Ethan hadn't visited Manhattan in nearly a year. The city always brought back a mix of emotions—pride, regret, anger, and longing. This time, his reason for being there wasn't business. It was personal. He had received a message from someone he hadn't spoken to in years: Mason Lane, his former right-hand man during the early days of Blake Dynamics.
Mason had once been like a brother. They'd built Ethan's first company together, celebrated their first million together, and parted ways just before the empire began to crumble. The split wasn't ugly, but it had been cold. Ethan had chosen speed and ambition over caution—and Mason had chosen to walk away.
Now, out of the blue, Mason wanted to meet.
They met at a small café near Bryant Park. It was a gray afternoon, and the spring air was thick with mist.
Mason was already seated at a corner table when Ethan arrived. He looked older, leaner, more careful. His beard was trimmed, his coat neat, and his eyes held a calm sharpness.
"Still late," Mason said with a half-smile.
"You're still wearing that old coat," Ethan replied, pulling out a chair.
They shook hands, and the tension melted slightly. It wasn't a reunion of best friends, but it wasn't hostile either.
"I heard about the Forge," Mason said as they sipped their coffee. "Impressive."
"You heard about it, or you were asked to look into it?" Ethan asked, his voice level.
Mason's expression changed slightly. "Both."
Ethan narrowed his eyes. "Lowell?"
"He reached out. Wanted me to give him information. Offered a lot."
"And?"
"I told him to go to hell," Mason said.
Ethan relaxed a little. "Why?"
"Because I still believe in you, even after all the mess. And because the Forge... it's the first thing you've done that actually helps people. I wasn't going to be part of tearing it down."
Ethan looked away, struggling to find the right words. "Thanks."
Mason leaned forward. "But that's not why I called you here. You need to know something."
Ethan waited.
"There's someone from your past—someone dangerous—who's now working with Lowell. Her name's Rebecca Fields."
Ethan blinked, caught off guard. The name sent a jolt through his chest. "Rebecca? My old legal consultant?"
"She used to be more than that, if I remember correctly," Mason said.
Ethan didn't deny it. Rebecca had been part of his inner circle years ago. She had been smart, driven, and ruthless. They had a brief romantic connection that had ended badly. She left Blake Dynamics just before the SEC started sniffing around. Ethan hadn't seen her since.
"She's resurfaced," Mason said. "And she's not here to play nice."
"What does Lowell want with her?"
"She knows your history. The old documents, internal memos, offshore accounts... if anyone can frame a narrative to destroy your credibility, it's her."
Ethan exhaled slowly. "He's not trying to stop the Forge with lawsuits or protests anymore. He wants to destroy me personally."
"Exactly."
Ethan looked across the table. "So why are you helping me now?"
Mason gave him a level look. "Because this isn't just about you anymore. It's about what you're building. I've made peace with the past, Ethan. But you need to deal with yours."
Back in Charleston, Alicia met Ethan at the airport. He told her everything as they drove back through the quiet city streets.
"So this woman—Rebecca—she could make serious trouble?"
"Yes," Ethan replied. "If she still has access to those files... the ones we buried years ago, she could twist the truth into something ugly. Enough to destroy everything we've rebuilt."
Alicia was quiet for a moment. "Can we fight it?"
"We'll need to go on the offense," Ethan said. "Get ahead of it."
"Maybe Victoria can help. She knows how to handle PR firestorms."
"She's already been briefed."
They pulled into Alicia's driveway, and for a moment, Ethan just sat in the car, staring at the dash.
"I spent so much of my life pretending the past couldn't touch me," he said softly. "But now it's at my front door."
Alicia reached over and took his hand. "You're not that man anymore, Ethan. And you're not alone."
He nodded, grateful. But inside, he knew it was only a matter of time before Rebecca made her move.
Three days later, it began.
A story appeared on a niche business blog, written anonymously but clearly well-researched. It alleged that Ethan Blake had previously used shell companies to hide profits, mislead investors, and avoid paying taxes. No direct proof was shown, but the article cited insider sources and "leaked" financial data. It didn't go viral, but it caught the attention of the wrong people—city officials, grant officers, and corporate sponsors.
Victoria burst into Ethan's office holding her phone. "We've got a problem."
"I saw it," Ethan said.
"It's gaining traction. People are asking if the Forge is legit."
"It is," he said firmly.
"I know. But public opinion isn't about truth. It's about trust. And right now, yours is slipping."
He stood, pacing the room. "It's Rebecca. She's behind this. She's baiting me to respond."
"So let's respond."
"No. Not yet. If we respond now, we legitimize it. We have to show proof that it's a smear campaign."
"Which means we need to find where she's getting her info."
Ethan nodded. "Call Mason. See if he can track the source."
Meanwhile, Rebecca Fields sat in a sleek penthouse office in Atlanta, sipping red wine and scrolling through her phone. The article had done its job. She smiled as she read through the emails piling in. Lowell had already called to congratulate her.
She wasn't doing this just for money. She wanted revenge. Ethan had left her out in the cold when things fell apart. She had taken the fall for some of his bad decisions, lost clients, and had to rebuild her reputation from scratch. Now, it was her turn to return the favor.
She typed a new draft for a second article, this time more detailed, more personal. It hinted at improper workplace relationships, questionable bonuses, and board manipulation at Blake Dynamics. Again, nothing that could be proved—but enough to ignite doubt.
She hit "Send."
The second wave hit harder.
Local news picked up the story. Sponsors froze their contributions. Even some members of the community began questioning the Forge's integrity.
Ethan stood in front of a town hall meeting, trying to explain the truth. He faced a crowd that had once cheered for him. Now, they were uncertain, skeptical.
A young mother raised her hand. "Mr. Blake, is it true you used to lie to investors?"
"No," Ethan replied calmly. "Mistakes were made in the past, yes. But I never defrauded anyone. The people accusing me now have an agenda."
Another voice shouted from the back, "That's what all crooks say!"
Ethan paused. "You're right to ask questions. You deserve transparency. So starting tomorrow, we'll open up all Forge financials to the public. Every dollar in and out. You'll see everything."
There were murmurs of surprise. Victoria, watching from the sidelines, whispered to Alicia, "That's risky."
"It's also brave," Alicia replied.
After the meeting, an elderly man approached Ethan. "You don't have to prove anything to me, son. I've seen what you're building here. And I believe in it."
"Thank you," Ethan said softly.
But as he walked to his car, his phone buzzed. A private number.
He answered. "Hello?"
A familiar voice replied, smooth and venomous.
"Hello, Ethan. Did you miss me?"
He stopped walking. "Rebecca."
"You really thought you could bury everything and move on, didn't you?"
"You're making a mistake."
"No. You made the mistake. You chose to leave me behind. And now I'm just giving you the ending you earned."
"People will see through you."
"I'm not so sure," she said with a laugh. "I've already spoken to a major newspaper. Front page, Ethan. This is just the beginning."
The line went dead.
Ethan stood there, heart pounding.
The past had officially come back—and it wasn't done with him yet.