Page 24 of The Restaurant on Plum Island
“No!” Ethan shook his head and stood, tired of having to look up to Harley, who was hovering over the desk. “I’m trying to figure out what the heck is going on.”
“Three years too late!” Harley pointed out.
Ethan rubbed his eyes and blew out a breath before looking at Harley. “You said you drove Carly to Blackwell Production the day I allegedly fired her.”
“Again, there was no allegedly about it,” Harley stated. “And yes, I was the one who drove her there.”
“Do you remember the date?” Ethan asked him.
“How could I forget it?” Harley clenched his jaw.
“Tell me the date,” Ethan prompted. Harley told him, sending tiny shockwaves down Ethan’s spine as alarm bells started resounding in his head. “Harley, I was in Paris on that date.” He held up his hand to stop Harley from responding. “I have proof and witnesses to verify that.”
“Impossible,” Harley sneered. “I saw you escaping into your private elevator to get in your helicopter on the Blackwell Production Building’s roof.”
“I can assure you it wasn’t me you saw,” Ethan told him. “Especially if I was going to the helipad, as I don’t use the company’s chopper.” He swallowed and cleared his throat, his voice dropping as he embarrassedly admitted. “I’m afraid of flying in that thing.”
“What are you saying?” Harley’s eyes narrowed suspiciously as he leaned back and folded his arms across his muscled chest.
“That three years ago, Carly and I may have been manipulated,” Ethan said, suppressing his anger. His suspicions seared like a red-hot fire through his system. “And trust me when I tell you that I’m going to get to the bottom of this and make it right with Carly if what I suspect happened turns out to be true.”
“And what exactly are your suspicions?” Harley raised an eyebrow, and Ethan knew Harley had already figured out who Carly had met with that day and was pushing him to confirm it.
“I’m not one hundred percent sure—yet!“ Ethan squared his shoulders as he stood his ground. “But as I said, Iwillget to the bottom of this.”
“And I’ll be right there beside you!” Harley informed him.
“No!” Ethan shook his head. “Harley, please let me deal with this. I promise to let you know as soon as I know the truth behind what happened.”
“And you expect me to believe you?” Harley looked at him, not bothering to hide his mistrust.
“I’m asking for a chance to prove that I wouldneverhave intentionally hurt Carly.“ Ethan’s voice was full of emotion, surprising even himself by the force of his words and how much he meant them. He looked Harley in the eyes as he admitted, “Carly meant more to me than just a lead in my movie, and she still does.”
Harley’s eyes narrowed and bore into Ethan like the man was trying to see into his soul. “I’ll give you a day before I start taking matters into my own hands.”
“Fair enough,” Ethan agreed, relieved that Harley was giving him the space to deal with the traitor in Ethan’s midst. “And Harley…” They looked at each other, a silent understanding passing between them. “I ask that you keep this between us until it’s sorted out, and then I’d like to talk to Carly.”
Harley’s brows shot up as he stared at Ethan in surprise and nodded. “Okay. But this is where I tell you that if you or your family cause my sister and her son any more pain than you already have—“ His eyes flashed warningly. Ethan knew this was no idle threat, and he had nodoubt Harley would follow through. “I don’t care who you are, but you’ll have me to deal with.”
“I’m glad Carly has you in her corner,” Ethan admitted. “I’m not sure who that PI is or why he’s been following her, but I have a feeling it has something to do with three years ago that neither you nor I know about.”
“Maybe!” Harley nodded before he walked to the door. “Let me know as soon as you have the answers.”
Ethan nodded, watching Harley let himself out of the room. He stared at the closed door for a few seconds, contemplating the implications of what he’d found out.
Ethan sat back down heavily in his chair, the weight of the new information pressing down on him. His mind raced with thoughts and suspicions, trying to piece together a puzzle that seemed to grow more complex by the minute. The realization that someone close to him could have orchestrated such a betrayal gnawed at him, stirring a mix of emotions he struggled to contain.
Carly’s face flashed through his mind, her hazel green eyes filled with strength and vulnerability that had drawn him in from the start. He knew he couldn’t let this go unresolved, not when it involved her and their past entwined in a web of deceit.
Ethan wasn’t quite sure how to approach the situation. He wasn’t even sure he could trust his family to tell him the truth after keeping something like this a secret. The thought of a PI sprung to mind, and his eyes narrowed as a name came to mind. Ethan may not trust PIs, but he knew someone he and Carly could trust to discreetly look into Ethan’s family.
Harley’s words echoed through Ethan’s head as he found the number on the phone and dialed it. Ethan only had a day to get answers.
The call was answered after the fourth ring.
“Ethan?”
“Hi, Sam,” Ethan answered. “I need your help.”
