Ethan sat in his office, the city’s skyline stretching out before him, glittering in the late afternoon sun. The sight, once a source of pride and inspiration, now filled him with a dull sense of dread. He leaned back in his chair, massaging his temples. The tension in his chest had become constant now, a low thrum of anxiety that never quite went away.
There was a knock at the door. Cara, his assistant, poked her head in. “Brad’s here to see you.”
Ethan sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Send him in.”
Brad entered, looking more nervous than usual. Ethan had grown to expect that from him—the man always seemed jittery, as if walking on eggshells. But today, there was something different in Brad’s eyes, something more than just the usual uncertainty.
“Ethan,” Brad began, not even bothering with small talk. “We’ve got a problem.”
“What now?” Ethan asked, his voice sharper than he intended.
Brad winced but pressed on. “It’s the Harris deal. They’re threatening to pull out. They don’t like the numbers we’re giving them, say it’s not adding up.”
Ethan felt the familiar burn of frustration rising in his chest. Another deal on the verge of collapse. Another mess he’d have to clean up. “Did you explain the situation to them? Show them the projections?”
“I did, but they’re not buying it. They want to meet with you. Personally.”
Of course, they did. No one trusted Brad to handle anything important, not anymore. Everything always seemed to land back on Ethan’s desk.
“Fine,” Ethan snapped, standing up and pacing toward the window. “Set up the meeting. I’ll deal with it.”
Brad shifted uncomfortably. “There’s something else. It’s not just the Harris deal. I’ve been hearing things from the other teams… they’re talking, Ethan. People are starting to wonder if you’ve got too much on your plate.”
Ethan turned slowly, his eyes narrowing. “What are you talking about?”
Brad hesitated, as if weighing his words carefully. “I’m saying people are questioning your decisions. They think you’re spread too thin, trying to do everything yourself. Some of the managers are even saying you’re not… not as focused as you used to be.”
The words hit Ethan like a punch to the gut. Not as focused? Not as capable? He could feel his anger rising, hot and uncontrollable. “Who’s saying this?”
Brad’s eyes flicked to the floor, avoiding Ethan’s gaze. “It’s just talk, but—”
“Who?” Ethan demanded, his voice louder now, the frustration boiling over.
“I don’t know, exactly,” Brad stammered. “It’s just been going around.”
Ethan stood there, breathing heavily, fists clenched at his sides. People were talking behind his back. Questioning him. After everything he’d done—everything he’d sacrificed—they dared to doubt him? The unfairness of it gnawed at him like a wound.
“Get out,” Ethan muttered, his voice low and dangerous.
Brad blinked, clearly taken aback. “Ethan, I—”
“I said get out!” Ethan shouted, pointing toward the door.
Brad didn’t need to be told twice. He hurried out of the office, the door clicking shut behind him. Ethan was left standing there, seething, his mind racing with anger. How dare they question him? He was the reason this company had hit its targets. He was the one keeping everything together.
But beneath the anger, a darker emotion began to take root—jealousy. Ethan couldn’t stop thinking about the people whispering behind his back. They probably thought they could do a better job than him, didn’t they? They were waiting for him to fail, ready to swoop in and take what he’d worked so hard for.
He turned back to the window, staring out at the city below. The skyline looked different now, colder, more distant. His reflection in the glass stared back at him—tired, worn, and increasingly unsure. The confidence he’d once carried had been replaced by something else, something uglier.
That evening, Ethan arrived home late, well after dinner. The house was quiet, the kids already in bed. Julie was in the living room, reading, but she looked up when he walked in. “You’re home late again,” she said softly.
“Yeah,” Ethan muttered, dropping his briefcase by the door and loosening his tie. “Long day.”
Julie didn’t say anything for a moment, but Ethan could feel her watching him. “You’ve been having a lot of long days lately.”
Ethan exhaled sharply. “It’s work, Julie. You know how it is.”
“I do, but this… this isn’t normal, Ethan. You’re not yourself. You’re angry all the time, snapping at the kids, barely talking to me. What’s going on?”
“I’m fine,” Ethan said, his voice hardening. He didn’t want to talk about it, not now. Not after the day he’d had. “I just need some space, alright?”
Julie frowned but didn’t press the issue. Instead, she closed her book and stood up. “I’m going to bed. We can talk when you’re ready.”
Ethan watched her walk away, feeling a pang of guilt in his chest. But the guilt was quickly drowned out by the simmering anger that still coursed through him. He didn’t need this. Not now. Not when everything at work was falling apart.
The next day, Ethan was back at the office, sitting through yet another grueling meeting, when Cara buzzed through on the intercom. “Ethan, Brad’s on the line again. He says it’s urgent.”
Ethan rolled his eyes, frustration bubbling up again. He was in no mood for another one of Brad’s crises. “Tell him I’m busy,” he snapped.
Cara hesitated. “He’s insisting, Ethan. He says it’s about the Harris deal.”
Ethan gritted his teeth. He could feel his patience wearing thin. Brad was becoming more of a liability by the day. “Fine, put him through.”
As Brad’s voice filled the speaker, Ethan’s irritation only grew. Another problem, another excuse. He could feel his temper flaring, his anger rising with every word Brad said. “We’re running out of options, Ethan. If we don’t act now, we could lose the entire deal.”
Ethan slammed his hand down on the desk. “You had one job, Brad. One job! How is it that every time something goes wrong, you’re the one behind it?”
Brad’s voice trembled on the other end. “I’m doing my best, Ethan. I’m just trying to—”
“Your best isn’t good enough!” Ethan roared, the anger spilling out before he could stop it. “You’ve been screwing up for months, and now you want me to bail you out again? Maybe the others are right about you—you’re useless!”
The line went dead. Ethan stared at the phone, his heart racing, his hands trembling with rage. He’d never lost his temper like that before, not at work. But something inside him had snapped, and now there was no taking it back.
He leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling. How had it come to this? How had he let things get so out of control?
The jealousy, the anger, the frustration—it was all consuming him. He could feel it, eating away at him, turning him into someone he barely recognized. And yet, even as the guilt gnawed at him, another thought took root.
If Brad couldn’t handle the pressure, if he wasn’t pulling his weight, maybe it was time to cut him loose. Ethan had carried him long enough. Maybe it was time to start looking out for himself.
The violence wasn’t physical—yet. But in Ethan’s mind, the seeds had been planted. The line between right and wrong was blurring, and soon, he wouldn’t be able to tell the difference at all.
Part 3 | Part 5
