The next morning felt heavier than usual.
Anna walked into her office, trying to shake off the uneasiness from the night before, but it clung to her thoughts. The messages, Ethan's sudden appearances, Oliver's silence about certain things—it was all starting to connect into something much bigger.
She had just sat down when her assistant entered, looking slightly nervous.
"Ma'am… there's something you need to see."
Anna frowned. "What is it?"
Without a word, her assistant handed her a file.
Anna opened it, scanning the contents quickly. Financial reports. Investment records. Share acquisitions.
At first, nothing seemed unusual.
Then she saw the name.
Her fingers froze.
Ethan Mitchell.
Her heart skipped.
"What is this?" she asked quietly.
"He… he's been buying shares," her assistant said carefully. "Not directly. Through different companies. But it all traces back to him."
Anna leaned back slowly, her mind racing.
Investor.
He hadn't lied.
But this wasn't normal investment behavior.
This was control.
"How much?" she asked.
"Enough to influence decisions… maybe more, if he continues."
Anna closed the file, her expression turning serious.
"So he's not just here to watch," she murmured. "He's planning something."
Across the building, Oliver stood in his office, staring at the same information on his screen.
His grip tightened on the edge of the desk.
"I told you to keep track of every move he makes," he said into the phone, his voice low and controlled.
A pause.
Then—
"No mistakes this time."
He ended the call and looked out at the city, his jaw set.
"This isn't a coincidence anymore," he muttered.
Later that day, the company hosted a formal business event—investors, executives, media.
Anna stood near the entrance, dressed elegantly, her expression calm and composed. No one looking at her would guess the storm building beneath the surface.
Oliver stood beside her, his presence steady and protective.
"Stay close," he murmured.
Anna gave a small nod. "I'm not going anywhere."
The doors opened.
And he walked in.
Ethan Mitchell.
Dressed in a perfectly tailored suit, confidence radiating from every step, he moved through the crowd like he owned the place. Conversations quieted slightly as people noticed him.
His eyes found Anna instantly.
And he smiled.
Slow. Knowing.
Intentional.
Anna felt her heartbeat pick up, but she didn't look away.
He approached them calmly, stopping just a few steps away.
"Anna," he said smoothly. "You look exactly the same."
"Ethan," she replied, her tone neutral. "You don't."
A faint chuckle escaped him. "I'll take that as a compliment."
Oliver stepped slightly forward, positioning himself closer to Anna without making it obvious.
"What do you want?" Oliver asked, his voice calm but edged with steel.
Ethan finally looked at him.
"Straight to the point. I like that," he said. "But relax… I'm just here for business."
Anna crossed her arms slightly. "Buying shares secretly doesn't look like 'just business.'"
Ethan's smile widened.
"Smart as always," he said. "That's why I was looking forward to this."
"To what?" Anna asked.
"To working with you," he replied.
Silence.
The tension between them thickened.
Oliver's gaze darkened. "You're not working with her."
Ethan tilted his head slightly. "We'll see."
Anna stepped forward before Oliver could respond further.
"If you think you can control anything here," she said calmly, "you're mistaken."
Ethan's eyes lit with something unreadable.
"I don't want to control everything," he said quietly.
His gaze locked onto hers.
"Just enough."
A brief pause.
Then he stepped back, adjusting his cufflinks as if nothing had happened.
"I'll see you both around," he added, before turning and walking into the crowd.
Anna exhaled slowly.
Oliver leaned closer, his voice low.
"This is exactly what I warned you about."
Anna didn't respond immediately.
Her eyes were still on Ethan's retreating figure.
"No," she said quietly.
"This is something worse."
Because now she understood.
This wasn't just business.
This was personal.
And the game had just become far more dangerous.