He Came Asking for a Job — But the Wealthy Widow Whispered, “What I Really Need Is a Husband”
Chapter 5
The board’s challenge returned sooner than expected.
Three directors wanted Charlotte removed as CEO.
Their argument was simple.
She was too emotional.
Too isolated.
Too dependent on personal decisions.
Charlotte knew what they really wanted.
Control.
One of them, Martin Vale, had been her husband’s business adviser.
He wanted influence over Rosemont Holdings.
He didn’t trust Ethan.
Ethan immediately noticed that.
At a board dinner, Martin asked:
“What exactly did you do before this?”
“Construction.”
“Successful?”
“Yes.”
“Until it failed.”
Ethan smiled.
“Yes.”
Martin laughed.
“Interesting.”
Charlotte’s jaw tightened.
Ethan remained calm.
“What would you like to know?”
Martin leaned forward.
“How does a man with no assets become the husband of a billionaire?”
The table became quiet.
Ethan could have responded angrily.
Instead, he said:
“I didn’t ask to be rich.”
Martin smiled.
“But you accepted.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Ethan looked at Charlotte.
Then answered:
“Because I was offered a chance to rebuild my life.”
Martin laughed.
“Convenient.”
Charlotte interrupted.
“Enough.”
The room went silent.
After dinner, Charlotte apologized.
“You shouldn’t have to deal with that.”
Ethan shrugged.
“People talk.”
“Not like that.”
He looked at her.
“Why are you so angry?”
“Because he’s insulting you.”
“So?”
She stared.
“What do you mean, so?”
“I’ve been insulted before.”
“I know.”
“Then don’t spend your energy on it.”
Charlotte shook her head.
“I care.”
He smiled softly.
“That’s what worries me.”
She looked at him.
“Why?”
“Because the contract ends.”
She stopped.
The sentence hung between them.
Neither spoke.
That night, Charlotte couldn’t sleep.
The agreement had two months left.
She had never thought about the end.
Not seriously.
Now she couldn’t stop.
Amelia had become attached to Ethan.
Charlotte had too.
She didn’t know how to separate the roles anymore.
The next morning, she found Ethan in the kitchen.
“Coffee?”
He nodded.
She poured it.
Then asked:
“What happens after?”
He looked at her.
“After what?”
“The six months.”
He understood.
“We follow the contract.”
Her face fell.
“Right.”
He studied her.
“Why?”
She looked away.
“Because that’s what we agreed.”
He nodded.
But he knew something had changed.
That afternoon, Amelia came home with a drawing.
Three people.
Charlotte.
Ethan.
Amelia.
Underneath, in crooked letters:
MY FAMILY
Charlotte stared.
Ethan looked at the page.
Amelia smiled.
“Do you like it?”
Charlotte tried to speak.
No words came.
Ethan crouched.
“I love it.”
Amelia smiled.
“Good.”
Then she asked:
“You’re not leaving, right?”
Ethan looked at Charlotte.
She couldn’t meet his eyes.
He answered:
“No.”
But for the first time, he wasn’t sure whether that was a promise he could keep.
