Chapter 3 - THE BOARDROOM SHOCKOn Monday afternoon, Ethan Bennett was released on a ten-thousand-dollar bond.
Wearing the same rumpled suit he had worn to his birthday party two days prior, he walked out of the Hocking County Courthouse flanked by his mother and his high-priced criminal defense attorney, Arthur Vance.
Ethan assumed the worst was behind him. He believed that with enough money, his firm’s PR team could sweep a small county assault charge under the rug, call it a "marital misunderstanding," and force me into a quiet settlement.
At 2:00 PM, Ethan walked into the glass-walled headquarters of Bennett & Sterling Financial in downtown Columbus.
He expected his secretary to hand him his morning coffee. Instead, he found two uniformed security guards standing outside his corner office.
The heavy mahogany doors opened, and out stepped Richard Sterling—the senior founding partner of the firm and the father of my attorney, Marcus Sterling.
"Ethan," Richard said, his voice flat and devoid of warmth. "Step into the conference room."
Ethan frowned, trying to adjust his tie. "Richard, look... I know you’ve probably heard some rumors about this weekend. My wife had a hysterical breakdown at a family gathering—"
"Shut your mouth, Ethan," Richard interrupted smoothly, dropping a thick leather folder onto the glass table.
Inside the folder were high-resolution police crime scene photos of my broken nose, the police report from Deputy Vance, and a copy of the temporary protection order served thirty minutes prior.
Ethan went pale. "Richard, this is a private domestic matter! It has nothing to do with the firm!"
"It has everything to do with this firm," Richard fired back, leaning across the table. "Do you have any idea who our largest corporate client is?"
Ethan blinked. "The Horizon Hospitality Group..."
"And do you know who holds the exclusive five-year catering and event contract for Horizon’s multi-million-dollar regional expansion?" Richard continued, his eyes burning into Ethan. "Claire’s company. Her baking studio isn't 'a little cupcake shop,' Ethan. She signed a three-million-dollar distribution deal with them last Thursday."
Ethan froze. His jaw dropped open. "She... she what?"
"Claire Hart-Bennett is one of the most respected female entrepreneurs in this city," Richard said coldly. "And five minutes ago, Horizon Hospitality called me directly. They informed us that if Ethan Bennett remains a partner at this firm for another twenty-four hours, they will pull their eighty-million-dollar portfolio from our management."
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Ethan stumbled back, gripping the back of a leather chair. "Richard... please. You can't kick me out! I'm a named partner!"
"Under Section 8 of our partnership agreement, any partner charged with a violent felony or causing severe reputational damage to the firm is subject to immediate suspension without pay," Richard stated. "Hand over your keys, your security badge, and your laptop. You have ten minutes to clear your desk."
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