Chapter 5

Harbor City, Sinclair Holdings.

Ethan hasn’t slept well for three straight days.

Charlotte had vanished.

This wasn't some case of her throwing a fit and heading back to her family home. She'd truly disappeared like she'd been erased from the world. Her phone was deactivated, her social media wiped, and even her closest friend, Sophie Linton, couldn't reach her.

"Mr. Sinclair," his assistant reported nervously, "we found something. Miss Sterling did go to Swissera three days ago. The entry records show she entered the country as a member of the Hohenzollern Dynasty, but after that, we completely lost track of her."

"The Hohenzollern Dynasty?" Ethan frowned. "Is that the same family that made their fortune in watches?"

"Y-Yes. But according to our investigation, their true assets go far beyond watchmaking. They control the largest private bank in Euryn, and they have their hands in energy, real estate, technology..."

The assistant's voice grew even quieter. "Mr. Sinclair, the Hohenzollern Dynasty's assets could be a hundred times larger than all of Sinclair Holdings combined."

Ethan's face drained of all color in an instant.

He remembered Charlotte's words from the day they divorced, "I'm heading to Swissera to inherit the estate."

He'd thought she was crazy.

Turns out, he was the crazy one all along.

"Get the car ready." Ethan shot to his feet. "I'm heading to the airport. I need to..."

His words were cut off by a knock at the door.

The secretary pushed the door open, looking uneasy. "Mr. Sinclair, there's a gentleman here to see you. He said he's the legal counsel for the Hohenzollern Dynasty. His last name is Grant."

Ethan and his assistant exchanged a glance, both seeing the shock in each other's eyes.

Grant? Wasn't this the guy who called and told me Charlotte had acquired 51% of Sinclair Holdings?' Ethan thought.

"Let him in," he said.

The door opened.

The man who entered made Ethan's eyes widen in surprise.

Tall and elegant, dressed in a flawlessly tailored black suit, he had deep and unreadable eyes behind gold-rimmed glasses. He looked barely in his thirties, yet carried the kind of authority that only comes from years at the top.

"Mr. Sinclair," the man said with a faint smile, extending his hand. "Lucas Grant. We spoke on the phone."

Ethan didn't shake it.

He asked bluntly, "Where's Charlotte? Why isn't she here? Why send a lawyer instead?"

Lucas didn't seem bothered. He withdrew his hand, pulled a document from his briefcase, and gently set it down on the desk.

"Miss Sterling is quite busy," he said, his tone flat. "After all, it takes time to get acquainted with assets worth 430 billion dollars."

He paused, a hint of amusement flickering in his eyes behind the glasses. "As for you, Mr. Sinclair, I'm afraid you're not quite important enough to warrant Miss Sterling's personal attention."

Ethan slammed his palm down on the desk. "You..."

"This is the stock transfer agreement," Lucas cut him off. "The paperwork for Miss Sterling's acquisition of 51% of Sinclair Holdings is finalized. From today onward, she's the largest shareholder and holds absolute controlling interest."

"Mr. Sinclair," Lucas adjusted his glasses, his smile polite but cold. "You've got two choices. One, stay on as CEO and work for Miss Sterling. The annual salary is 3 million dollars, plus bonuses. Two, quit and get out."

The office was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Ethan locked his eyes on the document, his fingers quivering ever so slightly.

He'd built Sinclair Holdings from scratch, spending a decade turning it into what it was today. It was his life's work, his greatest pride, the thing he valued above all else in this world.

And now, with just a few casual words from Charlotte, she'd become its new owner.

"What gives her the right?" Ethan forced the words out between clenched teeth. "I built Sinclair Holdings with my own hands. How can she take it."

"Money," Lucas said, his tone flat. "Sinclair Holdings is valued at 10 billion, but Miss Sterling paid 13 billion, a 30% premium. Mr. Sinclair, you really ought to thank her for being so generous."

He stood up, straightening his suit cuffs. "Oh, and Miss Sterling asked me to pass along a message.

"She remembers every cent of that 3 million you 'gave' her over these past three years. Now, she's offering you a 3-million-a-year salary, so you can finally know what it feels like to be on the receiving end of charity."

Lucas turned to leave, but as he reached the door, he suddenly stopped.

"Oh, and one more thing," he said, glancing back.

The cold gleam of his glasses flashed as he looked at Ethan. "Miss Sterling will be back in the country next week. She'll be convening the first shareholders' meeting at Sinclair Holdings. Make sure you're ready to give her your report, Mr. Sinclair.

"After all," Lucas said with a slight smirk, "you're her employee now."

The door clicked shut behind him.

Ethan smashed his fist onto the desk, thin lines of blood appearing on his knuckles.