Chapter 3 Brother

ETHAN

Something felt off.

Indeed, the last thing I had expected after getting back from my trip was to see this type of drama orchestrated by my own father.

It felt like a joke yet everyone was buying it.

It was common knowledge that Leo was a ticking time bomb. Trouble followed him everywhere he went and it was a bad idea to have him within these walls.

Yet Father instigated it.

"Can we have a word in private?" I asked as I stared at Father.

He sighed. "See me in my office."

With that, he continued down the hallway.

"I bet you didn't see this coming, brother," Leo flashed his teeth at me. "Better get cozy, I am not going anywhere."

Like Father, he turned and started heading back to his office. That was when my gaze returned to the strange girl left standing before me.

She had green eyes, emerald green to be precise and it felt as if they had a lot to say yet her lips kept everything sealed behind.

She kept her hair out of her face, held together in a low bun yet the simplicity of the style drew more attention to the line of her neck, the smooth clear skin and the shape of her face.

Her knee length dress complimented the curves she possessed and it surprised me that I noticed all of these things.

In fact, there was something about her that had me curious. She looked familiar, like I had met her before but I just couldn't place it.

And I hated not knowing.

"Zoey?" Leo suddenly called. "Aren't you coming?"

I blinked, realising that we had been staring at each other for seconds without saying a word.

"I— I'm coming," she stuttered like she was also affected by me. She spared me one last glance before hurrying after him.

My gaze lingered on her back until they disappeared. And I convinced myself that meant nothing and it would pass.

I moved my thoughts to more important matters. Father was waiting in his office. I needed to figure out what was truly up.

So I followed the same way he had gone until I arrived at his door. I knocked once before letting myself in.

He was not alone. Daniel, my PA, was already inside with him.

"Welcome back, Boss," Daniel smiled as he pulled a chair out for me before my father's desk.

"I take it, you know why Father is doing this and that is why you're also here?"  I asked as I got into my seat.

Daniel nodded. "Like you must have guessed, there's a hidden meaning."

I relaxed in my chair and met my gaze with Father's. "What happened in my absence?"

Father brought his hands together and leaned on them. His gaze grew more serious and I knew that it had to be something that made him feel threatened.

"Gabriel Banks wants to steal my company from me. He's trying to convince the board members to vote you both out of power."

I frowned as the image of Gabriel came into mind. The man had always been sneaky but I didn't think he had it in him to make such a sneaky move.

"And on what grounds is he using to buy them off?"

"Your brother."

I narrowed my eyes on him. "What do you mean?"

Father coughed hard and for the first time, I noticed how pale he had become. It was almost as if he was sick.

Could it just be stress or was his illness more serious?

"He brought your brother's scandalous behavior to thé board members. Talked about how his behavior is threatening the future of House of Thorne and how we can’t have him as the face of the company." He paused. "He made a point."

I nodded slowly as I started to understand how my father was thinking. "So that's why you brought him here. . . You want to prove to the board that he can be competent and reliable."

Father agreed silently.

Yet I could see the flaw in his plan. "Forcing Leo to work here won't stop him from creating more scandals. That is who he is and you cannot take it away from him."

"Which is why you have to work with him. You need to teach him to be a better leader," Father stated and I could hear the desperation in his voice.

"You want me to be his keeper." I raised my head in realisation.

"Sacrifices must be made in order to protect what we hold dear."

I looked away as I thought of my brother's nature. He had betrayed me once in the past. I hated betrayal more than anything and I could never bring myself to forgive whoever crossed that line.

The only reason why I still tolerated Leo was because he was family.

And like father said, sacrifices had to be made to protect what was ours.

"Fine. I'll do it," I whispered and I saw my father smile. "I am curious though, how hasn't he made up a mess yet?"

"Zoey," Daniel spoke up since he greeted me. "She's a hell of a good secretary."

My mind went back to that strange girl who had the power to make me curious about her. Her presence here changed everything because it suddenly clicked in my head that she was what I needed to keep my brother in check.

"Does Leo know about Gabriel?" I asked.

Father shook his head. "You know how crazy your brother can be. If he knew what Gabriel was up to then he would have already attacked him."

"And that would be giving Gabriel exactly what he wants." I completed.

"Which is why Leo has to believe I am forcing him to be here because I want you two to get along and lead the company together."

I rose from my chair having realised what I had to do. "I'll handle it."

Daniel followed my lead.

"I am counting on you, Son," Father said and it carried weight. Like all his hope was in the actions I took starting here.

I watched him for a few seconds. The situation had him deeply worried but he was trying to act strong.

I nodded politely and walked out of the office.

"What is the plan, Boss?" Daniel asked as we walked side by side.

"Send an official message to Leo's secretary. Schedule a meeting with him in the next three hours. I don't care what plans he has, he must be there."

Daniel nodded in response and started working on it right away.

As I entered my office, an image of Zoey flashed through my mind again. I wondered where she had come from.

Was it just mere coincidence that she chose to show up at this moment?

I could not tell what was going through her mind and it left me unsettled.

What was her true motive?

And most especially, why did I feel as if I knew her?