Chapter 4 - A Knight in Cashmere
Ethan didn't look like the quiet, brooding stranger from the diner. He was wearing a dark, bespoke Italian suit, flanked by two massive private security guards wearing tactical earpieces.
Marcus turned, scowling at the intrusion. "Who the hell are you? This is private business. Get the hell out!"
Ethan walked past Marcus's two goons as if they were invisible. He stepped directly between Marcus and Jenna, pulling a slim gold pen from his inner jacket pocket alongside a legal business card.
"My name is Ethan Mercer," he said smoothly, his tone dripping with absolute authority. "I am the Vice President of Mercer Global. And you are Marcus Vance, a petty racketeer currently operating under three federal tax evasion indictments in the Northern District of Illinois."
Marcus’s face visibly paled. "Mercer?"
"My legal team has already reviewed the fraudulent loan documents you forced Greg Caldwell to sign," Ethan continued, stepping right into Marcus's personal space. "Not only are those signatures forged, but you've also been conducting illegal surveillance on a citizen under my company's protection. My guards outside have already boxed your car in. The FBI financial crimes unit will be here in approximately four minutes."
Marcus stared at Ethan, his jaw working silently as he calculated the risk. He knew who the Mercers were. They owned half the real estate in the Loop and held enough political leverage in Illinois to bury him under a mountain of federal charges.
"This isn't over, Caldwell," Marcus muttered through clenched teeth, backing away toward the door.
"Oh, it is over," Ethan corrected softly. "If I see you or your men within five hundred feet of Jenna or her children again, I won't just sue you, Marcus. I will buy the debt on every single property you own and burn your operation to the ground legally. Have a nice day."
Marcus and his goons scrambled out of the apartment, shoving past Ethan's security guards in their haste to reach the stairs.
May you like
The apartment fell dead silent.
Jenna stood near the kitchen counter, her chest heaving, staring at the man who had saved her family twice in less than a week. "You... you were the man at the diner," she whispered, her eyes wide with shock. "Why are you doing this? Who are you?"
