unseen motives

As the car came to a stop, Mr. Caldwell stepped out, and the security personnel lined up in a straight formation, bowing their heads in greeting.

"Welcome back, sir," their voices echoed in unison.

"Yeah…" Mr. Caldwell muttered, his gaze sweeping across the company grounds.

Immediately, his expression darkened. "Why are there so few people at work?" He scanned the inside from where he stood, quickly realizing that more than half of the workforce was absent.

Before the head of security could respond, the company's manager hurried outside.

"Good morning, sir," he greeted, bowing his head.

Mr. Caldwell ignored the formalities. "Where is everyone?" he asked, his voice laced with curiosity and frustration.

Ethan followed closely behind, but his presence went unnoticed by the others.

The manager hesitated before answering, choosing his words carefully. "Actually, these are the remaining employees who received at least a small tip. Most of the others left because they believed the company would collapse. They feared working without pay, given our financial struggles."

He continued as they walked through the building. "The ones still here are the truly loyal employees. Ever since the financial crisis hit, none of them have received a bonus. In fact, most didn't even get their full wages because company funds weren't sufficient."

Workers stood and greeted Mr. Caldwell as he passed, their expressions a mix of concern and cautious optimism.

"This was all detailed in the reports we sent you, sir," the manager added with a faint smirk. "Didn't you review them?"

Mr. Caldwell exhaled sharply. "I did… but I wasn't expecting it to be this bad." He looked back, then reached for Ethan's hand, gesturing for him to step closer.

The manager, seizing the moment, spoke again. "Sir, you ordered us to halt all production. If we don't restart soon, the losses will only increase. When do you plan to resume operations?"

Mr. Caldwell's gaze remained steady. "It's not just about producing. The real question is—will people still want what we offer? Be patient. When the time is right, you'll know." His tone was firm yet calm.

The manager took a quick glance at Ethan, observing his plain appearance. With a polite smile, he asked, "Sir, who is he?"

"Oh, meet Ethan," Mr. Caldwell said, his voice carrying an air of authority. "He'll be overseeing company operations under my direction for now."

The manager's eyes flickered with curiosity as he gave Ethan another once-over.

"Forget his appearance," Mr. Caldwell added, then turned to Ethan. "This is Jerry, my current manager. If you need any assistance, whether it's documents or anything else, he's the one to ask." He lightly pushed Ethan's hand toward Jerry in introduction.

Ethan offered a small wave. "Hi."

Jerry grinned. "Yeah, welcome, boss. I'm at your service." His voice was light but respectful.

Mr. Caldwell chuckled—a rare moment of amusement. "Alright then, no need for long introductions. Just get to work already, Ethan." He playfully patted Ethan's shoulder before heading toward his office.

Jerry watched the interaction with a slight smile. He had worked under Mr. Caldwell for years, yet this was the first time he had seen him display such a relaxed demeanor with someone.

As Mr. Caldwell disappeared into his office, Jerry turned to Ethan. "Come on, I'll show you your office."

They walked down the hallway toward the elevator. As they entered, Jerry glanced at Ethan. "So, how long have you known Mr. Caldwell?"

Ethan didn't respond immediately. A few seconds passed. Then a few more.

Jerry chuckled at the silence but continued talking. "I've known Mr. Caldwell for a long time, and not once has he ever smiled at me. He's always been strict—'Get to work,' 'Your bonus is deducted,' that kind of thing." He laughed.

Ethan remained quiet, his gaze drifting as he observed the surroundings.

Jerry soon realized Ethan wasn't much of a talker, so he dropped the conversation and focused on leading the way.

Once they reached the office, Jerry gestured toward the door. "This is your office. If you ever need anything, boss, just let me know. I'm at your service."

Ethan gave a small nod and stepped inside. "Thank you."

Jerry smiled respectfully as the door closed behind him.

Meanwhile, Elisabeth arrived at the hotel where Ethan was staying. She walked up to his room and knocked, but there was no response.

Frowning, she pulled out her phone and called him. No answer. She tried again. And again. But no matter how many times she dialed, Ethan wouldn't pick up.

Frustrated, she marched to the front desk and demanded an extra key to Ethan's room.

The receptionist hesitated. "I'm sorry, ma'am, but we can't—" She stopped mid-sentence, suddenly realizing who Elisabeth was. As the daughter of the CEO, Elisabeth had power—enough to get her fired if she refused.

Forcing a tight smile, the receptionist reached under the desk and handed her the spare key.

Elisabeth took it without a word and headed back to Ethan's room. She unlocked the door and stepped inside, her mind racing with curiosity.

Maybe he's hiding something… something secretive.

But as she scanned the room, disappointment settled in. The space was bare—just a bag, a few outfits, and a single laptop.

She walked around, searching for anything out of the ordinary, but there was nothing suspicious. Nothing unexpected.

With a sigh, she turned on her heel and left.

Returning the spare key, she glanced at the receptionist. "Where did Ethan go this morning?"

The receptionist looked bewildered. "Ma'am, how would I know that?"

Elisabeth's expression darkened. "What do you mean?" Her tone was sharp.

"I'm sorry, ma'am," the receptionist replied, her voice calm. "But he doesn't speak to us. He just walks in and out without saying a word."

Elisabeth scoffed. "Useless." With that, she spun around and left.

Sliding into her car, she drove straight to the Caldwell residence.

When she arrived, she parked across the street, her eyes fixed on the house. Ethan has to be here… she thought, gripping the steering wheel as she watched the building closely.

Inside, David and Lila were the only ones home.

David came downstairs and spotted Lila lounging in the living room. "Hey, Lila, I'm heading out for a walk," he muttered. "This break from work is boring as hell."

Lila pouted. "So you're just going to leave me here alone?"

David raised a brow. "What? If you wanna go out, then go. I'm not stopping you. What does that have to do with me?"

Lila huffed and stood up. "Wait for me. I'm coming with you."

David groaned. "No, I don't need company."

But Lila ignored him, quickly grabbing her things and running after him. As they stepped outside, David sighed in defeat.

"You're really annoying, you know that?" he muttered. "I just want to walk alone. Can't you go your own way?"

"Nope. We're walking together today, wherever you go," Lila said with a playful grin.

David rolled his eyes and started walking, but Lila suddenly froze.

"David, look," she whispered, pointing at a car parked across the street.

David followed her gaze.

"That's the woman who kissed Ethan last time," Lila murmured. "The one he swore was just a 'friend.'"

David narrowed his eyes. "What do you think she's doing here?"

"Obviously, she's looking for Ethan," Lila said. "Let's go talk to her."

David hesitated. "I don't think that's necessary—"

Before he could finish, Lila grabbed his wrist and pulled him toward the car.

She knocked on the closed window. "Hey."

Inside, Elisabeth rolled down the window, her expression prideful. "How may I help you?"

Lila let out a small laugh, full of mockery. "How may you help me? Really?"

She folded her arms. "You're looking for Ethan, aren't you?"

Elisabeth's expression shifted, her voice calmer now. "Yes. Is he in?"

"No, he's not," Lila replied, tilting her head. "But… if you tell me what your relationship with him is, I might tell you where he is." She smirked. "Are you his girlfriend?"

"No," Elisabeth admitted, though a part of her had considered pretending they were dating just to keep other women away.

"Ohh, I see." Lila exchanged a knowing glance with David.

"So," Lila continued, "what's your interest in him?"

Elisabeth hesitated, then answered, "We're just friends… but I like him."

"Have you told him that?" Lila asked.

"Not yet."

A brief silence settled between them.

Then David leaned against the car window, studying Elisabeth carefully. "I need you to do something for me," he said, his voice casual but deliberate. "And in return… I'll help you with Ethan."

Elisabeth blinked, caught off guard.

David had noticed something in her tone—something that told him she could be easily manipulated.

And he planned to use that to his advantage.