Chapter 39

"Are you serious about taking this vacation?" As we left the apartment building and entered the refreshing morning air, Emily questioned, giving me a sidelong glance.

I nodded, seeming particularly serious. "It is necessary for both of us."

She paused for a while, still feeling the consequences of her choice. She clearly had a desire to flee from me, from the secrets, from all the tension that had accumulated over the previous few weeks. However, there was a part of her that still harbored strong feelings for me and believed that this trip would be a chance to turn things around.

At last, she exhaled softly and replied, "Okay. Let's get it done. I'll drop the apartment."

Her comments caused my shoulders to relax. I had a tremendous surge of relief. "I'm grateful."

With an eyebrow raised, she cautioned, "But don't think this fixes everything. Ethan, you still need to speak with me. We cannot continue in this manner."

I gave another nod. "I understand. And I will. once we've left all of this chaos behind."

Even though Emily didn't seem completely convinced, I walked her outside to the car's parking lot, got her in, and closed the door. I could feel the tension building as I approached the driver's side; the stillness between us was long and the tension was boiling just below the surface. I kept looking at her to see how she was feeling, but she was deep in contemplation, staring out the window. Victor, the FBI, and now Emily were all things I had to deal with. I had no idea how to balance everything without it all falling apart, and everyone wanted something from me.

I knew I had to put up a front, to keep things smooth until we were on that vacation. Then perhaps I could find a way to explain it all without destroying what was left of us.

I sensed a change in the mood as soon as we entered Monroe Enterprises. Before she left for her office, Emily offered me a little, almost reluctant grin, but I could sense the distance in her eyes. She was still indecisive. I needed to convince her that the vacation was a good idea. If she changed her mind now, everything would fall apart.

Jack was standing outside my office door with his arms crossed and a frustrated expression on his face before I had even had time to collect my thoughts.

Jack abruptly stated, "Ethan, we need to talk."

I took a quick look at Emily's vanishing form before turning back to Jack. "Sure. Let's do this."

Jack nodded toward the entrance of my office and said, "Inside." His tone made it clear to me that this would not be a friendly conversation.

Jack wasted no time after the door shut behind us. "What the hell is going on?"

I scowled, acting as though I didn't understand. "What do you mean?"

Jack's tolerance was obviously becoming thin as he yelled, "Cut the crap, Ethan. For weeks, the FBI has been investigating the business. First, it's financial records. Now that they're getting more specific, nothing feels quite right. I am the company's attorney. I must know what is happening."

The weight of the secrets I had been keeping threatened to break me, and I felt my heartbeat increase. Jack had been managing the legal department of Monroe Enterprises for many years. He was entitled to answers, but I wasn't sure I was prepared for the new level of issues that would arise if I told him the truth.

In an attempt to buy time, I murmured, "Jack, it's... complicated."

"Complicated?" Jack's voice became irritated. "Do you think I'm an idiot? I've worked for this company long enough to recognize when something is really wrong. The FBI doesn't just investigate on a whim. What exactly are they trying to find?"

With my head racing, I clinched my hands. I couldn't avoid this any longer. Jack was right when he said he wouldn't let it go. He had every right to know what was happening because he was Monroe Enterprises' attorney.

"All right, all right," I gritted my teeth and said. "You're looking for the truth?"

Jack narrowed his eyes and folded his arms. "Yes. The truth is what I want."

The words caught in my throat as I inhaled deeply. "My father wasn't really operating the spotless company you believed him to be."

Jack scowled more deeply. "What are you talking about?"

I whispered, "Henry was involved in arms deals," feeling the weight of the admission hit me more forcefully than I had anticipated. "Monroe Enterprises was a front. The FBI is looking into this because they are beginning to piece together the entire scheme."

For the first time in years, I witnessed genuine amazement on Jack's face as his eyes expanded. "Arms deals? Are you telling me, Ethan, that Henry was smuggling weapons via Monroe Enterprises?"

Slowly, my throat constricted, I nodded. "Victor Alvarez... he's the one who orchestrated the whole thing. My father covered it up, but now that he's gone, they're coming after the company."

Jack looked at me as if he couldn't believe what he was hearing, and he was silent for a while. The bang echoed throughout the office as he abruptly smashed his fist down on my desk.

"How long have you been aware of this?" Jack's voice was filled with anger as he demanded.

"A few weeks," I said, attempting to seem calm. "I've been trying to determine how to handle it."

"And you didn't consider telling me?" Jack's rage was evident as his voice increased. "Ethan, I'm your attorney! I could have been of assistance to you. I could have handled this and shielded you from what was about to happen. But instead, you've been sitting on this, letting things get worse!"

"I wanted to keep you out of it!" With my own frustration erupting, I fired back. "I believed that I could manage it without making matters worse for anybody."

"Making things worse?" Jack repeated, his expression contorted in shock. "Can you hear yourself at all? Ethan, you've been playing with fire and you're in over your head. Do you really believe you can defeat Victor Alvarez on your own? Without assistance?"

"I had no other option!" I slammed my hands down on the desk in a jerk. "Jack, what was I meant to do? Inform the board that the business in which they have invested millions of dollars is a cover for illicit arms sales. That would destroy everything."

"Destroy everything?" With a low, menacing voice, Jack shook his head. "By hiding this from the individuals who might help you, you will ruin everything. The FBI is currently pursuing us, and it won't be long before they discover anything that they can use against you."

I was unable to argue with him. Jack was right. I was frantically trying to keep things from falling apart because I had allowed it to go too far.

I responded, scarcely raising my voice above a whisper, "I'll fix it. I'll figure out how to handle Victor."

Jack chuckled bitterly. "Ethan, how precisely are you going to accomplish that? You are up against a master criminal. He won't simply let you leave this situation."

"I'm not going anywhere," I whispered. "But I'm also not going to let him take over."

Jack looked at me, clearly frustrated. "You believe that keeping this a secret will help? Ethan, you have no idea what you just let loose.