The morning sun filtered through the tall windows of the Harrington Company building as Ethan made his way to his office. The atmosphere was buzzing with the usual energy of a busy workday, employees bustling about, phones ringing, and the hum of conversations filling the air. Ethan was focused, his mind already running through the tasks ahead.
As he settled into his office, the door opened, and Ardrin, the company's CFO, stepped in with a smug smile. "Ethan, good morning," he greeted. "Care to join me for a coffee in my office?"
Ethan glanced up, his expression unreadable. He nodded, rising from his chair and following Ardrin down the hall. They reached Aldrin's office, a spacious room with a commanding view of the city skyline. Ardrin motioned for Ethan to sit, then poured them both a cup of coffee.
"Quite the successful meeting yesterday," Ardrin began, leaning back in his chair. "Impressive work securing the investors. I am sure my uncle must be very happy.
"Thank you," Ethan replied, taking a sip of his coffee. He knew there was more to Ardrin's invitation than just pleasantries. This man though had nothing wrong. But there was a feeling of unease that kept lingering.
Ardrin's smile widened, but it didn't reach his eyes. "You know, Ethan, your drive and ambition remind me a lot of someone from the past. Your real mother, for instance. She was just a secretary when she first joined the company, but she married your father to climb the ranks. Quite the scandal back then."
Ethan's grip on his coffee cup tightened slightly, but he kept his expression neutral, listening as Ardrin continued.
"Of course, things didn't go as she planned," Ardrin said, his tone dripping with faux sympathy. "Your father divorced her in the end. It was all quite a mess. But you, Ethan, you've always been determined to make your mark, haven't you?"
Ardrin's eyes glittered with a malicious glint as he waited for Ethan's reaction. In the past, such comments had ignited Ethan's rage, leading to explosive confrontations. He knew Ethan would punch him and leave the office.
Then he would go and confront his father for leaving his mother. Even if he did do that. He would make sure that words would spread all over the office that Ethan had punched him in his office when he had invited him for a friendly coffee. Even he would see how Ethan would rise the ranks so easily. His eyes glinted with maliciousness.
Ardrin clearly anticipated a repeat performance, his posture poised for the anticipated outburst.
But today, Ethan was different. He took a deep breath, calming the storm that threatened to rise within him. Instead of reacting with anger, he met Ardrin's gaze and smiled, a cool, confident smile that didn't waver.
"At least I'm my father's son," Ethan said evenly. "I'm not living in someone else's house and working in their business as if it belonged to me."
Ardrin's smile faltered, his eyes narrowing. Ethan's response had caught him off guard, and he struggled to regain his composure. Ethan's words had struck a nerve, reminding Ardrin of his own insecurities and the precariousness of his position within the company.
Ethan leaned forward slightly, his smile never fading. "You see, Ardrin, I've learned from the past. I know what I want, and I'm willing to work hard to get it. You can try to provoke me all you want, but it won't change the fact that I'm here to stay."
The silence between them was charged with tension, the air heavy with unspoken challenges. Ardrin's fingers drummed on the desk, his expression a mixture of frustration and grudging respect.
"Very well, Ethan," Ardrin said finally, his tone clipped. "Let's see how long you can keep this up."
Ethan stood, his demeanor calm and unruffled. "I intend to," he replied, turning to leave the office.
As Ethan left the room, Ardrin's composed facade shattered. His eyes, once filled with smug satisfaction, now burned with pure, unadulterated rage. With a roar of frustration, he hurled his coffee cup against the wall, the porcelain shattering into countless pieces. The dark liquid splattered across the pristine floor, mirroring the chaos erupting in his mind.
How dare Ethan dismiss him so easily? How dare he walk away with that infuriating confidence? Ardrin's heart pounded with a mixture of fury and hatred. He could not let Ethan win. Not at all. He had already tried to undermine him in the meetings, pressing every nerve, exploiting every weakness, but recently, he had only met with failure. Each of Ethan's successes was a dagger to Ardrin's pride, twisting deeper with every triumph.
His hands trembling with rage, Ardrin reached for his phone, his fingers dialing a number he had hoped to never use. As the phone rang, his thoughts raced. Desperation fueled his actions now. He had exhausted all conventional means of sabotaging Ethan, and his failures had only fanned the flames of his resentment. The only option left was one that crossed the boundaries of morality and legality.
The line clicked, and a deep, gravelly voice answered. "What do you need?"
Ardrin's voice was a low hiss, dripping with venom. "I have a job for you. A high-profile target. It needs to be handled discreetly and efficiently."
There was a pause on the other end, a moment of consideration. "Who?"
"Ethan," Ardrin spat the name like a curse. "Ethan Harrington. He needs to be eliminated."
The voice on the other end was silent for a moment, processing the gravity of the request. "That's a tall order, Ardrin. It'll cost you."
"Money is no object," Ardrin snapped. "I want it done, and I want it done soon. He's a thorn in my side that needs to be removed."
"Understood. We'll handle it. But remember, once this starts, there's no turning back."
Ardrin's grip tightened on the phone, his knuckles white with tension. "Just get it done."
He ended the call, his heart still pounding. The room seemed to close in around him, the shattered coffee cup on the floor a stark reminder of his desperation. He walked to the window, staring out at the city below. The bright morning sun seemed mocking now, a stark contrast to the darkness brewing in his soul.
Ethan's confidence, his resilience, had pushed Ardrin to this breaking point. He had tried to play the game by the rules, but Ethan had changed those rules, had turned the tide against him. Now, there was no room for half-measures or hesitation.
As he stood there, the enormity of what he had just done settled over him. He had crossed a line, one that could never be uncrossed. But the thought of Ethan's downfall, of finally being rid of his rival, brought a twisted sense of satisfaction.
Ardrin's gaze hardened, his resolve solidifying. He would not let Ethan win. By any means necessary, he would see to it that Ethan Harrington was removed from his path. The game had changed, and Ardrin was prepared to play it to the bitter end.