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Unlike the Ethan of the coffee shop or the playboy alpha male boss, this particular version of him had a unique allure that was impossible to resist. As I pondered this, it became increasingly clear to me that I was thoroughly enjoying working with him. It was as though this Ethan had shed his previous personas and had emerged as a completely new and fascinating individual. The intellectual stimulation and the sense of purpose he exuded were incredibly alluring to me. I found myself irresistibly drawn to this Ethan, and couldn’t help but marvel at how he had managed to captivate my attention.
I sat in Ethan’s office, I couldn’t help but wonder what he thought of our argument from a few days prior. My brother had been equally furious, and I suspected that Ethan may have also been irked by my behavior. To my surprise, however, he made no mention of it.
It was uncharacteristic of him to let such incidents slide, given his tendency to exert a dominant presence in the workplace. Perhaps he chose to ignore the situation due to his close friendship with my brother. Regardless, I found his behavior to be entirely normal throughout the day, and was thoroughly enjoying his company.
As we delved into different aspects of the case, we shared light-hearted conversations and exchanged facts and information. It was refreshing to note that this was the first time, except that night we hadn’t engaged in any heated arguments or debates.
As my gaze fixed on Ethan, I couldn’t help but marvel at how strikingly attractive he appeared at that very moment. To my surprise, he returned my gaze, and for a fleeting moment, we found ourselves lost in each other’s eyes. It was an intense and captivating exchange, and I found myself unable to look away.
7
ETHAN
“I needto meet with someone at a nearby restaurant to gather some crucial information about the case. I’ll need you to accompany me and keep a detailed record of all pertinent points,” I instructed Mia, fixing her with a steady gaze. Without hesitation, she nodded her agreement.
“Also, we’ll likely be out until later, so we’ll need to take our lunch outside the office,” I added, hoping that it wouldn’t inconvenience her. After a brief moment of contemplation, she replied, “Sure.”
As the leader of our IT team, Jim had gathered some significant facts about the case, which prompted me to revisit it. Mr. Joe, a former business partner of mine, had recently confided in me about his struggles with his current business. Our initial investigations had uncovered a few suspects, but we had yet to find any concrete leads. Despite our best efforts, the case's progress had come to a halt. However, thanks to our team’s diligent efforts, we had finally discovered some promising leads regarding a freelancer who had previously worked for Mr. Joe.
As we stepped inside the elegant restaurant located in the heart of Los Angeles, I couldn’t help but notice the soft glow of the chandeliers hanging from the high ceiling. My gaze was quickly drawn to Jim, who was already seated at a table, his eyes fixed on the entrance.
With suspicions brewing about the possible involvement of someone within our firm in suspicious activities, I had to be cautious about discussing the recent progress in the case. So, instead of inviting Jim to my office, I had opted for a more discreet location. Aware of Jim’s prominent position as the leader of my personal IT team, I didn’t want to raise any red flags. My personal teams, consisting of experts in various fields, including investigation and IT, worked inconspicuously, with only a select few aware of their existence. I had affectionately named them “Black Dogs.” However, it was necessary for some leaders of each team to attend important meetings, and as a result, they were known to a select few in the office.
As we settled into the plush chairs of the upscale Los Angeles restaurant, Jim’s figure towered before us. After exchanging initial greetings, I took the lead in introducing Mia to Jim. “This is Mia, our new employee, and Mia, this is Jim,” I said cordially, allowing them to exchange pleasantries.
“Based on all the information you’ve gathered,” I continued, turning to Jim, “it’s possible that Mr. Joe hired another investigation firm to assist him.”
Jim nodded thoughtfully. “Yes, boss, that was my initial suspicion. It’s become increasingly clear that if Mr. Joe did engage another firm, they are likely following the same leads as us. During our attempts to bug Mr. Joe’s office, our team discovered that it had already been bugged. And when we began to follow Mr. Joe, we noticed someone else trailing him as well.” Mia, curious about Jim’s rationale, interjected, “Why were you following Mr. Joe? Do you have any reason to suspect him?”
Jim smiled before responding, “We don’t have any solid evidence to point the finger at Mr. Joe. However, all of this is part of the investigation process. By monitoring his office and tailing him, we can observe if anyone else attempts to engage in suspicious activity. Additionally, we may uncover critical clues that could help us get to the bottom of this case.”
“But it’s equally plausible that his enemies are monitoring his activities, given the magnitude of the loss he has suffered,” I said, looking at Jim intently.
Jim nodded in agreement. “Yes, boss. We have been considering that possibility as well. However, we did see Mr. Joe meeting with some famous investigation firms, which raised our suspicions.”
“Keep a close eye on Mr. Joe and all his activities,” I instructed Jim, my voice firm and commanding. “Alert all your team members to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity to me immediately.”
“Understood, boss,” Jim replied respectfully.
“And, Jim,” I continued, “please ask Boris to join me in an online meeting as soon as possible. I need to review the progress he has made in hacking different accounts.”
Jim nodded and made a note on his phone. “Certainly, boss. I will schedule the meeting right away.”
Jim had to leave as he had some urgent tasks to attend to. I took the liberty of ordering for both Mia and me.
As Jim excused himself to attend to urgent matters, I proceeded to order some food for myself and Mia.
As we started to eat, a comfortable silence took over, only to be broken by my observation of her. Mia seemed more confident than ever before. I carefully watched her every movement as she savored her food. The way her lips parted to let the forkful of food in, the way her fingers delicately examined the food before finally placing it in her mouth, and the way her chest heaved gently as she swallowed – each of these indicating her refinement and grace. Her figure was absolutely breathtaking, accentuated by the form-fitting pink shirt she was wearing. Her curves were tantalizing, and I found myself getting lost in thought as I savored the sight before me. Memories of that fateful night came flooding back, but I quickly snapped out of it. “I need to be careful,” I reminded myself sternly. After all, she was not only my employee but also my closest friend's sister.
Mia lifted her head from her plate and posed a curious question, “I don’t understand why you have such a profound passion for investigation firms and relentlessly pursue different cases, even though you are a billionaire with an incalculable amount of wealth.”
With a heavy sigh, I responded, “Well, wealth cannot replace relationships.”
Mia was intrigued by my statement, “What do you mean?”
Realizing that I couldn’t evade the question, I replied, “It’s a long story. I will tell you someday.”
Without missing a beat, Mia astutely queried, “Did you lose someone, someone, close to you?”
