It wasn’t long before gossip started to swirl in high society. Rowe Group’s CEO, Ethan, was getting awfully close to his late friend’s widow and daughter. The three of them were often seen together, while Ethan’s own marriage seemed to be falling apart.
The gossip got so bad that it started to affect Rowe Group’s stock price.
Grace couldn’t take it anymore.
She went straight to Ethan’s office.
“Ethan.” Grace didn’t look pleased. “I know how close you were with Jack, and it’s only right for you to help Hannah and Isla now that he’s gone.
“I used to be very fond of Hannah. But things are different now. You’re married, and you’re the head of Rowe Group! Every move you make represents the Rowes.
“Do you know what people are saying? All those rumors sent Rowe Group’s stock down two points at the open today!”
Ethan barely reacted to his mother’s questions.
“Mom, I know my boundaries,” he said, unbothered. “I’ve never done anything to betray Amelia.”
“Boundaries?” Grace pulled a stack of photos from her bag.
The pictures were taken in an upscale family restaurant.
Under the warm lights, Ethan hugged a beaming Isla while Hannah sat across from him, smiling sweetly as she served him food.
The photos were taken from just the right angle, making the three of them look like a picture-perfect family.
Ethan’s eyes narrowed.
He picked up the photos.
Instead of asking how Grace got them, he asked anxiously, “Has Amelia seen these?”
“I paid the paparazzi to keep these out of the press. No one else knows except you and me,” Grace said. “Ethan, even if you have a clear conscience and know you didn’t do anything wrong, what about everyone else? What will the press and investors think? Don’t forget, your CEO position at Rowe Group isn’t set in stone. Your uncles are all waiting for you to slip up.
“If Rowe Group’s stock keeps dropping because of your private life, the board could use it as an excuse to replace you at any time! So even if you don’t care for Amelia, you need to keep up appearances.”
That hit Ethan right where it hurt the most.
The business world was unforgiving. One wrong step could ruin him.
He’d worked too hard for this position – he couldn’t let his personal drama ruin it all.
Ethan’s face darkened, his eyes swirling with hidden emotions.
After a long pause, he gathered up the photos and tossed them in the shredder. His voice was cold and serious as he said, “I know what I need to do.”
Seeing that he’d finally gotten the message, Grace’s expression softened. She stood up, straightened her shawl, and gave a final warning. “Handle this properly.”
The vast office was quiet again, with only Ethan left inside.
He sat there for a moment before picking up the phone. “Have Mr. Zane from the design department come to my office.”
Soon, a slightly chubby man walked in and greeted him, “Mr. Rowe.”
Ethan slid a document across the desk, his tone indifferent. “Stellar Attire just called.
They’re unhappy with our final designs and want everything redone from scratch.”
Peter’s face went pale. He broke out in a cold sweat. “But … those designs were drawn up by Ms. Harlow herself, and the client was satisfied before. I’ll call her right now and ask her to come fix this!”
Ethan tapped the desk, his face even gloomier.
“Mr. Zane, Amelia might be on our design team, but she doesn’t come in regularly, and the work she turns in just isn’t good enough.”
As the director of the design department, Peter was sharp enough to instantly understand what Ethan meant.
He immediately lowered his head and answered quickly, “You’re right, Mr. Rowe. I should have supervised better. I’ll make sure nothing like this happens again.”
“You can go now.” Ethan waved him out.
Peter practically bolted from the office, relieved to have escaped.
Once the door closed behind him, a hint of a smile tugged at Ethan’s tense mouth.
So, Amelia, you’re giving me the silent treatment and hiding from me, huh?
That’s fine.
I have plenty of ways to make you come looking for me first.
At Amelia’s studio, she stood in front of a
No Sex for Six Years Because of Her? I’m Done!massive cutting table, slicing through fabric with a pair of tailoring shears. Each cut rang out sharp and clear in the room.
Just then, her phone started to ring on the side table.
She put down the scissors, wiped her hands, and picked up the phone. She frowned when she saw “Mr. Zane” on the caller ID.
As soon as she answered, Peter’s slightly anxious, eager voice came through. “Ms. Harlow, you finally answered! Hope I’m not bothering you?”
“Mr. Zane, is something wrong?” Amelia’s tone was as cool as ever.
“Ah, Amelia. Well, here’s the thing.” Peter sounded deeply troubled. “Remember the Stellar Attire project you were in charge of? The one we wrapped up?
“They just called today and said they’re not happy at all with the design sketches we delivered, and they want everything scrapped and redone! Can you come in tomorrow morning and help us sort it out?”
Only then did Amelia remember that she had never officially resigned from Rowe Group. Technically, she was still a designer hired by Rowe Group.
Stellar Attire?
She remembered the project well – Stellar Attire had outsourced the entire season’s Cindara-style fashion line to Rowe Group, and she’d pulled multiple all-nighters to get it done.
She clearly recalled that when she submitted the design sketches, the Stellar Attire project manager was satisfied with her work. So why had they suddenly changed their mind?
Amelia unconsciously tapped her fingers on the table, a vague sense of unease building inside her.
Is there someone pulling strings behind the scenes?
Could this be Ethan’s doing?
Despite all her doubts, Amelia was always diligent and responsible.
Since she’d led the project, there was no way she’d ignore it now.
“All right, got it,” she agreed. “I’ll come by tomorrow morning.”
After she hung up, the thought of returning to Rowe Group – and possibly running into Ethan – made her uneasy.
Meanwhile, after hearing Grace’s warning, Ethan decided he needed to put some distance between himself and Hannah and Isla, at least in public.
So that evening, instead of heading home right after work, he met up with a few old friends at a bar and stayed out until late before driving back to the villa.
But when he opened the door, he was surprised to see the living room wasn’t as dark as usual. A single warm lamp still glowed.
Hannah and Isla were curled up together on the couch, watching a silent cartoon playing on TV.
Clearly, they weren’t really watching TV. They were waiting for him.
As soon as Ethan came in, Hannah hurried over, her face showing just the right amount of gentle concern.
“Ethan, you’re back.” She spoke softly. “Isla won an award for her drawing at school today. She insisted on staying up to show it to you. No matter what I said, she refused to go to bed.”
She caught a faint whiff of alcohol as she approached and immediately turned toward the kitchen. “You’ve been drinking? I’ll make you some hangover tea.”
Ethan’s brow furrowed ever so slightly, but he didn’t say no.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.