Chapter 3

When Ethan slammed the legal contract onto the dining table, Valerie was sitting across from me, eating an omelet.

"Sign it."

He tapped his knuckles against the paper.

"It's a proxy equity agreement. Five percent of my shares will be held under your name. Strictly for compliance purposes."

I glanced down at it.

Dense legal jargon filled the pages. When I flipped to the final signature page, the designated ultimate beneficiary was Valerie Reed.

"About this..."

I closed the document and pushed it to the edge of the table.

"Can I have a lawyer friend look it over first? I don't really understand corporate law."

Ethan slammed his fork onto the table with a deafening clatter.

"Don't understand? If you don't understand, I'll explain it to you! You just don't trust me!"

He shoved his chair back, the legs screeching across the tile.

"I ask you to sign a simple document, and you give me excuses? What the hell goes on in that head of yours?"

Valerie set down her fork and dabbed her mouth with a napkin.

"Ethan, don't be mad. It's completely normal for Chloe to be cautious..."

"Normal, my ass!"

Ethan snatched the contract and threw it straight at my face.

"Chloe, search your damn conscience! Have I ever mistreated you?"

"You live under my roof on my dime, and you dare give me attitude over a signature?"

The sharp edge of the paper grazed the bridge of my nose, leaving a faint white scratch.

I didn't flinch.

"I didn't say I wouldn't sign it."

I offered a faint smile, gathering the scattered pages one by one.

"I'm just afraid my ignorance might cause you legal trouble. The day after tomorrow. I'll let my friend look it over, and I'll sign it right away."

He glared at me for three long seconds, his chest heaving.

"The day after tomorrow,"

he warned, tossing the papers back down. "If you don't sign it by then, get the hell out of my house."

I nodded and slipped the document into my bag.

Valerie stood up, strolled over, and gave my shoulder a patronizing squeeze.

"Don't take it to heart, Chloe. Ethan just has a bit of a temper."

"I know."

I looked up and smiled back at her. "Take your time with breakfast, Valerie. I need to head to the office."

That afternoon, as I was walking past the breakroom carrying a freshly printed quarterly summary, Valerie walked out holding an iced Americano. She took an exaggerated stumble right beside me.

The entire cup of dark coffee splashed across my papers.

"Oops—"

Valerie covered her mouth dramatically. Half a dozen employees in the breakroom turned their heads at once.

"Chloe, you can't even handle a simple printing task."

Her voice was just loud enough for everyone to hear.

"How do you expect to ease Ethan's burden?"

"Apex Tech may not be a Fortune 500 company yet, but every role comes with real responsibilities, wouldn't you agree?"

I rolled up the ruined, coffee-soaked papers and dropped them into the recycling bin.

"You're right, Valerie."

I looked up, my lips curving into an unfazed smile. "I really do need to learn more."

"Why don't you mentor me?"

"You're always so efficient. If I shadow you for a couple of days, I'm sure I'll improve fast."

The smirk on her face froze.

In the breakroom, several people immediately looked down at their phones, while others quietly picked up their mugs and slipped away.

I gave her a polite nod and walked out.

Right before clocking out, my phone buzzed.

The screen flashed: *Mom*.

I ducked into the stairwell before answering.

"Chloe..."

My mother's voice came through, thick with tears.

"Mom had a terrible nightmare last night. I was terrified."

"I dreamed... I dreamed you were locked away in prison."

I leaned my back against the cold concrete wall and closed my eyes.

"I dreamed I went to the courtroom to see you, and then everything went black..."

"Chloe, please come home for a couple of days. Let Mom see you, just to make sure you're okay..."

"Mom."

My throat felt parched and tight. "I'm fine."

"Work has just been busy since I started. I'll come visit you in two weeks."

"Take care of yourself. Don't forget to take your heart medication on time."

I hung up.

I sank down onto the stairwell steps, resting my forehead against my knees.

Not in this life. I will never let anyone hurt my mother again.