into the tangled path

Ethan pulled out his phone and dialed Mr. Caldwell's number. He listened as the phone rang, and after a moment, Mr. Caldwell picked up.

"Hello?" Mr. Caldwell's cold voice came through the line.

"Sir, I'm at your house now," Ethan said politely.

"Alright, hold on. Someone will open the door," Mr. Caldwell replied curtly before ending the call. He called out to Lila, "Open the door. I have a guest." His commanding tone left no room for argument.

Lila walked to the door and opened it. Seeing Ethan, she froze in disbelief. "It's you… What…" she muttered, leaving the door ajar before walking back to the couch.

Ethan stepped inside and approached the living room slowly. Just as he was about to sit down, Lila's mocking voice cut through the air. "Don't stain the white couch with your dirty clothes."

Ethan met her gaze but said nothing, simply nodding as he remained standing. Moments later, Mr. Caldwell emerged from his room.

"Ethan, why aren't you sitting? Come here," Mr. Caldwell said warmly, gesturing toward the special seating area on the balcony where he conducted business.

Lila stared at her father in shock, unable to believe how kind he was being to Ethan.

"Lila, get a drink for our guest," Mr. Caldwell commanded.

Ethan followed Mr. Caldwell to the balcony and sat down. "So, young man, you mentioned you're good at accounting. Which school did you graduate from?" Mr. Caldwell asked, his smile genuine but calculated.

Ethan hesitated for a moment. "Well, sir… I didn't—"

Before he could finish, Lila returned with a drink and deliberately spilled it on him.

"Oh, sorry! It was a mistake," Lila said, her voice dripping with false sweetness.

"No, don't worry about it. It's fine," Ethan said, forcing a small smile, trying to maintain composure despite the awkward situation.

Mr. Caldwell's face darkened instantly. His eyes turned steely as he stared at his daughter. "Why are you so careless? Can't you gently place a glass? Get out!" he snapped coldly.

Lila's smirk grew, but she didn't say a word as she walked away, leaving Ethan standing there, his nerves rising.

"Go clean yourself up in the bathroom," Mr. Caldwell said, his tone softening slightly but still laced with authority.

"Don't worry, sir. It'll dry," Ethan replied nervously. "I don't have a spare pair of trousers if I take these off."

"It's alright. Change in the bathroom; I'll get you something to wear," Mr. Caldwell insisted, his gaze unwavering.

After changing into the clothes Mr. Caldwell had provided, Ethan stepped out of the bathroom just as Olivia ended her phone call and walked into the hallway.

"Good afternoon, ma'am," Ethan greeted her politely, bowing his head.

Her eyes narrowed as she sized him up. "What are you doing here?" she asked sharply, her voice tinged with suspicion.

Before Ethan could respond, Mr. Caldwell called out from the balcony. "Honey, that's Ethan. I invited him over."

Olivia's expression remained cool and unreadable, but she didn't say anything further.

Ethan returned to the balcony, where Mr. Caldwell handed him a book, the leather-bound cover worn from frequent use. "Take a look at this. If Sophia were here, she'd glance at it for a minute and tell me the problem. I've been going through it for days and still can't make sense of it."

Ethan took the book from Mr. Caldwell and flipped through the pages. The numbers and figures were familiar, but something didn't sit right. "Well, sir, I'm not sure what I can do in such a short time…"

"No need to rush," Mr. Caldwell reassured him, settling into his chair. "Take your time, but I need to know what's going on. The company's been running fine, or so I thought, but this… I don't know what to make of it. What do you see?"

Ethan's eyes narrowed as he analyzed the book, his heart pounding in his chest. The numbers didn't add up. "There's a problem with the records, sir. These aren't the proper records. Most of what's here seems fabricated, as if someone wanted to convince you this was the actual account. The equipment sales, for example—those aren't recorded anywhere. Whoever's been in charge of this has been manipulating the numbers."

Mr. Caldwell's eyebrows shot up in surprise, and he leaned forward, his face etched with concern. "Are you saying someone has been tampering with the accounts?"

Ethan nodded, his expression serious. "Yes. The records have been designed to mislead you, sir. And based on my experience, I'd say that whoever did this—likely James—has been planning this for a while, even before he joined Caldwell Horizon."

Mr. Caldwell's face grew grim as he processed the information. His fingers drummed on the table, his mind working through the implications. "James… I should've known," he muttered to himself.

Ethan hesitated, his curiosity getting the better of him. "Sir, if you don't mind me asking, why did Sophia leave? What could drive her away from her family?"

The question hung in the air, and Mr. Caldwell's demeanor shifted dramatically. His face clouded over, and his gaze dropped to the table. "That's not a topic for today, Ethan," he replied, his voice tight.

Ethan didn't press further, sensing that the subject was painful. He chose to change the subject. "So, what now? How do we move forward?"

Mr. Caldwell leaned back in his chair, his posture suddenly more relaxed, but his eyes were intense. "I want to put you in charge of this. You seem capable, despite your financial situation. You've impressed me, Ethan. I can see why Sophia liked you. You have the potential to make things right."

Ethan's eyes widened, and he shook his head nervously. "Sir… That's not really necessary. I'm not looking for a position. I just want to help, that's all."

"What's holding you back? Are you worried James might come after you?" Mr. Caldwell asked, his voice low and serious.

"Yes," Ethan admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "He warned me to stay away from your family. He threatened me, said I'd regret it if I got involved."

Mr. Caldwell's eyes darkened with anger. "James thinks he can intimidate people into submission. But he's wrong. I'm not going to let him destroy everything I've worked for. If you want to help, you'll do so on your terms. I'll keep you safe, and you'll have my full support."

Ethan nodded slowly, feeling the weight of the situation pressing on him. "Alright, sir. I'll do my best. But I'll have to work discreetly. I don't want to put anyone in danger."

Mr. Caldwell smiled, a glimmer of approval in his eyes. "Understood. You'll report to my house every day, and I'll keep you updated on everything. You have full control over this matter. And you can stay here if you want—make yourself at home. Who knows? This might be your chance to marry my daughter when she returns."

Ethan stood up, his nerves on edge but his determination clear. "Thank you, sir. I'll start tomorrow."

Mr. Caldwell's grin widened. "If you pull this off, I'll make you president of one of my branches and fully support you marrying Sophia."

Ethan's heart raced as he left the house. Once outside, he gasped for air, his mind buzzing with the magnitude of what he'd just agreed to. "This is just the beginning. I can't afford to make a mistake," he thought to himself, his resolve strengthening with each step.