Chapter21: One Step Closer
Ethan was pacing his office, the news fresh in his mind and the adrenaline coursing through his veins. His father's financial department had finally slipped up—one of the high-ranking minions, someone deeply trusted by his father, had been caught attempting to embezzle company funds. This wasn't just any mistake; it was catastrophic enough to warrant immediate replacement, and Ethan had already positioned himself as the solution.
"This is it," Ethan muttered to himself, a grin spreading across his face. "One step closer. Just one more piece of the puzzle falling into place."
With this turn of events, Ethan saw a direct path to accelerating his plan to oust his father from the company. Replacing the embezzler with one of his loyal associates would solidify his influence, and with the chain reaction it would cause among lower-level employees, his father's once-stable network of cronies would begin to crumble.
"This is better than I ever hoped," Ethan whispered. His mind raced with calculations. If everything went according to plan, the board's composition would be in his favor sooner than anticipated. All he needed was one final push—a decisive move to secure shares from neutral or pro-father stakeholders.
Unable to contain his excitement, Ethan stormed out of his office and made a beeline for Rebecca's room. Rebecca had been his confidante, his rock throughout the turbulent planning and scheming. She had seen him through his frustrations and doubts, grounding him when his ambitions seemed too distant.
Rebecca, however, was in no mood for his enthusiasm. She was seated on her bed, scrolling through her phone, visibly annoyed by something.
Ethan burst in without knocking, practically vibrating with excitement. "Rebecca! You won't believe what just happened—"
Before he could finish his sentence, Rebecca's fist connected with his face, sending him stumbling backward.
"Ethan!" she snapped, glaring at him. "How many times do I have to tell you to knock?"
Ethan rubbed his cheek, laughing despite the sharp pain. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry! But you're going to forgive me when you hear this!"
Rebecca rolled her eyes. "This better be good," she muttered, leaning back with crossed arms.
"It's not just good—it's amazing! One of Dad's top guys in the financial department got caught embezzling funds. Can you believe it? A high-ranking one, too. This gives me the perfect opportunity to replace him with my own guy."
Rebecca's annoyance faded as she processed the information. "Really?" she asked, sitting up straighter.
"Really! And it gets better. With this guy gone, the lower-level minions are going to feel the pressure. They'll either leave on their own or make more mistakes. It's like a chain reaction, and at the end of it, Dad's whole network will collapse."
Rebecca allowed herself a small smile. "That is good news. Finally, something's going our way."
Ethan's grin widened. "It's not just good news—it's game-changing. Once the lower ranks are dealt with, I can start shifting the board in my favor. I'll replace neutral and disloyal members with people I trust. But here's the best part: I have a plan to speed this up, and it involves Leo."
Rebecca raised an eyebrow. "Leo? How does he fit into this?"
"Well, think about it. If I can buy up shares from those neutral board members—or better yet, the ones loyal to Dad—I can solidify my position faster. Leo has the money, and knowing him, he'll probably buy more than I need just to be sure."
Rebecca leaned back, nodding thoughtfully. "It's not a bad plan. But you're going to need a solid pitch to convince him. He's not just going to throw money around unless there's a clear benefit for him."
Ethan smirked. "Oh, I know exactly how to frame it. Leo likes results, and this investment will give him more control over a major corporation. Plus, he's been looking for ways to grow his portfolio. This is perfect for him."
Rebecca stood, her expression serious. "If we're speeding things up, then we need to be prepared for the fallout. Your father isn't going to take this lying down, and once he realizes what's happening, he'll fight back. Hard."
"I know," Ethan said, his grin fading slightly. "But that's why we have to act fast. The more ground I gain now, the less room he'll have to maneuver later."
Rebecca crossed her arms. "Fine. But remember, this isn't just about you anymore. If you mess this up, you're not the only one who'll pay for it."
Ethan nodded, his determination hardening. "I won't mess this up. I can't. This is the opportunity we've been waiting for, Rebecca. With your help and Leo's resources, we can finally take him down."
Rebecca's eyes softened slightly, and she placed a hand on Ethan's shoulder. "Then let's make sure we do it right."
Leo was sprawled on the couch in his penthouse suite, casually flipping through a financial news app when Ethan barged in, holding a stack of papers and a laptop bag. The determined look on Ethan's face made Leo raise an eyebrow.
"What's with the invasion, Ethan? You look like you're about to pitch me the next big startup," Leo joked, sitting up.
Ethan plopped down across from him, laying the papers on the table between them. "Not quite, but this is serious, Leo. I need to talk to you about something important."
Leo leaned back, crossing his arms. "Alright, shoot."
Ethan took a deep breath. "You know about my dad, the company, the politics—it's a mess. But I've got a shot to fix it. One of his top cronies got caught skimming company funds, and now I have the chance to replace him with someone loyal to me."
Leo nodded, already following. "Sounds like progress. What do you need from me?"
Ethan hesitated, then launched into an explanation of his plan. He detailed how he could use this momentum to restructure the board, eliminate his father's loyalists, and gain total control of the company. He also mentioned the need to buy out shares from neutral and pro-father stakeholders to ensure his grip on the company.
"You've helped me so much already," Ethan said earnestly. "But this is the final stretch. I need funds to secure those shares—and I know you're the guy who can make it happen."
Leo didn't even blink. "Done."
Ethan froze. "Wait, you're agreeing? Just like that?"
Leo laughed. "Of course. We're friends, Ethan. You don't need to give me a whole PowerPoint presentation every time you need help."
"But this isn't just about the money," Ethan insisted. "This is about everything. If I screw this up, it's not just me who's affected. I've relied on you so much, and I want you to know how much that means to me."
Leo rolled his eyes playfully. "Alright, alright, I get it. You're grateful. Now stop being so dramatic."
Ethan chuckled nervously but pressed on. "Seriously, though. You've helped me in so many ways. Not just financially—your advice, your perspective—it's been invaluable. I wouldn't be this far without you."
Leo leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "Ethan, that's what friends are for. You'd do the same for me, wouldn't you?"
"Of course," Ethan replied without hesitation.
"Then stop overthinking it," Leo said with a grin. "We've got this. Now, tell me about this plan of yours in detail."
As Ethan delved into the specifics, he casually dropped another piece of information. "Oh, by the way, there's an auction happening in your home city soon. It's kind of a big deal. Rare items, high-profile attendees—the works."
Leo's interest piqued. "An auction? Sounds fancy. What's the catch?"
"No catch," Ethan said. "But I think we should all go. It'll be a good way to network, plus, given what I'm planning, it's perfect timing. Everyone being there together makes it easier to coordinate things. And, honestly, it'll be fun."
Leo leaned back, grinning. "Alright, I'm in. A little excitement never hurt anyone."
As they continued talking, Emma entered the room, carrying a tray of snacks. She set it down on the table and glanced between the two men, her expression curious.
"What's all the excitement about?" she asked.
"Ethan's got a grand plan," Leo said, gesturing dramatically. "And it involves an auction in my hometown."
Emma smiled politely but stayed quiet, her mind drifting. Rebecca's words from their recent conversation echoed in her mind: "You're blushing, Emma. You like him, don't you?"
She shook her head slightly, trying to focus. But then Leo laughed, reaching over to place a casual arm around her shoulders.
"Isn't this great, Emma? We're all going to have some fun for once," Leo said, his grin infectious.
Emma froze. Her heart raced, and her face turned pink as she remembered Rebecca's teasing. Was it true? Did she feel something for Leo? She couldn't deny how her stomach fluttered whenever he smiled or how her mind lingered on his casual gestures of affection.
Rebecca, standing by the doorway, noticed Emma's blush and smirked. "This is perfect,".
Rebecca joined them, leaning against the wall with a knowing smile. She didn't say anything, but her eyes darted between Leo and Emma.
"Alright," Rebecca said finally, clapping her hands together. "If we're doing this, let's make it count. Ethan, you focus on your plan. Leo, you make sure Emma doesn't stress herself out too much."
Leo laughed. "When does Emma ever stress out?"
Emma huffed, trying to mask her embarrassment. "I'm perfectly fine, thank you very much."
Rebecca's grin widened. "Everything's coming together," she thought.