Chapter 6 - THE BILLIONAIRE BEHIND THE WHEEL
“You said your name was Ethan Cole.”
“It is.”
“Then why is your father’s name in my mother’s corporate records?”
Ethan looked toward the security camera.
“Not here.”
He took Savannah to a quiet parking garage three blocks away.
There, he finally told her part of the truth.
His father had invested in Reed Horizon.
He had suspected financial misconduct.
And he had died before he could expose it.
Savannah listened without interrupting.
“So you became a driver to investigate Linda?”
“Yes.”
“Who are you really?”
Ethan hesitated.
That hesitation was enough.
Savannah stepped back.
“Ethan.”
He removed his phone and opened a financial news article.
The headline featured his photograph.
DENVER INVESTMENT BILLIONAIRE ETHAN COLE EXPANDS PRIVATE EQUITY EMPIRE.
Savannah stared.
Then stared again.
“You’re a billionaire?”
“Yes.”
“You own Cole Capital?”
“Yes.”
“And you’ve been driving Claire Whitmore around for minimum wage?”
“Technically, slightly above minimum wage.”
She looked at him in disbelief.
“Are you joking?”
“Not about the important part.”
Savannah turned away.
She felt foolish.
Not because he was wealthy.
Because she had trusted him.
“You lied to me.”
“I hid my identity.”
“That’s called lying.”
He accepted the accusation.
“You’re right.”
She faced him.
“Why should I believe anything you say?”
“Because I’m showing you now.”
“After I caught you.”
The words landed hard.
Ethan lowered his eyes.
“I know.”
Savannah wanted to walk away.
But something held her there.
Maybe it was the memory of the coffee-stained shirt.
Maybe it was the way he had defended her without knowing she was an heiress.
Or maybe it was the terrifying realization that they were chasing the same enemy.
She finally whispered, “My name isn’t Hannah.”
Ethan looked up.
“I know.”
Her eyes widened.
“How?”
“I had Daniel check the employee records.”
She stepped back again.
“You investigated me?”
“I needed to know whether you were working for Linda.”
“And what did you find?”
Ethan held her gaze.
“That you’re Savannah Reed.”
She swallowed.
“And?”
“That your mother was robbed.”
Savannah’s voice trembled.
“There’s something you don’t know.”
She pulled an old bank statement from her purse.
Before Margaret’s stroke, she had quietly transferred assets into a trust for Savannah.
Savannah had only discovered it that morning.
The trust held investment accounts, commercial properties, and controlling interests in several private companies.
Its estimated value was more than six hundred million dollars.
Ethan stared at the statement.
Savannah gave a shaky laugh.
“Apparently, the housekeeper is worth six hundred million dollars.”
Then her phone buzzed.
May you like
A message from an unknown number appeared.
YOUR MOTHER DIDN'T HAVE A STROKE BY ACCIDENT.
