Single Dad Applied to Be the CEO’s Assistant — Then She Read His Resume
Chapter 7
Ethan couldn’t sleep that night.
He kept thinking about his father’s final instruction.
Put Ethan close to Amelia.
It explained the job.
The timing.
The resume.
The unusual interview.
But there was one thing he couldn’t explain.
“How did my father know Amelia?”
Margaret had said they worked together.
But that wasn’t the whole story.
The next morning, Ethan confronted her.
She told him more.
Daniel Brooks had been Richard Sterling’s closest operational strategist.
They had built Atlas together.
But Daniel had realized the technology could be abused.
He wanted out.
Richard supported him.
Thomas opposed them.
Then the accident.
Richard died.
Daniel vanished.
The company moved on.
Ethan was twelve.
His father never explained anything.
Margaret showed Ethan another letter.
His father’s handwriting.
My son,
You will probably think I kept you away from everything important.
That’s because you were the most important thing.
Ethan’s eyes filled.
If I ever fail to come home, don’t search for revenge.
Search for the person who needs protection.
Her name will be Amelia.
Ethan looked at Margaret.
“Why didn’t you give me this before?”
“Because you needed to choose the job yourself.”
“You manipulated my application.”
“No.”
Margaret shook her head.
“I made the position available.”
Amelia stood in the doorway.
“You knew he would apply?”
Margaret nodded.
“Yes.”
Amelia looked at Ethan.
“Your father planned our lives before we even met.”
“No.”
Ethan shook his head.
“He planned for us to have a chance.”
The difference mattered.
Then the alarm sounded.
Security reported a breach at the family archive.
Someone was stealing documents.
Ethan and Amelia rushed there.
The archive door was open.
Inside, files had been disturbed.
But only one box was missing.
Daniel Brooks.
Ethan’s heart stopped.
“My father’s file.”
Amelia looked around.
“Who could have known it was here?”
Ethan noticed the floor.
Mud.
A specific tread.
He had seen it before.
Victor Hale.
“Victor.”
They tracked him to a warehouse.
Victor was waiting.
“You finally came.”
Ethan stepped forward.
“Where’s my father’s file?”
Victor smiled.
“Safe.”
“Give it to me.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because your father left something valuable.”
“What?”
Victor looked at Amelia.
“Proof.”
“Of what?”
“Who really owns Atlas.”
Amelia frowned.
“It’s my company.”
Victor laughed.
“That is what you’ve been told.”
He handed Ethan a document.
A trust agreement.
The true controlling shareholder of Sterling Advanced Systems wasn’t Amelia.
It wasn’t the board.
It wasn’t the family trust.
It was a private entity.
The beneficiary name had been hidden.
Ethan looked at Victor.
“Who?”
Victor smiled.
“Thomas Sterling.”
Amelia’s face went pale.
“My uncle is alive?”
Victor nodded.
“He’s been running Atlas for years.”
“Where?”
Victor shook his head.
“That’s the secret.”
A gunshot hit the wall.
Victor disappeared.
Ethan grabbed Amelia.
“Down!”
They ran through a side exit.
Outside, Amelia was shaking.
“My uncle.”
Ethan nodded.
“He’s alive.”
“And he’s controlling the company.”
“Maybe.”
“Why maybe?”
“Because Victor might be lying.”
She looked at him.
“You don’t believe anything.”
“I believe what I can prove.”
Amelia took a breath.
“Then let’s prove it.”
