Ethan sat at the table, staring at the carefully written proposal on his laptop. The terms were ironclad: complete transparency from Chase, sole decision-making authority over key aspects of the business, and a defined exit timeline. He wouldn't allow Chase to drag him into another disaster—not without safeguards.
The apartment was quiet, except for the faint hum of the heater. Lila, perched on the arm of the couch, sipped her tea as she watched him.
"You've been over that thing for hours," she said, her voice cutting through the stillness. "It's not going to magically get better if you keep tweaking it."
Ethan leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples. "It's not about the plan. It's about Chase. I don't trust him, Lila. And even if this deal goes through, there's a chance he'll try to pull something."
Lila placed her cup on the table and walked over, her expression sharp but calm. "Then don't give him the chance. Make the terms airtight. Protect yourself first, Ethan, always."
He nodded slowly, appreciating her bluntness. She had an uncanny ability to strip things down to their core, no sugarcoating. "I've sent it to a lawyer for review. If Chase agrees to this, we'll move forward. If not…" He shrugged.
"You'll walk," Lila finished for him. "As you should. Chase made his bed. He shouldn't expect you to lie in it too."
Ethan turned to look at her, curiosity flickering in his eyes. "You're good at this—keeping people at arm's length, not getting pulled into their problems. How do you do it?"
Lila's lips quirked into a small smile, though her eyes remained guarded. "You learn. Some lessons are harder than others."
Ethan wanted to ask more, but the way she turned back to her tea made it clear she wasn't in the mood to elaborate.
The lawyer's email came later that afternoon. Ethan reviewed the minor changes, applied them, and prepared to send the finalized document to Chase. His finger hovered over the "send" button for a moment.
"Second thoughts?" Lila's voice came from behind him.
He glanced over his shoulder to see her leaning against the doorway. "Not exactly. Just... wondering if I'm making the right move."
"You're making a move," she said simply. "That's more than you've done in years, isn't it?"
Ethan couldn't argue with that. Taking a deep breath, he clicked "send."
Chase called a few hours later. Ethan's phone buzzed on the table, and he hesitated before picking it up.
"Ethan," Chase began, his voice tinged with hesitation. "I got your email. Those terms are… tough. But I get it. I really messed things up between us before, and if this is what it takes to fix it, then fine. I'll agree."
Ethan's grip on the phone tightened. "Good. Once the contract's signed, we'll figure out the next steps. But, Chase, let me make one thing clear: I'm not doing this for you. I'm doing this because I won't let you drag anyone else down with you."
"I get it," Chase said, sounding humbled. "And I appreciate it, Ethan. I won't let you down."
Ethan ended the call, placing the phone on the table with a sigh.
"Looks like you've got yourself a deal," Lila said from the couch, where she'd been quietly observing.
"For now," Ethan replied. "I'm still not sure what I've gotten myself into."
Lila smirked. "Well, at least you've got me to keep you on your toes."
The next morning, Ethan sat at the kitchen table with a notepad, scribbling a list of tasks. He wanted to approach this methodically: reviewing Chase's company records, identifying the biggest problems, and devising a strategy to turn things around.
Lila wandered into the room, yawning and clutching a cup of coffee. "You're up early. Planning world domination?"
"Something like that," Ethan muttered, his focus on the paper.
She peered over his shoulder, reading his notes. "Revenue streams, cost reduction, employee morale… You're taking this seriously."
"If I'm going to do this, I'm doing it right," Ethan said firmly.
"Good," Lila said, stepping back. "But remember, Chase doesn't get unlimited chances. The moment he steps out of line, you cut him loose."
"I will," Ethan promised.
But even as he said it, a part of him couldn't shake the unease. Chase had a way of complicating things, and Ethan wasn't sure if this time would be any different. Still, with Lila's sharp advice keeping him grounded, he felt more prepared than ever to face whatever came next.