Chapter 11 Hunted Hearts #2
Then Damien continued.
“That doesn’t make the concern correct.”
The room fell quiet once more.
Richard chose his next words carefully.
“We’ve discussed several possible responses.”
Damien already knew where the conversation was heading.
The communications director opened a prepared statement.
“Our recommendation is straightforward.”
She slid the document across the table.
“A brief public announcement.”
“You clarify that your relationship with Mr. Brooks has been misunderstood.”
“You explain that your interactions remained entirely professional.”
“You express confidence in the research institute’s investigation.”
“You avoid further comment.”
Damien read the statement once.
Then placed it back on the table.
“I won’t sign it.”
The communications director blinked.
“I’m sorry?”
“It’s inaccurate.”
Richard frowned.
“It protects everyone involved.”
“It protects the company.”
“It protects investors.”
“It protects me.”
Damien looked around the room.
“It does not protect Ethan.”
Silence followed.
One of the independent directors leaned forward.
“With respect, Ethan Brooks isn’t our responsibility.”
The words settled heavily across the room.
Damien answered quietly.
“He is mine.”
Several directors looked genuinely surprised.
Richard studied his old friend for a long moment.
“You’ve changed.”
“Yes.”
“I have.”
The answer carried no hesitation.
Richard leaned back slowly.
“You’re willing to risk your reputation.”
“If necessary.”
“The company?”
“I won’t allow the company to suffer.”
“But I also won’t sacrifice an innocent man because the headlines demand it.”
The legal adviser spoke again.
“Nobody is asking you to sacrifice him.”
“Aren’t you?”
Damien’s voice remained calm.
“You’re asking me to stand before every camera in the country...”
“...and pretend Ethan means nothing to me.”
No one answered.
Because no one could honestly deny it.
Damien rose from his chair and walked toward the windows overlooking the city.
For years he had made every decision according to duty.
Duty to his soldiers.
Duty to his company.
Duty to shareholders.
Duty to thousands of employees.
Those responsibilities had shaped every major choice of his adult life.
Somewhere along the way, he had forgotten another responsibility.
The responsibility to himself.
He turned back toward the board.
“When I returned from military service...”
“...everyone told me what my life should become.”
“Doctors.”
“Politicians.”
“Investors.”
“The media.”
“I listened.”
“For ten years.”
His voice remained steady.
“I built this company because I believed work was the only thing left for me.”
“I accepted that I’d never experience what other Alphas took for granted.”
“I accepted loneliness because I thought it was permanent.”
Several directors lowered their eyes.
“Ethan never asked me to become someone different.”
“He simply treated me like a person.”
“He never pursued my money.”
“He never pursued my reputation.”
“He never even tried to claim me.”
A faint smile appeared.
“He asked questions.”
“He challenged me.”
“He stayed beside me when I believed I was dangerous.”
The room remained completely silent.
Richard finally spoke.
“What are you going to do?”
Damien answered without looking away.
“I’m going to tell the truth.”
Half an hour later, every major news network interrupted regular programming.
Reporters crowded outside Wolfe Industries.
Television cameras pointed toward the entrance.
Microphones stretched forward as Damien stepped onto the podium prepared for corporate announcements.
Questions exploded immediately.
“Mr. Wolfe!”
“Are you denying the relationship?”
“Did Ethan Brooks manipulate his research?”
“Is Wolfe Industries distancing itself from him?”
Damien waited until the questions gradually faded.
Then he spoke.
“I’ll make one statement.”
“I won’t answer further questions today.”
The reporters quieted.
“For the past several weeks, Mr. Ethan Brooks has conducted himself with complete professionalism.”
“He has never asked me for personal favors.”
“He has never attempted to influence research findings.”
“He has never taken advantage of my position.”
Damien paused.
“I consider him a man of exceptional integrity.”
Questions immediately erupted again.
He raised one hand.
“They also ask whether Mr. Brooks is important to me.”
Another brief silence settled over the crowd.
“I won’t deny that.”
The words echoed across the plaza.
“In fact...”
He looked directly into the nearest television camera.
“...I refuse to.”
The reporters froze.
“Ethan Brooks has earned my respect.”
“My trust.”
“And yes...”
A quiet smile appeared.
“...he has become someone very important to me.”
Gasps spread through the assembled crowd.
Camera shutters fired almost continuously.
“I will not allow false accusations against him to stand unanswered.”
“If protecting my public image requires me to deny an honest relationship...”
“...then my public image isn’t worth protecting.”
Without another word, Damien stepped away from the podium.
Inside the nearby television vans, reporters hurriedly rewrote headlines.
Inside Wolfe Industries, employees watched in stunned silence.
And several floors above the entrance, Claire stood beside Richard Hastings, quietly watching the live broadcast.
Richard exhaled slowly.
“I’ve never seen him do that.”
Claire smiled softly.
“Neither have I.”
“He just chose a person over his reputation.”
“No.”
She looked toward the elevators, already knowing exactly who Damien intended to see next.
“He chose happiness.”
“For the first time in a very long time.”
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