered, head bowed, fingers twitching nervously.

"Ma'am, I—"

"What is it?" Victoria's tone was clipped.

"Drake Hastings and Sarah are still waiting in the VIP room. They're asking about the partnership. Should I... kick them out?"

Ethan turned to Victoria. "What's the situation with them? Did you invite them?"

Victoria sighed, her annoyance clear. "Drake Hastings has been trying to attach himself to my company for months. But his family's finances are a mess, and even if they weren't, they lack the strength I need. Plus, his reputation as a playboy doesn't exactly inspire confidence." She shook her head. "I never wanted to cooperate with them, let alone make them partners."

Ethan's jaw tightened. His expression darkened, something cold settling over his features.

"I see."

Victoria caught the shift in his demeanor—the tension in his shoulders, the way his hands clenched briefly before relaxing.

"Is something wrong?" she asked carefully. "Do you have a grudge against them?"

She didn't know the full story. She'd only heard rumors—Drake and Sarah dating, their names splashed across gossip blogs. She had no idea Sarah was Ethan's ex-wife.

"Yes," Ethan said flatly. "I do."

Victoria's eyes narrowed. She turned sharply to the secretary.

"Inform them that all cooperation between B Corporation and Sarah's family has been terminated. Effective immediately."

The secretary's eyes widened.

"As for Drake Hastings," Victoria continued coldly, "his family still has some old-money influence. We'll postpone any settlement with them for now. But make it clear—he's no longer welcome here."

The secretary bowed quickly. "Yes, ma'am."

She left, closing the door behind her.

---

Meanwhile, in the VIP Room...

Sarah stretched out on the plush couch, her smile wide and satisfied.

"Drake, can you imagine? With this partnership, your family's going to rise to unbelievable heights!" She squeezed his arm. "Victoria Chen finally recognizes your value!"

Drake leaned back, grinning smugly. "About time, right? She was playing hard to get before, but now..." He laughed. "She finally came to her senses."

Sarah beamed. "We're going to be on every magazine cover. Everyone's going to know our names. God, I'm so happy."

The door opened.

Sarah turned, expecting to see Victoria Chen herself.

Instead, the secretary walked in—her face cold, her expression furious.

Sarah frowned. "Where's—"

"How dare you impersonate Ms. Chen's VIP guest?" the secretary snapped, her voice cutting like a blade.

Sarah froze. Drake straightened instantly, his grin vanishing.

"What are you talking about?" Sarah asked, confusion creeping into her voice.

The secretary's eyes blazed. "All cooperation between B Corporation and your family has been terminated, Sarah. And Drake—you don't need to wait for Ms. Chen anymore. She won't be meeting with you."

Sarah's mouth fell open. "What?"

She stood abruptly, Drake following her lead, shock written across both their faces.

"No," Sarah whispered, shaking her head. "No, no, no. This can't be happening."

Her mind raced. Being blacklisted by Victoria Chen would destroy her. Her family's rising status would crumble. Even Drake wouldn't be able to save her—Victoria's influence was far greater than the Hastings family.

"What did I do?" Sarah demanded, stepping toward the secretary. "I need to see Ms. Chen. Call her for me!"

The secretary turned to leave.

Sarah grabbed her arm, yanking her back. "I said call her! What did I do wrong? Why is she blacklisting me?"

The secretary wrenched her arm free. "Let go of me!"

Drake stepped forward. "You can't just throw us out without an explanation! She invited us here!"

Sarah grabbed the secretary again, desperation clawing at her voice. "I can't be blacklisted! Do you know what that'll do to me? Call Ms. Chen out here!"

"Security!" the secretary yelled.

Three guards appeared immediately.

"Get them out. By force, if necessary."

"No!" Sarah screamed. "Come back! I need to see her!"

The guards grabbed her arms, pulling her toward the door. Drake tried to resist, but another guard shoved him forward.

"Let's just go," Drake hissed. "People are watching!"

"This is a disaster!" Sarah cried, tears stinging her eyes as the guards forced them through the lobby and out the front doors.

The doors slammed shut behind them.

---

Sarah stood on the sidewalk, breathing hard, her hair disheveled. She refused to let the tears fall—not here, not with people still watching.

"Drake," she said shakily, turning to him. "Why did she say we were impersonating her VIP guest? What did she mean?"

Drake avoided her gaze, panic twisting in his chest. He hadn't caused this exactly, but he'd definitely made assumptions. Stupid assumptions. And now Sarah was looking at him like he had answers, and if she found out the truth—that he'd been lying about being Victoria's VIP guest all along—she'd drop him in a heartbeat.

He couldn't let that happen.

"I don't know," he said carefully, forcing confidence into his voice. "There must be some misunderstanding."

Sarah's mind flashed back to the prison—Ethan's cold voice echoing in her memory.

*"You'll regret this, Sarah. You have no idea what you've just thrown away."*

Her eyes widened. "Ethan," she whispered.

Drake looked at her. "What?"

"It was Ethan!" she said, her voice rising. "He did this! He's getting revenge on me!" She grabbed Drake's arm. "Tell me—how else would he have ended up there? He was the only other person in that lobby!"

Drake's face darkened, relief flooding through him. Yes. Perfect. Blame Ethan.

"That bastard," Drake said, nodding quickly. "After security threw him out, he must've been humiliated. So he found some underhanded way to sabotage us."

Sarah's tears finally broke free. "Drake, you have to do something. He can't get away with this. He ruined me!"

Drake reached into his pocket, his mind racing. He needed to fix this. Keep Sarah on his side. Make her believe he still had control.

He pulled out an envelope.

Inside was a sleek black-and-gold invitation.

Sarah's breath caught. "Is that—"

"The charity gala," Drake said, forcing a confident smirk. "I got us tickets. We'll go tonight, clear up the misunderstanding, and Victoria will deal with Ethan herself."

Sarah stared at the invitation, hope flooding back into her chest. She'd been trying desperately to get one, and Drake had made it look effortless.

Maybe he really was Victoria's VIP guest after all.

"Drake!" she said breathlessly. "You're incredible! That partnership position is yours—no one else's!" She grabbed his hands. "Please, once you become her partner, convince her to restore my family's cooperation rights. Get me off the blacklist. Please."

Drake's ego swelled despite the panic still churning beneath the surface. "Don't worry," he said smoothly. "I'll handle it. Victoria will listen to me."

But deep down, fear gnawed at him. He wasn't Victoria's VIP guest. He never had been. And if the truth came out tonight at the gala...

He pushed the thought away. He'd figure it out. He had to.

Sarah smiled, relief washing over her.

She had no idea how badly this night was about to go.