Page 77 of Ship Happens

ETHAN

ONE LAST CONFRONTATION

“... a

nd joining us today are Ethan Cole, CEO of Cole Tech Industries, and Dr. Harper Bennett, environmental scientist and author of the recently published assessment of Cole Tech’s cruise operations. Thank you both for being here.”

The Bloomberg studio lights are uncomfortably hot, but I maintain my composure as Harper and I sit side by side for what will undoubtedly be the most personally revealing interview of my life.

“Thank you for having us,” I reply, hyper-aware of Harper beside me in another gorgeous outfit—navy this time, her auburn hair framing her face in soft waves. She looks confident, professional, and captivating.

“Dr. Bennett, your latest piece has generated a lot of attention for its unusually balanced approach,” the interviewer begins. “What led to this change in methodology?”

Harper sits straighter “My goal was to document what I observed—both the concerning practices and the conservation efforts. Anything less would undermine the integrity of the work.”

I watch her. Even knowing what’s coming—the inevitable pivot to our personal relationship—I’m struck by her confidence.

“Mr. Cole, this level of transparency is unusual for a corporation of Cole Tech’s size. What prompted you to open your operations to such thorough external scrutiny?”

“We have nothing to hide,” I answer. “Dr. Bennett’s reputation for the truth and uncompromising standards made her the ideal person to show that. We wanted insight, not a public relations exercise.”

“Even knowing her history of criticizing Cole Tech’s environmental practices?” the interviewer probes.

“Especially because of that,” I acknowledge with a small smile. “We knew she wouldn’t go easy on us.”

The interviewer nods, then comes the pivot we’ve been expecting.

“Reports suggest your relationship got more personal during this process. Dr. Bennett, in your CNBC interview yesterday, you mentioned developing a ‘personal connection’ with Mr. Cole. Could you elaborate on how your interaction changed from your initial, rather famous confrontation to your current collaboration?”

Here it is—the moment of truth. Harper and I discussed this last night, agreeing on complete honesty without unnecessary details. Still, I hold my breath as Harper comes up with her response.

“I thought Cole Tech was trying to influence my findings, and not knowing Mr. Cole I was antagonistic,” she begins with a hint of a smile. “I had preconceptions about Mr., and he had preconceptions about me. The process of working together helped us to move beyond those assumptions.”

“And working together led to...?” the interviewer pushes.

Harper glances at me before continuing. “It led to us working together, without tossing drinks in faces.”

“Mr. Cole, would you characterize your current relationship with Dr. Bennett as only professional?” The question is direct, as we knew it would be.

“No, I wouldn’t,” I reply. “But I don’t think my current relationship with Dr. Bennet is relevant, do you?”

There—it’s done. Not stating “we’re dating” but clear enough that no one could misinterpret.

“To clarify,” the interviewer keeps going, “you and Dr. Bennett are involved romantically, even though she published this critical assessment of your company?”

Harper takes this question, as we’d agreed. “Yes, we are. My job is to call out corporations, but they are corporations, Mr. Cole is one man in a much bigger organization.”

“Wasn’t there concern about conflict of interest?”

“Of course,” I interject. “But there is no conflict, just nosy people looking for some scandal.”

“If anything,” Harper adds, “our personal connection made me much harder on Cole Tech than any other organization.”

By the time the interview concludes, we’ve accomplished what we intended, an honest acknowledgment of our relationship.

“That wasn’t so bad,” Harper murmurs as we’re escorted from the studio, microphones removed.

“You were brilliant,” I tell her

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