I Protected My Drunk Boss From a Dangerous Night — Then She Looked at Me and Said, “I Remember Everything”
Chapter 3
Victoria woke at 8:15.
Her head hurt.
Her mouth was dry.
But the first thing she noticed was Ethan sitting in the chair beside the window.
He was asleep.
His jacket was folded beside him.
His phone was on his knee.
She stared.
Memories began returning.
The party.
The champagne.
The investor.
The cars.
The chase.
The apartment.
Ethan.
She remembered all of it.
She remembered what she had said.
What she had asked.
How he had stayed.
She stood quietly.
Ethan woke.
“Morning.”
“Morning.”
He stood.
“How are you feeling?”
“Like I got hit by a truck.”
“That’s encouraging.”
She smiled.
Then looked at him.
“Ethan?”
“Yes?”
“I remember everything.”
He froze.
“What?”
“Last night.”
He looked concerned.
“What exactly?”
She smiled.
“Everything.”
He waited.
She continued:
“I remember you taking my drink.”
“I remember you driving me away.”
“I remember the cars.”
“I remember you staying here.”
He exhaled.
“Okay.”
She stepped closer.
“I also remember what I said.”
Ethan became uncomfortable.
“What did you say?”
She looked directly at him.
“I asked if you would still stay if I wasn’t your boss.”
He said nothing.
She smiled.
“And you didn’t answer.”
“I didn’t think it was appropriate.”
She nodded.
“Good answer.”
Then she added:
“But I want an answer now.”
Ethan stared at her.
“Victoria.”
“I’m sober.”
“I know.”
“And I’m asking.”
He looked away.
“I care about you.”
Her heart skipped.
“How much?”
“Enough to know I shouldn’t say more.”
She laughed softly.
“You’ve always been careful.”
“It’s part of my job.”
“No.”
She touched his arm.
“It’s who you are.”
The moment felt dangerous.
Ethan stepped back.
“We should talk about the attack.”
Victoria nodded.
“Yes.”
They reviewed the events.
Security footage showed David Mercer’s driver had followed them.
The vehicles were registered to a private transportation company.
The company had links to an executive division of Sterling International.
Someone had used internal information to track Victoria.
That meant the threat came from inside.
Victoria immediately became serious.
“Who had access to my schedule?”
Ethan listed names.
“David.”
“James.”
“Several senior executives.”
“Security.”
She frowned.
“David wanted me to sell him the European division.”
“You refused.”
“Yes.”
“How much is it worth?”
“Several billion.”
Ethan looked at her.
“Then he has a motive.”
Victoria nodded.
“Maybe.”
The police took statements.
The security team increased protection.
Victoria returned home.
Ethan followed.
Before leaving, he hesitated.
“Victoria.”
“Yes?”
“If you remember what happened last night, I need you to know something.”
“What?”
“I didn’t do anything you might regret.”
Her expression softened.
“I know.”
“I want that to be clear.”
“I know.”
She smiled.
“That’s one reason I’m still standing here.”
He nodded.
Then turned to leave.
“Wait.”
He looked back.
She smiled.
“I meant what I said.”
“What?”
“About you staying.”
He didn’t answer.
But for the first time, the wall between them seemed thinner.
