Chapter 54 CHAPTER 54

Chapter 54 CHAPTER 54
Chapter 54
The Investor Dinner
Ethan Calloway

I sat in the private room of the restaurant waiting for him. I didn't know how to describe who he was to me, but I could clearly say that he was something like my handler.

The man at the door had confirmed my name twice before leading me to the small private room, and every nerve fiber of my body said I shouldn't be here at all.

I say close to the window after ordering a drink I didn't really want, waiting for him to come. But then he said he had new information about Cassian Kent, about Aria, and about the fires that destroyed Richard Hartwell's house, Aria's apartment, and even killed the lawyer. Information was power, as he mentioned. He had even been nice to give me detailed files on all the board members, and I knew how and where to make the tick. It was why I was here in the first place.

The door opened and a man in his midfifties walked in. He had silver and gray hair mixed together

"Mr. Calloway," he nodded to me and made himself comfortable across the table.

"Mr. Voss." I nodded back in acknowledgement.

I waited for him to begin as he didn't order a drink and didn't even look at the menu, instead he folded his hands on the table and looked at me like he already knew everything I was going to say.

"Thank you for coming," he cleared his throat and started.

"You said you had information. That's all I need now I'm part of this mess." I shrugged and took a sip of the drink, wrinkling my nose immediately in disgust.

"I do have that." He tilted his head. "But first, I want to know why you're really here."

"Because you called me."

"No." He smiled. It didn't reach his eyes. "Because you're in love with her."

I didn't answer.

"Don't bother denying it. I've been watching you for months. I know about the dinners. The phone calls. The way you look at her when she's not looking at you. You've been barely picking up your calls, Ethan. And once I say there's information on her, you jump to your feet to grab that opportunity." He leaned closer and raised an eyebrow. "Should we be worried, Mr. Calloway?" His voice had gotten low and dangerous.

I felt the irritation suddenly overwhelm me as I leaned forward to match his pose. "What do you want?" He had to know I wasn't easily intimidated by all his bullshit.

"I want to help you."

"Help me do what?"

"Help you get what you want as always." He leaned back and shrugged after his eyes surrendered to me. "Cassian Kent destroyed. The company in your hands and Aia Hartwell in your bed."

I went cold at the last mention of Aria. "That's not—" My priorities had changed now. I wasn't looking to sleep with Aria anymore, but to build something that was....

"Don't lie to me, Caleb." Mr. Voss broke me from my train of thoughts.

I felt my whole body go rigid without my consent after hearing a name I hadn't used in five years. The name hit me like a slap. I didn't move, didn't blink, just say there with my arms crossed over my pounding chest.

"Excuse me?"

"You didn't think we were going to do a full on investigation about you to know who you really are, did you?" Mr. Voss caught my eye, and I didn't bother breaking the eye contact. "To understand why you are so dedicated in seeing Cassian Kent in the ruins, starting by wanting to break the woman you think he's in love with."

"...I don't think you..."

"I know who you are, Kent." Voss said. "I know about the fire. I know about the plastic surgery, and I know about the brother who left you to die. It's a shame he can't recognize you now."

"You don't know anything."

"I know you've been planning this for years, but that isn't my problem. We are pouring a lot of money into you, and I would like to know what you were thinking when you bought the shares from the company." He was beginning to get angry, "but first, let me clear things up with you so you know where we stand on all these."

He pushed his phone in front of me, and all I could see was a photo of me in my most vulnerable state... bandages on my face and tubes in my arms.

"Recognize that?" he asked.

I didn't answer.

"That was taken twenty years ago. You were in a burn unit in Ohio. They didn't think you'd make it." He set the phone down. "But you did. And you've been waiting ever since."

"Now, what do you want from me? To take all the money back? Because I'm sorry, but you wouldn't be getting a lick of it anymore."

He laughed about that. "Oh please, that amount of money is a drop of water in an ocean for what we have for you. We are just hoping you don't have misplaced priorities after meeting Aria Hartwell. It would be a shame if she becomes a concern and she... you know... suddenly disappears from the face of the earth."

"If you dare!" I was already out of my seat, the mere thought of them killing her. "I will slice your throat and —"

"Relax, Caleb Kent." Mr. Voss said pleasantly. "We know you need the flash drive concerning the altered will of Richard Hartwell and that's one of the reasons you're cozying up with her." He took out a Kleenex to wipe a bead of sweat on his forehead. "I can tell you for sure that she doesn't have it anymore. It was burned down in the fire that happened in Aria's apartment."

"Is this the information you wanted to give me?"

"Relax, Caleb. Harrison made a copy before his office burned. It has everything. The original will. The doctor's notes. A video of Richard Hartwell recorded two months before he died." He pulled out a small USB drive and held it between his fingers. "It's all here."

"What's the catch?"

"No catch. I give you the drive. You use it however you want." He set it on the table. "Or don't, I I don't care. But if you don't take it, someone else will. And they won't be as gentle with Aria as you are."

"Gentle?"

"You're in love with her, that makes you careful." He stood up. "The next person I offer this to won't be careful. They'll use it to destroy her along with Cassian and you know it now you're on the inside."

I looked at the drive on the table. "Why are you doing this? I've never asked, but what's the catch for you too?"

"Because I want Cassian Kent to suffer." He walked towards the curtain that separated us from the rest of the restaurant. "And because I've been watching Aria Hartwell for a long time. She deserves to know the truth. Even if it comes from a man who's been lying to her." He paused and turned. "One other thing... Cassian Kent has been receiving threatening anonymous messages, and I want you to find out about it and tell me what you know."