Ethan Storm’s Dark Awakening novel Chapter 43

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Alice’s heart hadn’t slowed since they left the bank.

Though Richard had been publicly humiliated and the loan finally approved, she knew deep down that the real battle was still ahead.

Securing funds was only one side of the coin – the deeper crisis lay within Nova Corp itself.

She sat stiffly in the driver seat of her sleek black car, arms folded tight across her chest, eyes unfocused. 1

Ethan noticed her tension instantly. He reached for the keys in her lap before she could even react.

“Give me those,” he said calmly.

Alice blinked. “What?”

“I’m driving you home,” he said, already stepping around the car. “You’re too wound up to be behind the wheel right now.”

“I’m fine,” she muttered, gripping the keys tighter.

–

He gave her a look that unreadable, cool stare of his that always cut through the noise.

“Alice. Let me drive.”

She exhaled, but finally handed the keys over with a sigh. “Fine. Thank you.”

“No need to thank me,” Ethan said with the faintest smirk, sliding into the driver’s seat.

As they pulled away from the bank, the silence stretched. Alice tapped her nails on her thigh. Her jaw clenched. And then-

Buzz.

Her phone lit up on the console.

She glanced at it once- and immediately turned pale.

Ethan noticed.

“Who is it?” he asked, voice low.

Alice picked up the phone, read the message, and scoffed bitterly. “Maxime. Again.”

Ethan’s expression didn’t change. “What does he want this time?”

Alice read it aloud, her voice shaking with fury. “If you don’t show up tonight, 8 PM at Maison D’Artois, don’t expect Nova Corp to ever work with you again. I gave you your chance, sweetheart. Don’t waste it.

She let out a bitter laugh. “He even had the nerve to call me sweetheart.”

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Ethan didn’t answer immediately. He reached over and took her hand, steady and firm.

Her lips parted, breath catching in anger. “I just can’t believe he’s threatening me again,” she said sharply. “Like, he’s really demanding I show up tonight or lose all chances of working with Nova Corp.”

“There’s no need to reply,” he said with quiet steel. “You don’t need to talk to Maxime. I’ll h everything.”

She looked at him, frowning. “But he just threatened to blacklist me. Ethan, if I lose the Nova Corp partnership, the entire project. If we lose this partnership, the project-my future-it could all-”

“You won’t lose anything,” he said quietly.

Alice’s eyes searched his face. “How can you be so sure?”

He didn’t flinch. “Because after tomorrow, Maxime won’t have any power to threaten you or anyone

She fell silent, unsure what that meant – but something about the way he said it, the certainty in his voice, made her grip his hand tighter.

else.”

“I hate that he thinks he can just dangle opportunities in front of me like a bone,” she muttered. “As if I’m desperate enough to play his little games.”

“You’re not,” Ethan said. “But he will be.”

Alice glanced at him. “He’ll be what?”

“Desperate.” His tone was flat. “And very, very sorry.’

She stared at him for a beat, then looked away, hiding the small flicker of relief that crossed her face. Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For stepping in.”

He didn’t answer – just gently rubbed his thumb across her knuckles.

And for the first time that day… her shoulders relaxed.

****

When they reached her home, Ethan walked her to the door and didn’t leave until she stepped safely inside the Morgan mansion. Only once the heavy doors closed behind her did his expression shift- quiet composure giving way to cold, focused rage.

He left, pulled out his phone, and made a call.

It was answered almost instantly,

“Elsa Logan,” came the clipped, precise tone of Nova Corp’s CEO.

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“It’s Ethan Storm.”

A sharp pause followed. “Mr. Storm.” Her voice instantly took on a note of crisp formality. “To what do I owe the call?”

“I want a board meeting first thing tomorrow morning,” Ethan said. “No delays. I want every execut present.”

“I’ll arrange it personally,” Elsa replied. “Is something wrong?”

“I believe someone on the inside has been abusing Nova Corp’s partnerships. Using them for leverage and coercion.” His tone turned razor-sharp. “I intend to find out who.”

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