Chapter 98

"How much more do they want from me?" I slammed the office door behind me and growled to myself. The echo of the collision seemed to mock me as it reverberated off the walls. I flung my briefcase onto the desk and fell into the chair, my heart pounding. Gerard's games, Richards' incessant questioning, and Victor's threats were all oppressive.

Through the window, the city at dusk spread out, with the skyscrapers glistening like a mirage. However, even the vast urban sprawl couldn't quiet the storm that was brewing inside me tonight. It seemed as though the walls of this workplace, which had once been a haven, were gradually closing in.

Ben's previous statement played like a haunting tune in my head. It felt like another knife in the back to think that my best friend would be speaking to Richards in private. Ben had replied, his voice breaking beneath the weight of his remorse, "I didn't give him anything tangible." But what about tomorrow? Or the next day? There was a breaking point for everyone.

I was jolted out of my reverie by a gentle knock on the door.

"Ethan?" Emily's quiet, uncertain voice came through the thick wood.

I paused, my chest tightening. "Enter now."

She stepped inside, cautious, almost too wary. There used to be a kindness about her presence that I couldn't explain. It was different now. An invisible wall that we had both built, brick by brick, separated us.

"I wanted to talk," she said, her eyes darting around the room as though seeking something, or perhaps avoiding my stare.

"Can it wait?" I rubbed my temples and asked. "I have a lot on my plate."

She pressed her lips into a thin line. "Isn't it always required to wait?"

I noticed the glimmer of anger in her eyes as I looked up. She wasn't wrong. I had been avoiding her for weeks, putting out fires ahead of everything else. But how could I explain both the internal and external fights I was fighting?

"Emily, it's not what you think," I said, lowering my voice. "I am-"

She interrupted, "Busy?" with a sharpness in her voice that I had never heard before. "Ethan, you're always busy. And I understand. However, don't count on me to keep waiting for bits of your time."

The words stung more than I had expected. She was already going for the door when I opened my mouth to reply.

With her back to me, she continued, "If you don't want to talk, that's fine. But don't be shocked when I give up."

She was gone in an instant.

The silence left behind was deafening. My thoughts raced as I stared at the spot where she had been standing. For the first time, I didn't have the energy to run after Emily as she slipped away.

I got up and walked around the office. Along with Gerard's constant schemes, Victor's demand to deal with Richards loomed big. Killing Richards was more than just stopping a threat; it felt like crossing a line, and I wasn't sure I could come back from it. What about Gerard? Though a snake, he wasn't the root of the problem.

I was the trouble.

I paused at the window and looked down at the city. I felt as worn out as my reflection did in the glass. Haunted eyes, a clenched jaw, and a suit that seemed suddenly too tight made the man looking back at me someone I didn't recognize.

Once more, without a knock, the door creaked open. Ben entered, his face serious.

He shut the door behind him and said, "We need to talk."

He ignored me and sank into the chair across from my desk when I said, "This isn't a good time."

In a quiet voice, he pressed, "It's about Victor. And Gerard."

I leaned against the desk and turned. "Now what?"

Ben ran a hand through his hair and paused. "Victor is taking action. He's cutting off your alternatives now, not just targeting Gerard's friends. If you don't act immediately-"

I interrupted by saying, "I know. You think I'm unaware of the stakes?"

Ben squinted his eyes. "Do you? Because from where I sit, you're stuck. You're only reacting, letting Victor and Gerard run the game."

The comments hit harder than they should have. I raised my voice, pleading, "I'm trying to keep this from spiraling into chaos."

"Ethan, chaos is already here," Ben replied. "And you will lose everything if you don't choose a side soon."

The tension between us was sharp, unforgiving, and the room grew quiet. I finally let out a breath and pinched the bridge of my nose.

"Do you know anything about it?" I asked, my voice softer now. "I feel like every decision I make is a trap. Richards, Gerard, and Victor are all closing in, and there isn't a way out that doesn't involve killing."

Ben's face softened, but his determination stayed unwavering. "Then, Ethan, decide. Because it will be worse if you wait for them to decide for you."

I slumped back in my chair as Ben left, feeling the weight of his words. He was right. Time was not on my side.

I kept thinking about Victor's warning: "Get rid of Gerard, or I'll start doubting your loyalty." But there were other risks beyond Gerard. Richards continued to dig deeper each day, and if Victor was aware of it, he would finally demand action.

I felt sick at the thought of killing Richards. Yes, he was a problem, but he was also just doing his job. Still, Victor would make a move if I didn't.

I was jolted from my thoughts by a loud banging on the door.

"Not now," I said, but the door still opened.

It was Isabella. As usual, she carried an air of control.

Her tone was light, but her eyes were stern as she commented, "You look terrible."

"Isabella, what do you want?" Too tired to hide my annoyance, I asked.

With a sly smile, she sat down. "I wanted to check in. You've been incredibly silent lately."

"I'm fine," I answered curtly, but she didn't believe me.

As she leaned back, she commented, "You're a horrible liar. But that's not my problem. Just remember, Ethan, there's a line of people waiting to take your place if you falter."

Long after she was gone, her words continued to echo in my mind.

Hours later, the workplace was totally dark except for the dim glow of my desk lamp. Outside, the city bustled, but inside, everything felt still.

I gazed at the folder on my desk, holding Victor's orders and Richards' name. My hand ached to pick it up. But each choice brought me to the same point-a turn in the road that I couldn't get out of.

The walls were closing in and time was running out.