Chapter 4

As Olivia raged, Ethan stepped back. He "tripped" over a large, jagged piece of the shattered sculpture. He cried out, genuinely this time, as a sharp edge sliced deeply into his forearm. Blood welled quickly, dark against his skin.

Olivia stopped, her anger momentarily forgotten, her eyes wide with shock at the sight of the blood.

"Ethan!"

He clutched his arm, his face pale. "Call my father," he gasped. "And call your mother. Tell them what happened."

He made sure his voice was loud enough, pained enough. He knew this looked bad for Olivia, her rage seemingly causing him physical harm.

While Olivia frantically made calls, her hands shaking, Ethan sat on the sofa, Chloe having been alerted and now on her way. When Susan arrived, breathless and panicked, followed shortly by Olivia' s equally concerned father, Ethan began his story, his voice weak but clear.

He didn't talk about the sculpture or his arm initially.

"Harrison," he began, looking at Olivia's parents, "my father... he' s been having a bit of a situation at Sterling Petroleum."

Susan and Olivia' s father exchanged confused glances.

"There' s this young intern," Ethan continued, his gaze distant. "Bright, ambitious. Dad started taking her under his wing. Mentoring her. Soon, it was lunches, then after-work drinks to 'discuss strategy.' He started buying her gifts, small at first, then more expensive. A new laptop, a designer bag. Promoted her, too, way ahead of more qualified people. The whispers started. People noticed. My mother is devastated, of course."

Susan looked horrified. "Harrison? I can' t believe it! That' s terrible, Ethan. For your mother, for your family." Olivia' s father nodded gravely.

Ethan let the silence hang for a moment, then looked directly at Olivia, then back at her parents.

"It' s a hypothetical story," he said coolly. "An analogy. For Olivia and Mark."

Susan' s mouth fell open. Olivia' s father stared, speechless. The color drained from Olivia's face.

"The gifts, the inappropriate closeness, the special treatment, the way she lets him undermine me," Ethan said, his voice hardening. "Sound familiar?"

Susan finally found her voice. "Olivia, is this true?"

Olivia stammered, "It's not like that! Mark is just... enthusiastic. Ethan is exaggerating."