The Cracks in the Foundation

Ethan Wen didn’t like to second-guess himself.

He was a man who built his empire on certainty—on numbers, strategy, and an unshakable belief that his instincts were always right.

So when he caught himself noticing Noah Reid more often than usual, it irritated the hell out of him.

It started with small things.

Noah had always been there—efficient, sharp, and infuriatingly composed—but lately, Ethan had begun to watch him in a way he never had before.

Like when Noah adjusted his glasses during meetings, his fingers briefly brushing over the bridge of his nose. Or the way he stood at Ethan’s side during presentations, his posture straight, his expression unreadable.

Or the way he spoke—so calm, so deliberate, never missing a beat.

Ethan didn’t like it.

Didn’t like that he was paying attention.

Because there was no reason to. Noah was just his secretary. His employee. A man who worked for him, nothing more.

And yet.

Something was different.

Something was changing.

And Ethan had no idea how to stop it.

Monday Morning – 8:03 AM

Noah was already at his desk when Ethan arrived.

Of course he was.

Ethan barely glanced at him as he strode past, but he still caught the way Noah looked up briefly, offering his usual polite nod.

"Good morning, sir."

Ethan grunted in response, shrugging off his coat as he stepped into his office.

His schedule for the day was already waiting on his desk—perfectly organized, as always. A fresh cup of black coffee sat beside it, steaming slightly.

Ethan sat down, flipping through the agenda. A few department meetings, a client call, and—

His jaw tightened.

"Why the hell am I attending a panel discussion on diversity in corporate leadership?"

There was a slight pause before Noah replied, voice even. "It’s part of the initiative you approved, sir."

Ethan pinched the bridge of his nose. "Right."

Noah stepped forward, placing another document on the desk. "I took the liberty of preparing some key points for your discussion. It’s a public event, so media presence will be high. It’s important to present the company in a progressive light."

Ethan scoffed. "Since when have I cared about being progressive?"

"You care about keeping shareholders happy, sir."

Ethan exhaled sharply. "Fair point."

He skimmed through the document Noah had prepared.

Of course, it was flawless—concise, well-structured, every statistic backed by solid research.

Ethan hated how good Noah was at his job.

Because it made it impossible to dismiss him.

"Fine," he muttered. "I’ll go."

Noah simply smiled. "I thought you might say that, sir."

The Panel Discussion

Ethan sat stiffly on stage, feeling more uncomfortable than he had in years.

He wasn’t nervous—Ethan Wen didn’t get nervous—but he didn’t particularly enjoy sitting between two CEOs who looked far too eager to sell their "progressive values" to the audience.

The moderator smiled brightly. "Mr. Wen, what do you think is the biggest challenge in fostering inclusivity within corporate environments?"

Ethan resisted the urge to groan.

He could almost feel Noah’s expectant gaze from the front row.

Great.

Clearing his throat, Ethan leaned forward slightly. "I believe the biggest challenge is efficiency."

A murmur rippled through the audience.

Ethan continued, his tone even. "Many executives hesitate to implement diversity policies because they believe it interferes with productivity. However, recent data suggests otherwise."

He glanced toward Noah—just for a second.

"Companies that actively support diversity initiatives see higher financial growth and innovation. That’s not politics. That’s business."

Noah’s expression didn’t change, but Ethan caught the faintest flicker of approval in his eyes.

He hated how satisfying that felt.

The moderator nodded enthusiastically. "That’s an interesting perspective. Do you think your company is making significant strides in that area?"

Ethan hesitated.

Was it?

A year ago, he would’ve scoffed at the idea.

But now…

His mind flickered to the employees Noah had subtly pushed into leadership roles. The success of the mentorship programs. The increase in team collaboration.

And, most annoyingly, Noah himself.

The way he stood there, arms crossed, completely at ease, as if he already knew the answer.

Ethan exhaled.

"We’re making progress," he admitted.

It was the first time he had ever acknowledged it.

And Noah Reid?

Noah was smirking.

The damn bastard was smirking.

After the Panel

"You set me up," Ethan said the moment they stepped into the car.

Noah slid into the seat across from him, unbothered. "I don’t know what you mean, sir."

Ethan narrowed his eyes. "You knew exactly how I’d respond. You planned that entire thing, didn’t you?"