Chapter 4 - The Name Brooke Remembered
Brooke followed Ethan into the side corridor.
“You need to stop.”
He turned his chair.
“Stop what?”
“Acting like you still run things.”
“I’m attending a gala.”
“You’re interfering with staff.”
“You had her fired.”
“She embarrassed me.”
“She answered you.”
“Same thing in a room like this.”
Ethan studied her.
Or maybe it was.
Brooke crossed her arms.
“You know what people are saying?”
“No.”
Ethan almost smiled.
“What life?”
“Access.”
“People. Deals. Relevance.”
He looked at her.
“And you think I lost all that?”
Brooke’s face softened in a way that felt worse than cruelty.
“Ethan. Be serious.”
There it was.
Pity.
“You were brilliant,” she said.
“Were?”
“You know what I mean.”
“I do.”
She sighed.
“For six weeks.”
“I had a life.”
“You had an exit.”
Her jaw tightened.
“You pushed everyone away.”
“I asked you not to sell my medical information to a gossip site.”
Brooke went pale.
He watched her.
She had never known he knew.
“That wasn’t me.”
Silence.
Ethan continued.
“That is ridiculous.”
“Is it?”
Brooke looked toward the ballroom doors.
Then back.
“What do you want from me?”
“Nothing.”
“Then why are you here?”
Ethan leaned back.
“To see you.”
Her expression shifted.
“For what?”
“Clearly.”
She laughed nervously.
“You always loved drama.”
“No.”
He looked toward the stage.
“I love information.”
Brooke stared at him.
Ethan’s general counsel, Marcus Lee.
Marcus stopped six feet away.
“Mr. Vance.”
Brooke froze.
Marcus continued.
Brooke looked from him to Ethan.
“What board?”
Ethan said nothing.
Marcus handed him a black folder.
Brooke read the gold lettering.
May you like
STERLING BIOTECH — EMERGENCY CONTROL RESOLUTION.
Her face lost color.
