Harold said:
“You are reckless.”
Victoria almost smiled.
“Then you should have challenged me in a boardroom.”
“Not at thirty-eight thousand feet.”
She pressed call button.
Security entered.
Harold looked at her.
“Think carefully.”
“I have.”
“If this becomes public, Sterling collapses.”
“Maybe.”
“Thousands of employees.”
“I know.”
“Your father's company.”
“I know.”
“Then handle internally.”
Victoria looked toward Ethan through glass wall beyond.
He waited.
Exactly where he said he would.
She returned her gaze to Harold.
“No.”
Security escorted him out.
He did not resist.
At door he turned.
“You'll regret this.”
Victoria answered quietly.
“I already do.”
She remained alone after.
For nearly twenty minutes.
Nobody entered.
That surprised her.
Usually people rushed toward powerful people after rupture.
Lawyers.
Assistants.
Advisers.
Comfort disguised as briefing.
No one came.
Finally Victoria opened door.
Ethan sat against wall opposite, maintenance report across his knees.
He looked up.
No question.
That was exactly what she needed.
“Come here.”
He stood.
Approached.
Then stopped several feet away.
Victoria looked toward him.
“You're too far.”
Something passed over his face.
He moved closer.
She reached for his wrist again.
Same gesture as tarmac.
Her fingers rested on his pulse.
Ethan crouched.
“Harold knew.”
He nodded.
“He ordered it.”
Ethan’s jaw tightened.
“He claims no one was supposed to be hurt.”
“People always say that after they risk other people.”
Victoria looked down.
“He supported me when nobody else did.”
“That can be true.”
“He also betrayed you.”
“That can be true too.”
She looked toward him.
“I hate that.”
“I know.”
“Things should be one thing.”
“They rarely are.”
“You’re annoyingly calm.”
“I’m trying.”
She smiled weakly.
Then silence.
Ethan’s hand turned beneath hers.
His palm opened.
Victoria's fingers slid into it.
No flirtation now.
Something quieter.
“Do you ever stop feeling stupid after trusting the wrong person?” she asked.
Ethan looked toward floor.
“Eventually you stop calling trust stupid.”
Her eyes lifted.
“Grace’s mother?”
He nodded.
“My wife was killed by a driver who fell asleep.”
“I spent a year thinking every choice I made before that was stupid.”
“Letting her drive.”
“Not going with her.”
“Not calling.”
“Not insisting she stay.”
“Everything became evidence I should have known.”
Victoria listened.
Ethan continued.
“Eventually I understood hindsight is a liar.”
“It tells you past was obvious because ending already happened.”
Her grip tightened.
“You didn’t know.”
“Neither did you.”
She whispered:
“Harold was right about some things.”
“That Sterling is financially exposed?”
“Yes.”
“That I ignore advice when I think people are protecting me instead of company?”
“Maybe.”
“That does not make sabotage rational.”
“I know.”
Ethan held her gaze.