Chapter 2 - The Boss’s Nephew
The first rule Ethan Cole learned after walking into Bennett Home & Market Supply was that money did not impress him.
Not anymore.
He had seen people with money act like kings and people with nothing give away their last dollar.
His father had taught him that character was measured when nobody was watching.
That lesson was the reason Ethan refused to humiliate Grant in return.
He could have.
He had the authority now.
But authority wasn't revenge.
It was responsibility.
Arthur Bennett introduced Ethan to department heads one by one.
Operations.
Purchasing.
Warehousing.
Accounting.
Logistics.
Sales.
Every room had the same reaction.
Surprise.
Curiosity.
Fear.
Some employees knew Ethan as Arthur's nephew.
Others knew him only as the stranger who had appeared overnight.
Grant knew exactly who he was.
The street vendor.
The man he had called nobody.
At lunch, Grant cornered him.
“You planned this.”
Ethan looked up from his coffee.
“I've been planning to improve this company.”
“You followed me at the market.”
“No.”
Grant stepped closer.
“You knew who I was.”
“I knew your name after Saturday.”
“Then you went through my records.”
“I reviewed company records.”
“You're doing this because of Claire.”
Ethan frowned.
“What does Claire have to do with your accounting?”
Grant's face tightened.
“You think you're clever.”
“I think you're nervous.”
Grant lowered his voice.
“You're making a mistake.”
Ethan stood.
“You threatened me over tomatoes.”
Grant glared.
“I told you to stay away from my wife.”
“And I did.”
“You knew where I worked.”
“It wasn't difficult to find.”
Grant pointed at him.
“Listen to me.”
Ethan stared at the finger.
Then at Grant.
“I have one rule.”
“What?”
“Don't threaten me in my own office.”
Grant's expression hardened.
“Your office?”
Ethan looked around the hallway.
“My temporary office.”
But he knew something Grant didn't.
Arthur had not chosen him because he was family.
He had chosen him because Ethan understood something the company had forgotten.
The people at the bottom saw everything.
Drivers knew which orders were changed.
Warehouse workers knew which pallets disappeared.
Clerks knew which invoices were edited.
Farm suppliers knew which payments were delayed.
Ethan had spent years working with people others ignored.
That was why he noticed patterns.
That was why Arthur trusted him.
And that was why, within forty-eight hours, Ethan found something disturbing.
A vendor called Mercer Logistics.
The company received millions from Bennett.
It was owned by Grant’s cousin.
Ethan asked accounting for the original contracts.
The rates were significantly above market.
Not dramatically.
Just enough to look normal.
That was what worried him.
Fraud was often hidden not by impossible numbers, but by believable ones.
He asked Vanessa about it.
She immediately became defensive.
“I just process what I’m given.”
“I didn't accuse you.”
“You sound like you're accusing me.”
“I'm asking a question.”
Grant entered the room.
“She's busy.”
Ethan looked up.
“So am I.”
Grant stared.
“I want a private conversation.”
“Then talk.”
“Outside.”
“No.”
Grant’s jaw tightened.
Vanessa looked between them.
Ethan closed the folder.
“Mr. Mercer, I've reviewed six contracts this morning.”
“What does that have to do with me?”
“Your cousin owns Mercer Logistics.”
“So?”
“So your approval appears on every contract.”
Grant folded his arms.
“That’s standard procedure.”
“Not when you're authorizing prices fifteen percent above comparable bids.”
Grant laughed.
“You're an accountant now?”
“No.”
Ethan slid another paper across the desk.
“Your accountant is.”
Grant looked down.
There was a note from the finance department.
Someone had already flagged the discrepancy.
Grant's smile vanished.
“You don't know what you're doing.”
Ethan looked at him.
“Maybe.”
Then he stood.
“But I know what I’m seeing.”
That afternoon, Claire came into Ethan's office.
She shut the door.
“Can I ask you something?”
“Sure.”
“Why are you doing this?”
Ethan leaned back.
“Doing what?”
“Investigating Grant.”
“I'd investigate anyone whose name appeared repeatedly in questionable contracts.”
Claire looked down.
“You're not doing this because of me?”
“No.”
She nodded slowly.
“Good.”
Ethan studied her.
“You don't seem happy.”
Claire gave a sad smile.
“I'm not.”
“Is Grant hurting you?”
She hesitated.
“Not physically.”
Ethan waited.
Claire sighed.
“He controls everything.”
“Your money?”
“Yes.”
“Your friends?”
“Some of them.”
“Your job?”
She nodded.
“That’s why you're working here.”
Claire looked at him.
“He doesn't want me to have anything he can't control.”
Ethan understood.
“What about Vanessa?”
Claire looked surprised.
“What about her?”
“She seems close to Grant.”
Claire looked away.
“She's more than his assistant.”
Ethan said nothing.
Claire whispered,
“They've been together for months.”
The room fell quiet.
Ethan remembered the market.
The way Grant had reacted.
He hadn't been jealous because Claire had spoken to a stranger.
He had been afraid of being seen.
Claire continued.
“He keeps telling me I'm imagining things.”
“Do you have proof?”
“Yes.”
She pulled out a small USB drive.
“I need someone to believe me.”
Ethan took it.
“I believe you.”
Claire looked at him.
“Why?”
“Because people don't carry proof for fun.”
She smiled.
Then she whispered,
“There's something else.”
“What?”
“Grant knows Arthur is reviewing him.”
Ethan's expression changed.
“How?”
“Vanessa told him.”
“And how did she know?”
Claire looked at the door.
“Because she has access to Arthur's private emails.”
Ethan sat forward.
“That's a serious accusation.”
“I know.”
“Are you sure?”
Claire's voice dropped.
“I saw her.”
Before Ethan could ask anything else, the office lights went out.
The entire floor went dark.
Seconds later, the emergency system activated.
Employees began shouting.
Ethan moved toward the door.
Then he noticed his desk drawer.
It was open.
May you like
Someone had searched his office.
The USB drive was gone.
