CHAPTER 2: THE FILE THEY TRIED TO ERASE
The man in the expensive suit tightened his grip on the young woman's arm.
"You're confused," he said calmly. "Come with me."
But Ethan stepped between them.
"No."
The stranger's frightened eyes met his.
For a moment, she seemed ready to surrender.
Then she whispered a single name.
"Harold."
The suited man's expression changed.
Only slightly.
But Ethan noticed.
Harold Bennett.
His father's longtime attorney.
A man who had worked for the Parker family for more than thirty years.
The woman pulled a small flash drive from her coat pocket and shoved it into Ethan's hand.
"Claire wanted you to have this."
Harold lunged forward.
Ethan reacted instantly.
Years of corporate negotiations had taught him how to recognize panic.
And for the first time in his life, Harold Bennett was panicking.
The woman broke free and ran.
Harold hesitated between chasing her and stopping Ethan.
That hesitation cost him.
Ethan got into his car and drove away.
Fast.
Very fast.
An hour later, he sat alone in his apartment staring at the contents of the flash drive.
Hundreds of documents.
Financial records.
Emails.
Medical reports.
Then he found a video.
The timestamp was sixteen years old.
Claire appeared on screen.
She looked exhausted.
Terrified.
And pregnant.
"Ethan," she said through tears.
"If you're watching this, it means they finally failed."
Ethan felt his chest tighten.
"Our father discovered something about the company. Something worth billions. When he refused to sell it, powerful people came after us."
She paused.
"They made him choose."
The room suddenly felt colder.
"Choose between protecting the company... or protecting me."
Silence filled the apartment.
Then Claire spoke the words Ethan never expected to hear.
May you like
"He chose the company."
And Ethan's entire world shattered.
