Bang.
The door closed.
Outside, Charles stood stunned by the sound.
After two seconds, he tried to rush toward the villa gate.
"Mr. Cole. Mr. Cole, I was wrong. Please let me explain."
Before he could finish, an arm blocked his chest.
Manager Wells stepped in front of him.
"Mr. Lang, enough."
Charles became anxious and tried to push the man's arm aside.
"This doesn't concern you. Let me in. I need to apologize to Mr. Cole in person."
Manager Wells looked at him with eyes as cold as knives.
His arm did not move.
"Charles Lang. I am warning you. Don't cause trouble."
Seeing that Charles still refused to listen, Wells's tone turned harsher.
"Mr. Cole is Summit Ridge's most important resident. No one compares. If you continue harassing him, I don't mind letting you discover why Summit Ridge's security ranks first in Northbridge."
Charles looked at Wells's firm face.
Then he looked at the closed gate.
Regret turned his stomach.
If he had known Ethan's background was so terrifying, he would rather have bitten off his own tongue than challenge him.
When Charles finally left, his back looked like that of a defeated dog.
Inside the villa.
Vivian sat on the living-room sofa, looking around like a curious child trying not to look curious.
The ceiling rose more than five meters above her.
The entire wall to the left was glass, facing Northbridge's night view.
Thousands of lights spread below like a private galaxy.
The imported leather sofa supported her perfectly, soft and firm at once, as if a pair of invisible hands had caught her.
Vivian blinked.
This place was even more luxurious than she had imagined.
A small palace, hidden on the mountain.
Ethan came over with two glasses of water and handed her one.
"Thank you."
Vivian took a small sip, then placed the glass on the coffee table and looked at him.
Her clear eyes were full of questions.
"Ethan."
"Mm?"
"How did you suddenly become Linford Group's new shareholder?"
She emphasized the next words.
"And a one hundred percent shareholder."
"More importantly, Summit Ridge is already impossible for ordinary people to enter, and you own half the villas here?"
Curiosity showed in her eyes.
So did a faint unease toward the unknown.
Not counting cash.
Not counting other investments.
Not counting the mysterious industries she knew nothing about.
Just the real estate here was enough to crush the company she had spent years building.
How could she not wonder how many secrets this man had?
Ethan looked at her eager expression and smiled.
"How does it feel to have such a powerful boyfriend?"
"Like you'll sell me one day and I'll still help you count the money," Vivian answered seriously.
Ethan burst out laughing.
Vivian glared at him, unsure what part of that was funny.
When Ethan finally stopped laughing, he waved a hand.
"Forget that for now."
His smile turned openly mischievous.
"Same rule. I solved a huge Linford problem for you. How are you going to thank me?"
Vivian looked at him helplessly.
"You really don't let any chance for repayment slip by."
"Of course," Ethan said, entirely righteous. "I earned it."
Vivian stared at him for a few seconds.
His shamelessness was almost impressive.
But she could not deny his contribution.
The Lowe matter had been solved by him.
The Linford matter too.
She sighed.
Perhaps she was getting used to this rhythm.
"A kiss?"
She quickly added before he could exploit the opening.
"On the cheek."
"Fine," Ethan said readily. "Accepted."
"Close your eyes."
Ethan obediently closed his eyes.
Vivian looked at the handsome face so close to hers.
Its lines were sharp and clean beneath the warm living-room light.
She silently told herself there was nothing serious about this.
Just once.
Kiss and leave.
After convincing herself, she slowly leaned forward.
Just as her lips were about to touch his cheek, Ethan moved slightly.
Vivian immediately became alert.
This man was starting again.
She thought she had seen through his trick this time.
So she turned her head the other way, aiming for the direction his face had originally been.
She planned to avoid his mouth, touch his cheek quickly, and watch his scheme fail.
Unfortunately, cleverness betrayed her.
Ethan's movement had been a feint.
Now they were face to face.
Only a finger's width remained between their lips.
Vivian froze.
Her eyes dropped.
She saw the victorious curve at the corner of Ethan's mouth.
She understood.
She had been tricked.
Again.
"You..."
She only managed one word before Ethan leaned in and closed the last distance.
Pressure touched her lips.
Vivian's eyes widened.
For a blank second, her mind went white.
Her heartbeat hammered so hard it felt ready to leap out of her throat.
Instinctively, both hands pressed against Ethan's chest.
She tried to push him away.
He lifted one hand to the back of her head, the pressure neither rough nor loose, just enough to keep her from escaping the moment too easily.
Vivian's fists struck his chest once.
Twice.
A third time.
Then the blows slowed.
Softened.
Finally, they stopped against his jacket.
The kiss lasted long enough for the city lights beyond the glass to blur, and long enough for Vivian to understand that this was no accident at all.
When they parted, Vivian stared at him, flushed and angry.
"You are despicable."
Her voice was soft.
It had no killing power at all.
"This is called strategy," Ethan corrected.
Vivian was so annoyed by his confident nonsense that she almost laughed.
She stood.
"I'm leaving."
Ethan leaned back on the sofa and looked over.
"So early? Not staying a little longer?"
Vivian walked to the entrance and bent to put on her shoes.
"If I don't leave now, I may not be able to leave tonight."
Ethan smiled.
"That's fine. There are plenty of rooms."
He paused.
"If not, my bed is large enough for two. I promise I won't misbehave."
Vivian finished putting on her shoes and turned back to glare at him.
"Get lost."
Then she opened the door and left.
Bang.
The door closed heavily.
A few seconds later, the engine of her sports car started and gradually faded down the mountain road.
Ethan touched his lips.
A faint trace of Vivian's lip balm seemed to remain there.
He smiled.
For the first day, this progress was already satisfying.
Then he rose and walked toward the bathroom.
Tomorrow, he would continue.
The proud best friend had begun to bend.
...
On the other side, Vivian drove down the mountain road.
Her hands held the steering wheel.
Her eyes faced forward.
Her mind was chaos.
She could hardly believe that in less than one day, she had shared so many intimate moments with a man she barely knew.
The kiss at the mall entrance had been acting for Derek.
The office incident had been a trick.
The one just now...
Vivian bit her lip.
"Forget it. Stop thinking. The more I think, the messier it gets."
She took several deep breaths, trying to calm down.
It did not work.
The sensation on her lips remained too clear.
Every image replayed in her mind like a film.
Her face was hot.
Her heartbeat had not settled.
At that moment, the phone on the passenger seat rang.
Vivian reached over and picked it up.
The caller ID showed Celeste Shaw.
Vivian was surprised.
Why would Celeste call at this hour?
She pulled over safely and answered.
Author's Note:
This story will continue updating here.
If you want to read the full story without waiting, you can unlock it here:
/c/TYMercer
Thank you for reading.