Chapter 6
The news of the stock transfer spread like wildfire through Howard Enterprises' upper management the very next day.
Twelve percent, that was no small number.
It was enough to tip the balance of power on the Board of Directors.
Howard Enterprises' stock price dropped three points that day.
Then, the termination letter from Prism Consulting arrived.
It was official, bearing the company seal, and the language was coldly formal despite its politeness.
It read: [Due to a strategic realignment, Prism Consulting has decided to terminate all ongoing projects with Howard Enterprises, including but not limited to consulting for the Tropic Alliance Project, market research in North America, and supply chain optimization plans.]
The vice president in charge of the Tropic Alliance Project at Howard Enterprises frantically called Prism Consulting's contact six times.
The response was always the same: "This is our founder's decision. It's not going to change."
"Who exactly is your founder? I want to speak with her myself." the vice president demanded.
"Sorry, our founder doesn't do calls unless you have an appointment," the Prism contact replied.
Click. The line went dead.
Everyone at Howard Enterprises was asking the same question.
Who exactly was the founder of Prism Consulting?
How could she cut off Howard Enterprises' core external support with a single command?
Only a handful of people knew the answer.
Sean knew.
Ethan knew, of course.
But he couldn't say a word.
Back when I came on board as the founder of Prism Consulting, investing in Howard Enterprises and offering my strategic advice, it was all under a tight confidentiality agreement.
I wanted nothing more than to stay quietly in the background, untouched and undisturbed.
Now, I had pulled out.
Silently. Totally.
As if I had never existed at all.
*****
Sophie had no idea about any of this.
All she knew was that the atmosphere at the company had been tense lately, with the higher-ups holding several closed-door meetings, and Ethan's expression growing darker by the day.
But she didn't think any of it had anything to do with her.
In fact, she thought it was a good thing.
"Ethan's under a lot of pressure right now. He needs someone by his side. With Julia gone, that spot's wide open," that was what she told her father, Richard.
Richard chuckled on the other end of the line. "Good job. Keep it up."
Encouraged, Sophie grew even bolder.
Sophie started showing up at Ethan's office every day at noon, bringing him homemade lunch like clockwork.
Ethan's office was up on the thirty-sixth floor, and you needed a security badge to get there.
But somehow, Sophie managed to waltz right up, later, people found out she'd snagged a spare badge from a fired ex-admin, and slipped straight onto the thirty-sixth floor.
The first time, Sean stopped her at the office door.
"Ms. Stanton, Mr. Howard is in a meeting," he said.
"That's fine. I'll just leave the food here and go. I won't disturb him," she replied.
She handed the lunchbox to Sean with a bright smile and turned to leave.
The second time, she pushed the office door open.
Ethan was reviewing some documents.
The moment he looked up and saw her, his expression instantly turned cold.
"Ms. Stanton, please leave," he said.
Sophie's smile faltered for a moment, but she quickly pulled herself together.
"Mr. Howard, you've been so busy you forgot to eat again, didn't you? I brought you something, " Sophie began.
"Sean," Ethan said, calling out.
Sean appeared at the door.
"Escort Ms. Stanton out. No one comes in without an appointment from now on," Ethan ordered.
Sophie was politely but firmly shown the door.
But she wasn't upset.
She even smiled.
Because in those three seconds when she pushed the door open, she spotted something on Ethan's desk.
A pregnancy test report.
It was hidden under a pile of documents, with just a corner sticking out.
She caught a glimpse of the name on it: [Julia.]