Chapter 106 Chapter 106
Chapter 106
Ethan pulled into the Castellan Enterprise parking garage before the sun had fully cleared the horizon. The building looked different at this hour still waking up, lights on in the lobby but no rush of footsteps, no chatter echoing off the marble. He liked the quiet today. It gave him room to move without eyes following every step.
He stepped out of the car, suit already pressed sharp, tie knotted exactly right. No briefcase. Just his phone in one pocket and keys in the other. The security guard at the entrance nodded once, quick and respectful, and held the door without a word. Ethan didn’t slow down.
He bypassed the elevator bank that went straight to his floor. Instead he took the service lift to the executive level and walked the empty hallway to the smallest conference room the one with no windows facing the street. He flipped on the lights, closed the door, and waited.
Within ten minutes the people he’d called were there.
Head of security first gray hair, steady eyes, the kind of man who’d seen every kind of threat and never flinched. Legal counsel next, notebook already open, pen poised. HR director last, arriving with a quick apology for traffic that Ethan waved away.
They sat. No small talk. No coffee poured. Ethan didn’t sit at the head of the table. He took the chair closest to the door, elbows on the wood, hands loose.
“This stays in this room,” he said. Voice calm. Low. Final. “Nothing leaves here. No notes go into shared drives. No emails get forwarded. If it has to be documented, it comes to me first.”
They nodded. No questions yet.
He leaned forward just enough to make eye contact with each of them.
“Effective immediately, fourth floor access changes.”
The head of security sat straighter.
“Only assigned personnel go up there without clearance,” Ethan continued. “Written approval. My signature or the COO’s. No verbal okay. No ‘just this once.’ If someone tries to ride the elevator without a badge scan that matches their name and reason, stop them. Politely. Firmly.”
HR shifted in her seat. “Even other executives?”
“Especially other executives,” Ethan said. “No exceptions.”
Legal counsel made a short note. “We’ll need to update the access policy memo.”
“Do it today,” Ethan replied. “Send it to me before distribution. I’ll sign off.”
The head of security spoke next. “Physical security or digital too?”
“Both,” Ethan said. “Badge logs reviewed twice a day. Any anomalies flagged straight to you, then to me. Cameras on the elevator bank and hallway make sure coverage is complete. No blind spots.”
HR raised a hand slightly. “Do we notify staff?”
“You notify them of the new policy,” Ethan answered. “Not the reason. Frame it as standard protocol refresh. Increased data protection. Routine. Nothing more.”
They understood. No one argued.
Ethan paused for the first time. Looked at each face again.
“Amelia Monroe,” he said. The name came out flat. No emotion. Just fact. “She is not permitted on the fourth floor. Ever. If she appears at reception, she gets stopped. Escorted out. No exceptions. No ‘she’s an old friend’ or ‘she just wants to say hello.’ If she pushes, security handles it. If she escalates, call me immediately.”
The room stayed quiet. No surprise. They’d all heard the name before.
Legal counsel spoke carefully. “If she claims prior access or relationship ”
“She has none,” Ethan cut in. “Not anymore. Not here.”
The man nodded. Made another note.
“And if anyone anyone asks about staff on the fourth floor,” Ethan went on, “it comes to me. Directly. No casual answers. No ‘she’s in a meeting.’ No information. Redirect. Refer. Shut it down.”
The head of security leaned forward. “We’re talking phones too? Recordings? Photos?”
“No phones in meetings on that floor,” Ethan said. “No voice notes. No casual snaps. Anyone caught violating gets reported. First offense is a warning. Second is disciplinary. Third is termination.”
HR swallowed. “That’s strict.”
“It needs to be,” Ethan replied.
He let that sit for a second.
Then he stood. They stood with him out of habit.
“That’s it for now,” he said. “Implement today. Updates to me by end of day. Questions go through secure channels only.”
They filed out quietly. The head of security lingered at the door.
“Sir… anything specific we should watch for?”
Ethan thought for half a beat. “Patterns. Anyone asking too many questions. Anyone lingering. Anyone who seems too interested in what happens up there.”
The man nodded once. “Got it.”
He left.
Ethan stayed in the conference room alone.
He didn’t sit back down. Just stood with his hands in his pockets, looking at the empty chairs. The table. The blank whiteboard on the wall.
He wasn’t angry. Wasn’t scared. He was clear.
Amelia had always played angles. Always found weak spots. Always pushed until something gave.
Not this time.
He wasn’t going to make announcements. Wasn’t going to send company-wide emails. Wasn’t going to give her the satisfaction of knowing she’d rattled him enough to react publicly.
He was going to build the wall quietly.
One policy at a time.
One log review at a time.
One stopped visitor at a time.
Until there was nothing left for her to reach.
He pulled out his phone. Checked the time. Still early. Staff would start arriving soon.
He opened his messages. Looked at the last exchange with Celine from last night.
I will. Promise.
He read it again. Felt the same small lift in his chest he’d felt when it came through.
He typed nothing. Just locked the screen and slipped the phone back in his pocket.
Then he walked out of the conference room, down the hallway, past the quiet offices, and into his own.
He closed the door.
Sat at his desk.
Opened his laptop.
And started the day the way he always did.
Except today he knew exactly why every small change mattered.
And he was ready to make as many as it took.