Chapter 31: You Really Want Me to Answer That?

A Few Days Later...

Ethan sat reclined in his black leather swivel chair, its smooth surface creaking faintly as he leaned back. His tie hung loosely around his neck, and his shirt sleeves were rolled up to his elbows. His gaze was fixed on the sprawling streets of Manhattan through the floor-to-ceiling glass window behind him. From the 23rd floor, the bustling city below appeared almost surreal, a miniature world of ant-like people and vehicles crawling along the grid of streets. But Ethan wasn't taking in the view; his mind was elsewhere— a hazy fog of nothingness. He had perfected the art of zoning out during his quiet moments, allowing his mind to drift aimlessly, free of the pressures and expectations that awaited him daily.

A sharp knock shattered his trance. His head jerked toward the glass door, where his colleague and longtime friend Jayce stood, peering inside with a grin and a raised hand. Ethan gave a quick wave, gesturing for him to come in.

Jayce, ever the embodiment of casual confidence, pushed the door open and stepped inside. His blazer hung over his shoulder, his tie loosened just enough to make it clear he’d been busy but was now ready to unwind. He perched himself on the edge of Ethan's desk, lightly drumming his fingers on its surface.

“What's up, man?” Ethan asked, his voice carrying a mix of curiosity and fatigue as he spun his chair around to face Jayce.

“Lunch,” Jayce replied, as though the word itself were an exclamation. He grabbed one of the files on Ethan’s desk, flipping through its contents absently. “I’m heading down to the cafeteria. Thought I’d check if you planned to starve yourself or join me for a bite.”

Ethan chuckled, leaning forward. “Starve myself? Nah, I’m actually starving now that you mention it.” His stomach growled in agreement, prompting him to glance down at his torso and tug playfully at his shirt. “What are you getting?”

“Macaroni. Extra sauce,” Jayce said with a grin. “You want in?”

“Definitely. Get me the same,” Ethan replied as he loosened his tie further, letting it hang around his neck.

And before they could leave, Jayce phone which he had dropped on Ethan's desk buzzed to life. He picked it up, his expression shifting from neutral to mildly annoyed as he read the notification. “Damn it,” he muttered under his breath, shaking his head.

“What’s up?” Ethan asked, standing and stretching.

Jayce sighed and held up the phone, his tone equal parts exasperated and amused. “Carlos Antonio. You know, the crazy rich Italian mafia boss? The guy who married two sisters on the same day? The news is saying he’s turned one of them into his personal punching bag to please the other. Rumors are flying all over the place.”

Ethan raised an eyebrow. “Carlos Antonio?” He gestured toward the phone. “Let me see.”

Jayce handed him the phone. Ethan’s eyes darted across the screen, his brow furrowing as he read the headline aloud. “Trouble in Paradise: Billionaire Carlos Antonio Allegedly Abuses One Wife to Please the Other.” Below the text was a photo of Carlos and two women, with a jagged lightning bolt splitting the image in half. Ethan froze. His gaze locked on the face of one of the women.

“Cynthia?” he muttered, his voice barely audible. His eyes widened as he leaned closer to the screen. 

"I know her."

Jayce frowned, confused. “Wait— You know her?”

Ethan nodded slowly, still staring at the image. “Yeah… I know her.”

Jayce let out a short laugh, shaking his head in disbelief. “Come on, man. You’ve gotta be kidding me. That Cynthia? She’s a billionaire herself. Definitely out of your league by, like, a hundred miles.”

“I’m serious,” Ethan said, his tone firm as he handed the phone back. He reached into his pocket, pulling out his own phone. “Here. I’ve got proof.”

Jayce leaned closer as Ethan scrolled through his WhatsApp messages and opened a chat. There, in plain view, was a profile picture of Cynthia— a candid photo of her smiling, the city skyline in the background.

“This… this has to be fake,” Jayce stammered, rubbing the back of his neck. “Like, a catfish or something. No way you’ve got her real number.”

“It’s no catfish,” Ethan replied with conviction.

Jayce folded his arms, a skeptical smirk playing on his lips. “And how do you know for sure?”

“Because I met her in person,” Ethan said, standing tall. “A little over a month ago. At a five-star restaurant downtown. She literally bumped into me. We talked, I got her number, and we’ve been in touch ever since. Hell, we even went on a date.”

Jayce’s jaw dropped. “No way.”

Ethan ran a hand through his hair, his expression clouding over. “Yeah. It didn’t last long, though. She seemed… distracted. Troubled, even. The date ended almost as soon as it started.”

Jayce whistled, shaking his head. “Man, if that’s true, then this whole Carlos Antonio thing might explain a lot.”

Ethan paced across the room, his hands on his hips. “Could this really be the reason she seemed so off?” He stopped and looked at Jayce, his mind racing. “And now this? Public rumors, accusations of abuse, her picture plastered across the headlines… What the hell is going on?”

Jayce shrugged, a look of genuine concern replacing his earlier disbelief. “I don’t know, man. But if she’s caught up in this mess, you might want to be careful. Carlos Antonio doesn’t exactly have a reputation for being… forgiving.”

Ethan sighed, his fingers tightening into fists at his sides. “Yeah, well, forgiving or not, I’m not just going to sit back and do nothing— I like her.”

"You like her?" Jayce raised an eyebrow as he repeated after several Ethan. “What are you saying?”

“I’m saying I need to talk to her,” Ethan replied, determination flickering in his eyes. “Find out what’s really going on.”

Jayce stepped forward, his tone cautious. “Ethan, if this guy is as dangerous as they say in the news, you might be walking into something way bigger than you can handle.”

“Maybe,” Ethan said, meeting Jayce’s gaze. “But I can’t just ignore this. Not after what I've just seen.”

Jayce sighed, clapping a hand on Ethan’s shoulder. “Alright. Just… don’t do anything stupid, okay?”

Ethan managed a faint smile. “When have I ever done anything stupid?”

Jayce snorted. “You really want me to answer that?”