Chapter 17 - Isabella’s Choice
Ethan offered Isabella a job.
She said no.
Immediately.
He blinked.
“No?”
“No.”
“Can I ask why?”
“You can.”
She waited.
He sighed.
“Why?”
“It isn’t.”
“That’s what rich people always say right before giving someone a charity job.”
Ethan looked at him.
“A lot.”
Isabella crossed her arms.
“Yes.”
“Community college. Business administration. Two semesters short of completion.”
She stared.
“You looked me up?”
“HR did.”
“You also managed three catering crews during festival season.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“Keep going.”
“You caught a vendor billing error that saved your employer twelve thousand dollars.”
“How do you know that?”
“Former?”
“He fired Victor this morning.”
Isabella almost smiled.
Ethan continued.
“Good.”
“Six-month paid rotation. Employee operations. You interview hourly staff and report directly to the independent committee.”
She thought.
“What if I tell you things you don’t like?”
“What if I tell you you’re wrong?”
“Frequently useful.”
She glared at him.
“You be quiet.”
Then she looked at Ethan.
“One condition.”
“What?”
“I finish school.”
“Done.”
“No. I pay for it.”
Ethan nodded.
“Done.”
“And I don’t report to Brooke.”
Isabella winced.
“It sounded accurate.”
She held out her hand.
“Six months.”
He shook it.
“Six months.”
Ethan paused.
She narrowed her eyes.
“No.”
He smiled.
“Fair.”
As she turned to leave, Marcus entered.
“We found Chad’s offshore accounts.”
“How bad?”
“Worse.”
“Sterling money?”
“Some.”
“What else?”
Marcus handed him a file.
Same pattern.
Consulting fees.
Distress incentives.
Data leverage.
Ethan looked at the names.
May you like
Chad had built a business out of finding weak companies, worsening their weakness, then selling the rescue.
And Sterling had only been one target.
