Ethan Storm’s Dark Awakening novel Chapter 44

44

Maxime gripped the phone tighter, every trace of arrogance melting into shaky excitement. “You… You’re him?” he repeated, voice nearly a whisper. “Mr. Storm… I didn’t realize- I mean, I had no idea you eve existed.”

“Oh, I exist,” Ethan said, voice steady as steel. “And I’ve been watching. Listening. Waiting.”

Maxime gave a nervous laugh. “Of course, of course! I’m honored you called me personally. I can’t tell you how much I admire your vision. Nova Corp’s success-your success-is unmatched.”

Ethan let a pause hang in the air before speaking again, he decided to deceive him. “I’ll be honest, Maxime. I’ve grown… disappointed. Elsa Logan isn’t performing to expectations.”

Maxime’s eyes gleamed, a slow grin spreading across his face as he gripped the edge of his desk. Disappointed, huh? I… I suspected as much. Elsa’s leadership has always been, well, flashy but shallow. Not your kind of precision. Not Nova Corp’s standard.”

Ethan’s chuckle on the other end of the line was low and measured. “That’s precisely the word. Shallow. Her decisions have been impulsive. Her alliances… questionable. I need someone who understands the depth of this empire. Someone with vision. With loyalty.”

Maxime’s chest puffed with pride, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial hush. “And you see that in me?”

“I wouldn’t be calling you otherwise,” Ethan replied coolly. “I’ve been watching you, Maxime. Your handling of the East Asia restructuring. The way you maneuvered the Valencia fallout-quiet, efficient, ruthless. That’s what Nova needs now.”

Maxime’s heart raced. “Mr. Storm, I-sir-this is more than I ever expected, I—”

“No need,” Ethan cut in, his tone sharpening. “You’re already doing what needs to be done.”

Maxime’s grin deepened as he began pacing his office floor, one hand still gripping the phone like it was a lifeline to power. “Then I won’t hold back. I’ve already drafted the report linking the Lakefield delays to the Morgan supply chain. Their materials failed the stress tests-barely passed inspection to begin with, and Elsa greenlit them anyway.”

He stopped, turning toward the massive glass window overlooking the city. “I’ll present the findings to the board this Friday, Paint Elsa as careless, reckless even. And the Morgans as opportunists who cut corners. Once I show the projections of how much money we lost from the delays-oh, they’ll eat it up.”

“You’ve done your homework,” Ethan said, calm and unreadable, “Keep the evidence to show her shenanigans.”

“Already ahead of you,” Maxime replied, smugness oozing from his tone. “Internal emails, selective reports, screenshots-it’s all ready. Nothing forged, but just the right pieces highlighted to raise the right questions.”

“And you’re positioning yourself as the face of that vision?” Ethan asked, as if testing him.

1/2

44

+25 Bonus

“Of course,” Maxime said, practically purring. “Who else? Elsa’s tainted now, and no one else has the connections I do. Once the shareholders see I’ve kept your legacy in mind all along, they’ll flock to my side.”

Ethan’s voice dropped low and smooth. “Then let the storm come. I’ll be watching.”

A thrill ran through Maxime’s spine. “Thank you. You won’t regret this.”

“I better not,” Ethan said flatly.

The call ended.

As Ethan ended the call with a quiet click, Maxime stood motionless in his office, basking in the silence like it was a standing ovation. His mouth curved into a slow, victorious smirk as he muttered to himself,” He’s done with Alice. He’s done with both of them.”

Maxime now believed the mysterious owner had lost all interest in Alice.

He moved to his desk and opened the hidden drawer, pulling out a manila folder thick with documents. Bold letters across the front read: Operation: Eclipse.

He whispered to himself, “Elsa, your reign ends this week.”

He sank into his leather chair, hands steepled beneath his chin. 1

This was it. 1

The moment he’d been waiting for.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify