★★★★★
It was almost seven when Aria closed the store.
She had not slept. She Had not eaten. She worked her entire shift on autopilot, folding clothes and ringing purchases while her mind stayed fixed on Ethan's silent phone . With growing certainty that something was wrong.
He had mentioned a warehouse once. Industrial district. Night shifts. Overtime on Fridays.
She had never asked which one. Ethan had a new job every once and then, what was the point of asking.
Now she stepped into the cool evening air and checked her phone again. Just the same emptiness that had swallowed twenty-four hours.
She would find the warehouse. Ask if he had shown up for work. Probably he was there right now, filling out paperwork, wondering why his phone was dead and annoyed that she was worrying.
Probably.
The industrial district was across the city. She took the bus then walked, following directions from a security guard who looked her up and down and clearly thought she didn't belong.
The warehouse appeared at the end of a street lined with trucks and loading docks. Large metal gates. High walls. Security lights already on. Functional. and big enough to swallow hundreds of workers.
Aria slowed when she saw the name on the building.
Vale Corporation Warehouse.
She stopped walking and stared.
Everyone knew that name. Televisions. Business news. Jewelry, construction, real estate. One of the most powerful companies in the country.
The CEO's face was never shown. No interviews. No public appearances.
People said he was an old man who preferred to stay hidden. The only face anyone ever saw was his secretary, Ben Carter.
Ethan worked here? Had never told her. He probably thought it didn't matter, that a warehouse job was a warehouse job, that the name on the building didn't change the paycheck.
She walked to the entrance and asked for the manager.
After a few minutes, a middle-aged man in gray came out, his expression already tired.
"Yes?"
"I'm looking for Ethan Monroe. He works here."
The manager studied her. "You're related?"
"I'm his sister."
He sighed. "Ethan Monroe and two others were caught stealing. They were handed over to the police this morning."
Aria thought she heard him wrong. "Stealing?"
" Yes, Jewelry. We have proof."
"That's not possible." The words came out automatic and fast. "You've made a mistake. My brother would never do that."
The manager's face hardened. He gestured for her to follow. Inside a small office, he played security footage.
Ethan stood near a storage shelf. Looking left and right. Two other workers were nearby. One slipped something into his jacket.
"He was keeping watch," the manager said. " He was an accomplice."
"No." Aria stared at the screen. "You don't understand. He wouldn't."
"The CEO personally handled this. Only he can reverse it."
He said it like that should end the conversation. Like the name alone would scare her away.
Most people backed off when they heard about the CEO.
Aria did not.
"Then I'll speak to him."
The manager gave her a look that said he did not believe her. "That won't be easy."
She straightened her shoulders.
*****
The Vale Corporation Headquarters stood in the center of the city.
Aria had passed it a couple times but she had never walked in
. Tonight the glass tower seemed even taller. Its name carved in silver at the entrance. People moving with purpose. Everything so organized and controlled.
She suddenly felt small.
But she kept walking.
The lobby was wide and bright. She approached the reception desk. A young woman typing on a computer.
"I need to see the CEO."
The receptionist looked up, surprised. "Do you have an appointment?"
"No. It's urgent. My brother was arrested from your warehouse this morning. I need to speak to whoever made that decision."
"You can leave your name. Someone will get back to you."
"That won't be soon enough."
"I'm sorry. There's nothing I can do."
Aria stood there, hoping someone important would walk by. Nothing did.
"Can I wait?"
The receptionist nodded toward a seating area. "You may sit."
Aria walked to the chairs. Sat down. From where she was, she could see the elevators at the far end. Well-dressed men and women stepping in and out, focused and serious.
She wondered which of them answered to the CEO.The man whose face no one had seen.
Minutes passed. No one called her name or approached her.Finally, she understood. Waiting would not change anything.
She stood and walked back to the desk.
"I'll return tomorrow."
She stepped out into the night air. The glass tower loomed behind her, cold and untouchable.
If she could not reach the CEO today, she would try again tomorrow.
But first, she needed to see Ethan.
****
The police station was plain and worn. Nothing like the shining tower.
Inside, the air felt heavy.
She walked to the front desk. "I'm here to see Ethan Monroe."
The officer looked through a file before nodding. "Wait over there."
She sat on a hard bench. Hands already cold. Telling herself to stay calm.
After a few minutes, an officer led her down a narrow hallway. They stopped in front of a small room divided by glass.
Ethan was already there.He looked tired. His hair messy, dark circles under his eyes. But when he saw her, he stood up quickly.
"Aria."
She picked up the phone on her side. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine." His voice cracked. "I didn't do it."
"I know."
His shoulders relaxed a little.
"They're saying I helped them. But I didn't even know what they were planning. I noticed something was wrong. That's why I kept looking around."
"The manager thinks you were keeping watch."
"I was looking for a supervisor. I was going to report them."
Her chest tightened.
"They moved too fast. Security came in before I could explain."
She believed him.
"I went to the warehouse," she told him. "They said only the CEO can change anything."
Ethan gave a weak smile. "The CEO? No one even sees him."
"I'll make him see me."
He studied her face. "Aria, don't get yourself into trouble because of me."
"You're my brother." She met his eyes through the glass. "You think I'm going to sit at home?"
For a moment, neither spoke.
"I'm sorry," Ethan said softly. "I didn't mean to drag you into this."
"You didn't." She leaned closer to the glass. "We'll fix it."
An officer knocked. Time was up.
Aria pressed her fingers to the glass. Not touching him. Not able to touch him. "Stay strong. I'm going back to Vale tomorrow."
Ethan nodded. "Be careful."
She gave him one last look before putting the phone down.As she wal
ked out of the station, her fear had changed into something else.
Determination.
If Vale Corporation thought this matter was over, they were wrong.
She was just getting started.