A Single Dad Took His Drunk Friend Home — Then the CEO Who Watched Him All Night Asked Him to Stay
Chapter 3
Ethan expected a dramatic story.
It wasn’t.
Victoria explained that Marcus had secretly moved company funds through several shell corporations.
The losses were significant.
Not enough to destroy Sterling Global.
Enough to damage a division and put several employees at risk.
Victoria had discovered irregularities two months earlier.
She hired investigators.
Marcus had denied everything.
Then the evidence became overwhelming.
He resigned.
But he refused to cooperate.
“Why was he celebrating?”
“Because he believes he’s won.”
Ethan frowned.
“Won what?”
Victoria handed him a folder.
Inside were photographs.
Bank transactions.
Corporate structures.
Shipping records.
Marcus had apparently been working with an outside group trying to purchase several Sterling Global assets through fraudulent means.
Ethan studied the pages.
“Why show me?”
“Because one company involved in the transactions is connected to your employer.”
He looked up.
“My company?”
“Not directly.”
She pointed to a subsidiary.
“Your transportation network handled shipments linked to them.”
Ethan leaned back.
“So you think I know something.”
“I think you’re observant.”
He laughed.
“I’m a logistics manager, Victoria.”
“Exactly.”
She showed him another photograph.
A warehouse.
Several trucks.
One belonged to his company.
“What do you want me to do?”
“Help me understand what happened.”
Ethan looked skeptical.
“You could hire investigators.”
“I did.”
“Then why me?”
Victoria looked at him.
“Because last night I watched you do something most people in my world don’t do.”
“What?”
“You stopped everything to help a drunk friend.”
“He’s my friend.”
“Exactly.”
She paused.
“You weren’t trying to impress anyone.”
Ethan almost smiled.
“So you think I’m morally superior?”
“No.”
She looked directly at him.
“I think you’re trustworthy.”
That word stayed with him.
After dinner, Victoria showed him one more thing.
A message.
Anonymous.
You hired the wrong people. Trust the man who drives the old SUV.
Ethan stared.
“Why does that mention me?”
“I don’t know.”
“Who else has seen this?”
“Nobody.”
“Then why tell me?”
“Because I think someone is watching you.”
Ethan’s smile disappeared.
“Me?”
Victoria nodded.
“That’s why I asked you to stay tonight.”
He stared.
She clarified quickly.
“Not because of what you think.”
“I wasn’t thinking anything.”
She smiled.
“I know.”
She took a breath.
“My security team believes your house may have been followed.”
Ethan thought about Lily.
His expression changed.
“I need to go home.”
Victoria nodded immediately.
“I’ll send security with you.”
“I don’t need…”
“You have a daughter.”
That stopped him.
“How do you know?”
Victoria looked surprised.
“I did my homework.”
Ethan became wary.
“How much do you know about me?”
“Not enough.”
She walked him to the door.
“Be careful.”
He looked at her.
“Are you always this mysterious?”
“No.”
“You are.”
She smiled.
“Goodnight, Ethan.”
He drove home.
He checked every street behind him.
No suspicious vehicles.
Nothing unusual.
But when he arrived, his front door was unlocked.
He had locked it.
He knew he had.
He stepped inside quietly.
Lily was asleep.
Everything looked normal.
Then he saw the kitchen table.
A small envelope sat there.
His name was written on it.
Ethan Brooks.
Inside was one photograph.
It showed him helping Marcus into his car outside the restaurant.
On the back were four words.
You should have left him.
