After dinner, Vivian collected their dishes and put them away, noticing Ethan still lingering in the living room. As she prepared to return to her room, he unexpectedly called out to her.
"Eh…" Ethan stopped her, hesitating before asking, "Do you genuinely believe there's danger at the upcoming jewelry exhibition?"
Vivian paused, contemplating how to broach the subject. Revealing that she knew of the events through a romance novel seemed implausible.
In her past life, Ethan may have been a fictional character from a book, but now, standing before her, he was very much real. The stories and people surrounding her were no longer mere fiction but reality.
She decided on a practical approach. "How many people do you think are eyeing your position?"
Ethan's expression darkened, offering no reply.
"I've estimated the total value of the jewels showcased at the exhibition to be around five to six hundred million, with the yet-to-be-revealed blood diamond alone estimated at nearly two hundred million. While the jewels' value isn’t the point, the fact that this blood diamond originated from your family’s mine makes it significant. Its successful unveiling would attract more investors, leading to potential profits in trillions…" Vivian's gaze turned sharp and dangerous as she fixed it on Ethan. "You're a juicy catch right now; who wouldn't covet you?"
The Sharpes family had built their fortune on jewelry, owning several mines accessible only to the direct lineage. However, over the past decade, the mines had dwindled in productivity, leading to the family relying on purchasing stones from other dealers. The Sharpes family diversified their business but couldn't abandon their ancestral mines. Ethan, following his father's footsteps, invested in the mines and discovered the blood diamond two years ago, suggesting the possibility of more such gems beneath. This resurrection of the old mines would bring immense wealth and with it, greedy eyes on Ethan.
Yet… "How do you know all this?" Ethan queried.
Details about potential threats or the blood diamond's significance weren't information one would expect Vivian to possess, especially considering her recent arrival in this world.
"Don't underestimate my intelligence gathering skills from my past life," Vivian replied smugly. While the knowledge of the exhibition's issue came from the book, the specifics were a result of her own investigation.
"So you think they'll strike during the exhibition?" Ethan knew several distant relatives resented his young inheritance and sought ways to undermine him. His uncle and Hayden's father had been instrumental in stabilizing his position within the Sharpes.
"This is the perfect opportunity. Whether it's stealing the blood diamond by disrupting the exhibition or causing an accident to harm you, their goal is to remove you from power." Attendees of the exhibition were all of questionable backgrounds; any mishap would cast suspicion everywhere, making it a prime chance for action.
"Is that so?" Ethan lowered his gaze, burdened. The threat was likely from within his family, making it hard to remain indifferent.
"Don't worry, I've got you back. Whatever tricks they pull, I won't let them succeed." Seeing Ethan's gloom, Vivian slapped his shoulder confidently, grinning.
She was Vivian, the agent with a perfect success rate!
Her forceful pat sent Ethan staggering, and he regained his balance, rubbing the spot. He looked at Vivian, a complex expression on his face, as if debating whether to speak his thoughts but ultimately deciding against it.
No one had assured him 'don't worry, I've got you back' since his parents passed and his world turned upside down. Expected to be strong, he had to shoulder responsibilities alone, with no one caring if he was ready or capable. He had to stand tall, supporting the sky that had fallen on him.
No one had ever offered him support with such confidence, sharing his burden, implying he didn't have to stand alone, and that relying on someone didn't equate to weakness.
And the person offering this support was the one he initially despised the most...
"I understand. If you need any budget in the future, report directly to me. You can withdraw from me without going through Hayden."
Ethan's expression was awkward as he understood Vivian's intentions to bolster security. The public reveal of the blood diamond was crucial to assert his legitimacy as the rightful head of the Sharpes and to ward off internal dissenters.
He told this to Vivian merely to express his support for her actions.
Vivian replied casually, "There's no harm going through Hayden. He’s diligent in overseeing your budget."
She wanted to say using official channels reduced suspicion but noticed Ethan's unease and decided to tease him, picking up where their dinner conversation left off. "Or you just don't want me getting close to Hayden?"
Ethan was taken aback by the topic's return,complaining, "I never said that."
His attempt to hide his discomfort only amused Vivian further.
"For fairness... shouldn't our security department's budget pass through Hayden first?"
Her amusement made Ethan uneasy, and her casual use of 'Hayden' grated on him.
"I said earlier, the budget comes from me directly. No need for him to see it…" His confident assertion lost steam under Vivian's influence, sounding more like he had ulterior motives.
"Are you that afraid of me getting close to him?" Vivian closed in like a cunning fox.
Ethan retreated, blurting out truthfully, "Every time you get close to someone, you're all handsy. Don't you see how uncomfortable Hayden is?"
"Well, it's hard to resist a good man, isn't it?" Though Ethan was her ideal type, he had set boundaries and she can't touch him! Thus, she settled for second best.
Her feigned distress irked Ethan.
"How dare you act so shamelessly, justifying such behavior!"
"You're a married woman!"
"But my husband refuses to let me touch him…" She sounded like she had every right to stray.
"I didn't say that…!" Ethan covered his mouth but it was too late.
"That means I can do as I please…" Vivian gloated, like a fox with a chicken, her mischievous grin widening. Her fingers playfully danced across Ethan's chest, hinting at exploration.
Ethan cursed himself countless times. Why did he always fall into her traps? Where was his composure? His rationality? Why?
Her fingers tickled where it touch like a feather, and though he wanted to swat them away, he froze like prey under a snake's gaze.
Frustrated, he asked, "If I agree, will you stop touching Hayden?"
He rationalized it was for Hayden's sake, that Vivian, despite her erratic behavior, kept her word. If she agreed, he wouldn't need to worry about others being victimized.
It was also for the company's image; a CEO's wife couldn't be known as a harasser!
Ethan found numerous reasons to justify his decision.
"Of course, Hayden isn't as good as you…" Vivian couldn't help but glance suggestively at Ethan, imagining more.
"…Don't even think about it." Ethan was alert. Her gaze suggested mere touching wouldn't satisfy her; she was still fixated on that night!
Disappointed, Vivian pouted, "Then, how far can I go?"
Ethan thought for a moment. "Not take my cloth off, Not climb into my bed."
Surely, she couldn't ignite any fires through the clothing, he reassured himself, fighting to preserve his virtue.
"Deal." Vivian agreed readily.
She was a patient hunter, knowing not to pressure her prey too much or it might backfire. She would take her time, and someday… she would make him willingly surrender his body to her.
She eagerly anticipated that day.
