Chapter 1 - THE MAN ON THE FLOOR
Ethan Carter brushed Margaret Whitmore’s shoulder by accident.
That was all.
He was moving around the edge of a banquet table when she turned suddenly.
Her hand struck his face before he could apologize.
“DON’T YOU DARE TOUCH ME!”
Ethan stumbled and fell.
A chair scraped backward.
Conversation stopped.
He touched his lower lip.
A tiny streak of blood appeared on his finger.
“I only bumped into you by accident.”
Margaret stared down at him as if he had insulted her by speaking.
Then she slapped him again.
“POOR TRASH LIKE YOU JUST WAITS FOR A CHANCE TO STEAL!”
The private company dining room went silent.
Executives.
Managers.
Employees.
Catering staff.
Everyone watching.
Then Daniel Whitmore pushed through the guests.
“What happened, Mom?”
Margaret pointed at Ethan.
“That poor bastard tried to rob me!”
Daniel did not ask Ethan a question.
He did not ask a witness.
He did not look for missing property.
He charged.
Grabbed both sides of Ethan’s navy blazer.
Dragged him upright.
“How dare you touch my mother?!”
Ethan did not fight.
He looked directly into Daniel’s eyes.
Calm.
Daniel mistook calm for fear.
Margaret smirked behind him.
Then someone near the head table said:
“Daniel.”
Daniel ignored it.
The voice came again.
“Daniel. Let him go.”
This time Daniel recognized the speaker.
Helen Price.
Chief Executive Officer of Northbridge Hospitality Group.
Daniel’s employer.
His face changed slightly.
Still, he held Ethan.
“My mother says he tried to rob her.”
Helen stared.
“That man is Ethan Carter.”
Daniel frowned.
The name meant something.
He just could not place it.
Helen continued:
“Senior Vice President, Corporate Operations.”
Daniel’s hands loosened.
Then Helen added:
“Effective this morning, he has direct oversight of your division.”
Daniel released Ethan completely.
Margaret’s smirk disappeared.
Ethan adjusted his blazer.
Touched his lip again.
Then said:
“Before anyone talks about my title, I’d like to know what exactly I’m accused of stealing.”
May you like
No one answered.
Because Margaret had not checked whether anything was missing.
