Chapter 14 - THE MAN BEHIND THE MONSTER
Charles Mercer made it as far as a private airport in New Jersey.
Federal agents arrested him before sunrise.
The hospital audit uncovered everything.
Buried complaints.
Falsified reports.
Payments.
Threats.
Confidential settlements.
Andrew had hurt women.
Mercer had protected him because Andrew attracted wealthy patients, donors, and publicity.
My mother had discovered part of the cover-up.
Her death became part of a homicide investigation.
Andrew was eventually charged with assault, kidnapping, witness intimidation, evidence tampering, and Rachel Monroe’s murder.
Mercer faced conspiracy and obstruction charges.
Nathan resigned from Carter Industries.
Ethan refused to save him.
For once, money didn’t erase consequences.
Three weeks later, I returned to Carter Tower.
Not as Ethan’s assistant.
I had resigned.
He understood.
I needed to become someone outside his calendar, his office, and his protection.
When the elevator opened on the forty-second floor, I stopped outside the dressing room.
The same door.
The same hallway.
Different woman.
Ethan found me there.
“You okay?”
“Yes.”
“You sure?”
“No.”
He smiled faintly.
“Better answer.”
I looked at him.
“I start trauma counseling tomorrow.”
“Good.”
“My father and I are talking.”
“Good.”
“I still wake up scared sometimes.”
His smile disappeared.
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.”
I took a breath.
“Ethan, there’s something we need to talk about.”
He shoved his hands into his pockets.
“That sounds dangerous.”
“It might be.”
He waited.
“For almost a year, I thought I was in love with you.”
His eyes changed.
“Thought?”
“I don’t trust my feelings yet.”
He nodded slowly.
That was one reason I loved him.
He didn’t grab the answer he wanted.
He waited for the one I could honestly give.
“I don’t want you to rescue me.”
“I know.”
“I don’t want gratitude confused with love.”
“I know.”
“And I’m not ready for some billionaire fairytale.”
A small smile appeared.
“That’s unfortunate. I own several castles.”
I laughed.
A real laugh.
It surprised both of us.
Then he became serious.
“What do you want?”
“Dinner.”
He blinked.
“Dinner?”
“One dinner.”
“As friends?”
“I don’t know.”
His smile grew.
“That might be the most terrifying deal you’ve ever offered me.”
“Take it or leave it.”
“I’ll take it.”
I started walking away.
“Ava?”
I turned.
He held something out.
My blue scarf.
I stared at it.
“You still had that?”
“For eleven months.”
“Why?”
He looked almost embarrassed.
“Because it smelled like your perfume.”
My heart betrayed me.
“Ethan Carter.”
“I know. Creepy.”
“A little.”
“Should I throw it away?”
I walked back.
Took it.
“No.”
He smiled.
My phone rang.
Unknown number.
For one awful second, fear returned.
Then I answered.
“Hello?”
A woman’s voice whispered:
“Is this Ava Bennett?”
“Yes.”
“I worked with Andrew.”
My stomach tightened.
“I saw your statement.”
She started crying.
“And I think I’m finally ready to tell someone what he did to me.”
May you like
I looked at Ethan.
This story wasn’t only mine anymore.
