Chapter 170
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Ethan couldn’t quite explain it, but when he saw Irene get up and leave yesterday with that look on her face, his heart skipped a beat.
When he saw the photo she sent and realized she’d gotten the wrong idea, he immediately wanted to clear things up.
But with the client right in front of him, he had no choice but to hold back.
After he finally walked out of the restaurant, he got tied up with other matters, and it wasn’t until after 2:00 a.m. that he finally had a moment to himself.
The moment he was free, he pulled out his phone to reply to her message.
He had the reply fully typed out, but just as he was about to hit send, he noticed how late it was. Not wanting to bother her at that hour, he decided to leave it unsent.
It wasn’t until now, when he saw her walk into the office, that he finally had the chance to explain everything to her face–to-
face.
To be honest, seeing her yesterday had left Ethan unexpectedly pleased.
Watching her get jealous over him was something he realized he actually enjoyed.
In the past, he had always avoided this kind of emotional entanglement. Before he started seeing Irene, he had even worried that if marriage ever became a real possibility, he might not be able to walk away cleanly.
But after getting to know her, he realized Irene was so open–minded and easygoing that he had gradually let his guard down and simply enjoyed being with her.
Today, though, seeing her act almost overly rational, Ethan couldn’t explain why, but a surge of frustration suddenly rose up
inside him.
He couldn’t even make sense of it himself. He just felt tightly wound for no clear reason, as if something were gnawing at him from the inside.
He’d never pictured himself getting tangled up with her at the office, let alone making a scene in front of everyone.
But just now, when she shrugged it off and said maybe it was time to end things, acting as though it didn’t matter and already turning to leave, Ethan had no idea what came over him. He acted purely on impulse.
He had been forcing himself to stay composed, weighed down by his worries, but the moment those words reached him, his rationality completely shut down instantly.
At that instant, there was only one thought in his mind. He wanted her.
And this time, he wasn’t going to hold back.
Ethan spun Irene around and pressed her against the desk. Her hands gripped the edge, barely steadying herself, as she bit down hard on her lip, fighting not to make a sound.
“Ethan, you…” Irene managed, her voice shaky with anger.
She wanted to curse him out, but the moment she tried to speak, the words caught in her throat, leaving her feeling helpless and frustrated.
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Chapter 170
“Can’t hold it in anymore?” Ethan teased, his voice low, the words hanging in the air between them.
He pulled her into his arms, then gently covered her mouth with his hand. “Let me help you…”
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Irene’s eyes flew wide, her heart pounding so hard it almost hurt. Ethan’s sudden boldness left her more breathless than anything that had happened before.
Just then, there was a knock at the door.
Ethan swallowed hard, his voice coming out low and tense. “Who is it?”
“It’s me, Mr. Drake,” someone replied.
It was the new intern.
“What is it?” Ethan asked, his tone clipped.
As he spoke, his gaze stayed fixed on Irene as she squirmed beneath him, his brow tightening even further.
He rested a hand lightly against her neck, his voice husky. “If you don’t want anyone to hear, then stop moving.”
Irene froze, startled by the warning in his tone. She didn’t dare move an inch.
Ethan let out a quiet sigh of relief. He was just about to tell the intern to wait for him at the desk when someone else called the intern away before he could say a word.
Only then did Irene hurriedly push herself up and shove him away.
As she straightened her clothes, Irene couldn’t help thinking she must be losing her mind. How could she have let him cross that line so easily?
Ethan could afford to act recklessly with his family backing him, but Irene had nothing. She had no safety net and no
fallback.
If things ever spiraled out of control and someone had to take the blame, Ethan wouldn’t hesitate to sacrifice her.
People in their line of work were all too rational. Real feelings were a luxury they couldn’t afford.
Irene understood better than anyone that if she ever ended up standing against Ethan, there was no way she could win. That was exactly why she shouldn’t have been taking risks.
With her head finally clear, Irene couldn’t stand to stay in the office another second. She practically bolted for the door.
Seeing her like that, Ethan called out, “Trene, unable to stop himself. “Don’t you think you’re being a little too obvious, running out like that?
“Isn’t that like waving a big red flag that something’s up?” he added, his voice calm but with a hint of teasing.
In just a few moments, Ethan had already regained his composure, sitting back in his chair and speaking evenly as he looked
at her.
Irene stood frozen, her thoughts in complete disarray. Thinking back on how everything had unfolded, she couldn’t blame anyone but herself.
She clenched her teeth, paused at the doorway, then finally spoke, her voice strained. ‘So, Mr. Drake, when do you think can make my exit?”
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11:13 am
Chapter 170
Ethan could clearly pick up on the whirlwind of emotions Irene was feeling right now.
Ethan could clearly sense the storm of emotions churning inside Irene at that moment.
At least for that brief moment, she’d been just as flustered and swept away as he was.
Just thinking about it lifted Ethan’s mood. He picked up the office phone and dialed an extension.
Soon enough, the assistant and the intern from earlier walked in together.
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When they walked in, they saw Irene sitting off to the side with a frosty expression, while Ethan sat behind his desk, a cigarette between his fingers.
The intern, still green and overly earnest, glanced between them and blurted out nervously, “Mr. Drake, Irene, is everything okay?”
Ethan slid a stack of files across the desk toward him. “Take a look. She messed up this case. I’m cutting her some slack. I didn’t want to call her out in front of everyone.”
‘Honestly, Irene, even the intern could have handled this better than you,” Ethan added, his voice edged with sarcasm.
Put on the spot, the intern swallowed nervously.
Irene was a real veteran in his eyes, and there was no way he’d dare cross her.
But honestly, the way she handled this case was way below her usual level, and he never expected Irene to drop the ball like this.
Yeah, I screwed up and dragged you down with me,” Irene said coolly, her tone tinged with self–mockery. “Why don’t you just transfer me to Nick’s team?”
Ethan knew she was putting on a front, but for a split second, he almost believed she meant it.
Annoyance flashed through his eyes, and his voice sharpened. “You really think Nick would want you on his team?”
‘Don’t assume you can just jump ship every time something goes wrong, Irene. Learn to take responsibility”
If you and your team made this mess, then you fix it yourselves.”
Irene shot him a hard look at the pointed remark but didn’t bother responding. She bent down, picked up the tiles from the floor, and headed straight out.
The intern quickly stepped aside, and even Ethan’s assistant fell silent on the spot.
Just moments earlier, people outside had been gossiping, convinced something was going on between them. But now, with the tension crackling in the air, it was obvious there was nothing romantic at all.
Honestly, given Ethan’s personality, there was no way he would ever fall for Irene. They were both too blunt and direct. Put them together, and it was only a matter of time before everything blew up
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
