Chapter 4 - Sanctuary in the Foyer
The silence that followed Noah's departure was heavier than before. I leaned back against the cool marble pillar, pressing the heels of my hands against my eyes as the exhaustion of the evening finally crashed over me. My updo hairstyle was beginning to unravel, a few loose strands clinging to the damp skin of my neck.
"He's going to make noise," Ethan said quietly, stepping back into my field of vision. "Noah isn't used to losing, and he hates being embarrassed."
"Let him make noise," I murmured, dropping my hands and looking up at him. "The truth is already out there. What more can he do?"
"He can dig into foundation records that aren't meant for public eyes," Ethan replied grimly. He reached out, his thumb gently brushing away a stray tear from my cheek with a tenderness that completely contradicted his dangerous reputation. "You can't go back to your apartment tonight, Olivia. My security detail reported a couple of unfamiliar cars parked outside your building an hour ago. The people skimming those funds know you have the audit notes."
I froze, my breath catching in my throat. "How do you know that?"
"Because I've had you watched since you started the audit," Ethan admitted without hesitation, his dark eyes holding mine steady. "Not to intimidate you—to keep you safe. I knew the moment you found discrepancies in the Moretti shipping manifests that you'd be a target."
Anger flared through my exhaustion, hot and sharp. "You had me followed?"
"Protecting my auditors is standard protocol," he said evenly, though a flicker of regret crossed his features. "Staying at your place tonight is a liability. You're coming back to the estate."
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"I am not going to your mansion, Ethan. That's suicide. If Noah or the board sees—"
"They won't see," he interrupted, his tone absolute. He shrugged off his black suit jacket and draped it over my shoulders. The fabric was heavy, still warm from his body, and smelled intensely of him. "You'll stay in the east wing guest suite. My guards will secure the perimeter. We deal with the board tomorrow morning."
