The Promise He Never Remembered Chapter 07

The Promise He Never Remembered Chapter 07

## Ethan Carter’s POV

At seven in the evening, I arrived with Chloe at the five-star hotel’s banquet hall in the city center.

She wore a wine-red backless gown tonight, her hair up, showing off a slender neck. Her diamond earrings sparkled under the lights. I’ll admit, she was beautiful, and she never let me down when it came to showing off.

Quite a few people were already there. I looked around: Bennett Corporation hadn’t arrived yet, but several important partners were there, some of whom I’d personally called to invite.

“Mr. Carter, come, come, sit over here!”

It was Mr. Wilson, a small man in his fifties who ran a building materials business and had worked with Nova for three years. He smiled and waved at me. Beside him, Mr. Campbell also stood up, glass in hand, ready to exchange pleasantries.

I walked over with Chloe, shook hands one by one, keeping a polite, professional smile.

“Mr. Wilson, Mr. Campbell, long time no see. This is my secretary, Chloe Miller.”

Chloe smiled and nodded nicely, her voice soft: “Hello, Mr. Wilson. Hello, Mr. Campbell.”

Mr. Wilson gave her a once-over, his eyes staying on her face for a moment, then looking behind me like he was searching for someone.

“Mr. Carter, where’s Assistant Carter? Didn’t she come with you?”

My heart jumped, but my face stayed neutral: “Clara has resigned. From now on, Secretary Miller will handle all of Nova’s communications.”

Mr. Wilson made an “oh” sound, his smile fading a little, but he didn’t say anything else. He clinked his glass against mine.

I was about to continue the small talk when I heard some noise at the entrance. I turned my head, thinking Bennett Corporation had arrived, but instead I saw several business owners leaving in small groups.

“Mr. Lee, Mr. Peterson, why are you leaving so early?” I walked over quickly, my tone still friendly. “We haven’t even had a drink tonight.”

Mr. Lee glanced at me with a strange look, like he wanted to say something but swallowed it. He just waved his hand: “Mr. Carter, something came up at home tonight. I have to go. Business… we’ll talk later.”

Without waiting for my answer, he turned and left.

I froze.

Before I could think further, two more owners walked over, nodded at me, and didn’t even slow down.

“Mr. Lewis, you’re leaving too?” I tried to stop him.

Mr. Lewis did stop for a moment, looked me up and down, then glanced at Chloe who’d followed me over. The corner of his mouth pulled up, his smile carrying an unreadable, almost pitying meaning.

“Mr. Carter, let me be honest with you. The reason we do business

with you isn’t because of your skills. That assistant of yours, Clara—do you know who she really is?”

My heart tightened, but I kept smiling: “Mr. Lewis, what do you mean?”

“What do I mean?” Mr. Lewis gave a cold laugh. “Clara’s access card can get her straight into Andrew Tower. Andrew Corporation—do you know what that is? Something we could never even dream of reaching? The only reason we work with you is to get a foot in the door through Clara, to get in on Andrew’s projects.”

My smile froze completely.

Andrew Corporation. That name sat at the very top of the industry pyramid. Nova, even ten Novas put together, wasn’t fit to shine Andrew’s shoes.

“Now that Clara is gone, what’s the point of working with Nova?” Mr. Lewis was brutally direct. His voice wasn’t loud, but every word stabbed into my heart like a knife. “Mr. Carter, take care of yourself.”

With that, he turned and left.

I stood there, as if nailed to the ground.

Chloe, not knowing what was going on, came up and pulled at the sleeve of an owner who was about to leave, her voice urgent and trying to please: “Mr. Peterson, don’t go. Let’s talk more. Our Mr. Carter said—”

That Mr. Peterson didn’t even look at her. He flicked his hand like he was shooing away a fly, shaking her off roughly.

“Don’t touch me. I have nothing to talk about with Nova.”

Chloe stumbled back, her high heels clicking on the floor, nearly falling. Her face turned red and then pale. She bit her lip and looked at me, tears already filling her eyes.

“Mr. Carter, how can they be like this…”

I didn’t answer her. Only one thought echoed in my mind over and over—Clara knows people at Andrew Corporation. Clara’s access card can get her straight into Andrew Tower.

Suddenly, so many things came rushing back. All those times I’d gone to close big orders, the other person would always casually ask, “How is Clara doing these days?” The way those partners looked at Clara—not like an ordinary assistant, but with a kind of… respect I had never understood before.

I’d thought they just liked her work ethic. I’d thought it was Nova’s strength that impressed them. I’d thought it was my own skill, Ethan Carter’s.

Turns out it was none of that. Turns out they were there because of Clara all along.

I slowly walked to a sofa in the corner and sat down heavily, all the strength gone from my body.

Chloe came over, looking at me carefully: “Mr. Carter, are you okay? So a few owners left. We still have other clients…”

I looked up at her. Suddenly she seemed so noisy. Suddenly she seemed like nothing.

“Shut up,” I said, so softly it was like talking to myself.

She froze, her eyes reddening more, but she didn’t speak again.

I closed my eyes. Clara’s face appeared in my mind. That face, always with no makeup in the office, hair in a simple ponytail, wearing a proper suit, standing before me respectfully calling me “Mr. Carter.”