Chapter 4 The First Move
Chapter 4: The First Move
The first rays of sunlight had barely broken through the clouds when the top floor of Carter Group Headquarters came alive. Luxury sedans lined the entrance, security teams stood at attention, and executives from every branch of the empire hurried through the marble lobby with anxious expressions. Some had flown through the night from overseas after receiving an unexpected message that simply read:
Mandatory Board Meeting. Attendance Required.
No explanation.
No agenda.
Only one signature at the bottom.
Samuel Brooks.
Inside the executive boardroom, more than thirty directors sat in complete silence. They were among the most influential business leaders in the country, yet none of them dared to speak. Rumors had spread for months that the missing heir had finally been found, but no one knew whether to believe them.
Then the doors opened.
Samuel stepped inside first.
"The Young Master has arrived."
Every executive immediately rose to their feet.
Ethan entered the room wearing a perfectly tailored black suit. There was nothing flashy about his appearance, yet the confidence in his calm expression made the entire room fall silent. The humble man who had quietly endured humiliation for years was gone. Standing before them was the rightful heir of the Carter empire.
Without saying a word, Ethan walked to the head of the table.
No one questioned his position.
No one dared.
William Carter slowly entered behind him and looked around the room.
"For fifteen years," he said, "you have all remained loyal to this family. Today I officially introduce my successor."
He placed a thick leather folder in front of Ethan.
"From this moment onward, Ethan Carter will become Acting Chairman of Carter Group."
The announcement echoed through the room.
Every executive applauded.
Several of the older directors had tears in their eyes. They had watched Ethan grow up before the tragedy that tore the family apart, and many had believed they would never see him again.
William smiled proudly.
"The future of Carter Group is now in his hands."
He stepped aside.
The room became completely silent as everyone waited for Ethan's first words.
Ethan looked around the table, meeting every pair of eyes before speaking.
"I have no interest in ruling through fear."
His calm voice carried naturally through the room.
"If you are loyal to this company and to the people who built it, you will always have my trust."
He paused.
"But if anyone here has chosen money over loyalty..."
His gaze became sharp.
"...walk out now, because I will not give a second chance."
No one moved.
Not a single chair shifted.
Ethan nodded.
"Good."
He pressed a button on the conference table.
A massive screen lit up behind him.
Financial reports filled the display.
"Our first target is Hawthorne Holdings."
Several directors exchanged surprised glances.
One elderly executive carefully cleared his throat.
"Young Master, Hawthorne Holdings is much smaller than Carter Group. Acquiring them would be effortless."
Ethan shook his head.
"I don't want their company."
"I want the truth."
He tapped another button.
Photographs of Victor Graves appeared on the screen alongside dozens of financial transactions.
"Our investigation shows that Black Horizon Capital has quietly invested in Hawthorne Holdings over the last two years."
"They're using the Hawthorne family as a shield."
"If we move too quickly, Victor disappears."
"If we move patiently..."
"He leads us straight to everyone involved in the conspiracy."
A slow smile spread across several directors' faces.
The new chairman wasn't acting out of anger.
He was hunting.
One of the younger executives raised his hand.
"What are your orders?"
Ethan answered without hesitation.
"End every future investment with Hawthorne Holdings."
"Withdraw every partnership."
"Reject every financing request."
"Cancel every joint project."
"But do it quietly."
"I don't want them destroyed."
"I want them confused."
The directors nodded in admiration.
It was a perfect strategy.
Instead of launching an obvious attack, Ethan intended to tighten the pressure little by little until his enemies exposed themselves.
Meanwhile, across the city, Hawthorne Holdings was facing the worst morning in its history.
Gregory stormed into the executive conference room and slammed a stack of reports onto the table.
"Explain this!"
No one spoke.
The finance director nervously adjusted his glasses.
"Our largest supplier has terminated its agreement."
"Our overseas investors have postponed negotiations."
"Three banks have frozen our expansion loans."
Marcus slammed his fist onto the table.
"This makes no sense! We haven't broken any contracts."
The marketing director swallowed nervously.
"It gets worse."
"Our company's stock has already fallen eight percent since the market opened."
Gregory's face darkened.
"Find out who's behind this."
"I don't care how much it costs."
"I want names."
Across the room, Isabella quietly read another report.
Unlike everyone else, she wasn't focused on the numbers.
She was staring at a note attached to one of the canceled contracts.
After an internal review, we have decided not to proceed with future cooperation.
No explanation.
No warning.
Every cancellation used the exact same wording.
It was almost as if every company had received the same instruction from someone powerful enough that none of them dared to refuse.
A strange feeling settled over her.
She remembered Ethan leaving the mansion with nothing except the clothes he was wearing.
She remembered his calm smile.
She remembered his final words.
I hope none of you will ever regret today.
For the first time, doubt entered her heart.
Who was the man she had married?
Before she could think further, her assistant rushed into the conference room without knocking.
"President Hawthorne!"
Everyone turned toward her.
"What is it?" Isabella asked.
The assistant struggled to catch her breath.
"We've just received an invitation."
"An invitation?" Gregory frowned.
"From whom?"
The assistant looked down at the elegant black envelope in her trembling hands.
"The Carter Group."
The room fell silent.
Gregory's expression changed instantly.
"The Carter Group has never contacted us before."
He grabbed the envelope and opened it.
Inside was a single sheet of paper.
Chairman William Carter cordially invites Hawthorne Holdings to attend the Carter Group Annual Charity Gala tomorrow evening.
At the bottom was one final sentence.
Attendance is highly recommended.
No one noticed the faint smile that appeared on Ethan's face as Samuel informed him the invitation had been delivered.
The trap had been set.
Tomorrow night, for the first time since the divorce, Ethan and the Hawthorne family would stand in the same room again.
Only this time...
The man they once mocked as a worthless husband would no longer be the one standing in the shadows.
