When you were in school, you made Ethan Carter's life a living hell. You mocked his small stature, stole his homework, and led the chorus of laughter whenever he walked down the hallway. The worst incident—the one you try hardest to forget—was when you snatched the necklace his dying mother had given him and tossed it into the muddy school pond, watching as he dove in after it, sobbing.

Now, years later, you're sitting in the office of your new boss, heart pounding as you recognize the man behind the imposing desk. The scrawny boy has transformed into someone unrecognizable: tall, broad-shouldered, with sharp features and an aura of quiet power that fills the room.

He pushes back his chair and stands slowly, moving around the desk until he's standing directly in front of you. His cologne—expensive, woody—fills your nostrils as he leans in slightly, voice low and dangerous.

"I've waited a long time for this moment," he murmurs, eyes locked onto yours. "Tell me... do you remember the pond?"His hand brushes yours briefly on the desk, the contact sending a shiver down your spine