Chapter 4: Controlling Heart

 

I had dismissed Ethan's warning the night before, brushing it off as a mere tactic—just another way to manipulate me. But now, in the cold light of day, his words echoed in my mind. What did he know that I didn’t? Was he genuinely trying to protect me, or was this all part of his plan to keep me off balance?

 

The thought made me grit my teeth in frustration. I couldn’t afford to second-guess myself, not now—not when I was so close to everything I had worked for.

 

As the hours passed, the negotiations grew more intense. The stakes of the merger hung in the balance, and the tension in the room became palpable. We all knew what was at risk, and it seemed like every word, every glance, carried a hidden meaning.

 

At one point, Oliver Hale leaned back in his chair, a glint of amusement in his eyes as he glanced between me and Ethan. “You know, I’ve seen a lot of corporate strategists come through these doors over the years,” he said lightly. “But I have to say, Ms. Grey, you’re one of the most impressive.”

 

I met his gaze evenly, refusing to be swayed by his charm. “Thank you, Mr. Hale. I’ve worked hard to get where I am.”

 

“I can see that,” Oliver replied, his smile widening. “And I’m sure this merger will benefit greatly from your expertise.”

 

Ethan said nothing, his expression unreadable as he continued to watch me with those intense, piercing eyes. I could feel his gaze on me, a silent force that seemed to pull me in, no matter how hard I tried to resist it.

 

As the meeting drew to a close, the room began to empty, executives and lawyers gathering their materials and exchanging final words before heading out. I took my time packing up, knowing that Ethan would wait for me.

 

Sure enough, as the last of the attendees filed out of the room, Ethan remained seated, his gaze still fixed on me. The door clicked shut behind the last executive, leaving us alone in the spacious, sunlit boardroom.

 

“Sophia,” Ethan began, his voice softer now that we were alone. “You handled yourself well in there.”

 

I glanced at him, keeping my expression carefully controlled. “Thank you. I’ve had a lot of practice.”

 

He leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing slightly as he studied me. “I’m sure you have. But there’s more to this than just business, isn’t there?”

 

My pulse quickened at his words. I had expected this—knew it would come eventually—but that didn’t make it any less infuriating. He was so close now that I could feel the heat radiating from his body. I wanted to step back, to put some distance between us, but my body betrayed me, leaning slightly toward him instead.

 

“You’re right,” I said, my voice cool. “This isn’t just about business. It’s about what’s right, about correcting the wrongs of the past.”

 

Ethan’s expression darkened, his gaze growing sharper. He stood up, taking a step closer, so close that I could feel the warmth of his breath on my skin. He placed both hands on the table, caging me in, his presence overwhelming.

 

“And you think merging with Blackwood Enterprises is the way to do that?” His voice was low, almost a growl.

 

I met his gaze, unflinching. “I think it’s a start,” I said.

 

Without thinking, my hand rested on his chest, feeling the firm muscles beneath his shirt. It was a familiar sensation, one that sent a wave of conflicting emotions rushing through me—emotions I had buried long ago, or so I thought. My heartbeats were rising hard and fast, echoing the pounding of his heart beneath my palm.

 

For a long moment, we stared at each other, the tension between us thick and charged. I could feel my resolve wavering, my carefully constructed defenses beginning to crack. This was the moment I had been waiting for—the moment when I would confront Ethan Blackwood, the man I held responsible for so much pain.

 

But before I could speak, before I could lay out the full extent of my plan, Ethan surprised me. He pulled me closer, his hands tightening around my waist, drawing me in until my body was pressed against his. My breath hitched as I felt the hard lines of his abs beneath my fingers, the heat of his body searing through my clothes.

 

“I know what you’re trying to do,” he whispered in my ear, his voice laced with a mixture of regret and something else I couldn’t quite identify.

 

“But you don’t have all the pieces.”

 

His words sent a jolt of confusion and anger through me. I tried to push him away, but he held me firmly in place, his eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that made my skin prickle.

 

“What do you mean?” I demanded, my voice trembling with a mix of anger and fear. “What don’t I know?”

 

“You think you know everything that happened,” Ethan said, his voice low and urgent. “But you don’t. There are things you don’t understand, things you couldn’t have known.”

 

My mind raced, a thousand questions flooding my thoughts. What was he talking about? What didn’t I know? I had spent years digging into the past, uncovering every detail I could find. How could there be anything left that I hadn’t already discovered?

 

But before I could ask, Ethan took my wrist gently, his touch sending a shiver down my spine.

 

“I want to show you something,” he said, his voice softer now, almost pleading. “Something that might change everything.”

 

For a moment, I hesitated, torn between my need for answers and the instinct to protect myself. But the look in his eyes—so raw, so filled with something I couldn’t quite place—made my resolve waver.

 

“What is it?” I asked, my voice barely more than a whisper.

 

“Come with me,” he said, his grip on my wrist firm but not forceful. “I’ll show you.”

 

I knew I was walking into dangerous territory, that I was risking everything by following him. But there was something in Ethan’s voice, in the way he looked at me, that made it impossible to refuse.

 

And so, with my heart pounding in my chest, I allowed him to lead me out of the boardroom, into the unknown.