Ethan POV
“Where is he? Who is he? Why did he do that?”
I snarled as I barged into Andre’s office.
I could not be more than happy, and at the same time, curious.
Who could have done this to me, huh?
Agreed that I’m not always nice, but I’m not that bad enough for people to try and bring me down.
“C’mon Andre,” I hissed, settling before him on the chair.
Andre sent me one reproachful look, his lips angrily folded.
“A knock could do, Ethan.” He moaned. “Or you could have greeted just to announce your arrival. Barge in here?”
“Not my fault,” I grumbled.
Andre tutted loudly. Tearing his gaze from me, he turned the laptop to me.
“That,” he mouthed. “I don’t know why he did that. I mean…”
I looked up at Andre just in time as he was rubbing his nose bridge.
“If someone is going to steal, he should do it perfectly. Not with the CCTV there.”
“Maybe he doesn’t know about that.”
“Don’t know?” Andre snorted. “Or maybe he does, and he wanted to give us a clue to catching him.”
Alright! Whatever reasons he’s got to do that, I don’t give a shitty damn!
I’ll let him know he’s messed with the wrong person entirely.
“What are you going to do?”
Andre stood on his feet and walked to the mini-bar in his office. “He does seem like the pushover type.”
“What do you mean?” I creased my brows.
“That,”
He came back with two glasses of wine and settled one before me as he took his seat back. “He might be working on someone’s order.”
“Not like I give a damn.” I hissed.”I just have to catch him and his boss if truly he has one. I did nothing to him after all. I mean, I didn’t even know him!”
“Alright,” Andre said.”Everything is going to be over soon. C’mon, Ethan I got this.”
“Let me”
“Not you,” Andre said with a glare, settling his glass on the table. “You don’t need to worry, I already have this under control.”
****
I huffed angrily as my eyes followed down the tiny writings on the white silky paper
The desire to praise Andre for doing this so fast and clean cleared off my mind after reading the culprit’s statement.
Especially, seeing his supposed boss who ordered him to do this.
Right! I’m not disputing the fact that Nicole might hate me
No! He hates me, but not the company!
How then, how on Earth will he take my idea, my project, and leak it to the rival’s company?
Palming my face, I heaved a soft sigh, my left hand fisted angrily.
I’m trying, yeah! Trying so hard to suck in my anger and control my legs from walking up there to dash Nicole some punches.
How dare he?
“Calm down, Ethan.”
“Calm down?” I hissed, turning my bloodshot eyes on Andre who took a step back.
For fuck sake, I’m his fucking brother! He has something against me, not with the company he so much adores.
Andre sighed. “He might have had his reasons.”
I glared at Andre. What reasons could there have been?
I mean, fine! It’s obvious, but he should not go this far.
What is his deal anyway? Trying to get me fired or make me get on grandpa’s bad side?
“I’ll deal with this, Ethan,” Andre said, tentatively staring at me.
I have this feeling that he’s trying to choose his words carefully.
“I…” Andre ran a tongue over his lip and sighed. “Can you hold yourself not to mention this to any other family members? Especially grandpa?”
I scoffed. A joke? It’s not funny.
Not to mention it to anybody, grandpa especially?
“Are you kidding me?” I let out a scowl. “And this is not funny, Andre.”
“Is it not obvious?” Andre frowned, palming his face, he heaved another sigh. “Why he’s doing this?”
I do not care why he’s doing that, alright!
“C’mon, Ethan,”
I could only open my mouth when Andre cut me off. He grabbed my shoulder, giving it a manly squeeze.
“I advise you to talk this out, Ethan. I think it’s better that way.”
****
I stepped out of the elevator, furiously, cursing loudly, not bothering to return the staff’s greetings.
“Someone must be in a hurry.”
My feet moved to an abrupt halt after hearing the familiar voice jeering before me.
I flew my head up and my gaze settled on Nicole who has a sheepish grin on his lips.
My lips tightly permed, hands fisted and kept beside me.
Fuck! The temptation to punch him in the face was overwhelming.
God knows, God knows how much I want to wipe that slimy grin off his lips.
“Someone seems to have a lot of time in his hand.” I scowled.
Nicole chuckled. He stepped closer to me, such that our faces were only inches apart.
“I heard about it,” he mouthed. “Are you getting fired?”
And look at that! He does not even feel remorse about it. Of course, why would he?
“It’s bad, Ethan.” He continued. “You should never have done that.”
I chuckled. Look who’s talking. Trying to play the innocent here.
Only because I did not want to disappoint Andre, or cause a commotion here, I’d have punched the life outta his ugly face.
Mentally calming myself down, I unclenched my fist and placed my palm on his shoulder.
Moving my mouth to his ear.
“Someone tell on us,” I whispered. “He sold us to a rival company.”
“I presume,” Nicole mouthed, “that he’s been caught.”
“Of course, Nicole,” I said. “It’d have been better only if his boss was not someone I know.”
Nicole’s shoulder tensed under my palm, but I’d bet anything that he’s doing his best to keep his breathing normal.
Asshole!
“Not even caring that I’m your brother, Cole.”
I finally faced him.
Nicole blinked rapidly, his face, a brighter shade of red, and his lips quivered slightly.
“Even if you hate me, you shouldn’t have done that… not to the company you so much adore.”
“Adore?” He scoffed. “I’m ready to give everything up to have her, don’t you think? I’d do anything, Ethan.” He glared at me.
Oh right! He just proved that to me after all.
But he’s never going to have Dawn. No! He can just continue dreaming.
“And you getting me fired will let you have her?” I creased my brows.
Nicole chuckled. He ran a hand through his hair and leaned forward.
“You just wait,” his lips curled up in a smirk, “and watch.”
With a last glance and a thump on the shoulder, Nicole walked past me.