Vivian was fully aware of Ethan's reaction, secretly delighting in it. She held his hand, her fingers gently scratching beneath his palm.
Her petite hands, barely larger than half of Ethan's, required both of hers to encircle just one of his. Who could have imagined that these small hands, capable of defeating countless men, now appeared utterly harmless, nestled within his palm, teasing him with each gentle stroke, never crossing any lines, leaving Ethan utterly at a loss.
"...Are you done playing? Aren't you cold? Don't you—aren't you going to take a shower?" Ethan tried in vain to retrieve his hand, his palm tingling incessantly while one side of his arm was greeted with a sight that stirred his blood. He sweated profusely, uncomfortable from the tension below.
If anyone else were faced with such seduction and overt suggestion from their lawful spouse, they would have long succumbed to temptation, hardly bothering to maintain any pretense of propriety.
Ethan didn't want to resist either, but their relationship wasn't truly that of a married couple. They were simply maintaining the facade of marriage for the time being. Moreover, he hadn't forgotten that Vivian had always been interested in a certain aspect of him that wasn't his penis but his anus...
What kind of woman... Ethan felt like crying.
"But I think... it would be more comfortable for you if you took off your clothes too... especially..." Vivian gently tilted her chin, subtly indicating something that needed no explanation.
"None of your business!" Ethan's face flushed crimson, too embarrassed to even glance at Vivian.
Like a cornered animal, he desperately tried to shrink away, yet couldn't move, sweating profusely in his anxiety. This display of helplessness and futile evasion softened even the usually unyielding Vivian.
Softened? Wait, wait... She was Vivian! This was the moment to claim her prize, and yet she felt a pang of softness towards him? And she found the sight of the CEO, who was frantically avoiding her advances yet unable to escape, strangely adorable and pitiful.
Ah, what should she do now? Another push and her prey would be hers, but leaving such a delicious meal untouched wasn't in her nature. However, pushing him too far made her feel he was somewhat pitiable...
Just as Vivian was caught in this dilemma, a commotion outside conveniently diverted their attention.
Vivian swiftly donned her bathrobe and grabbed a small knife, rushing to the window to look down into the courtyard.
"What's going on?" Ethan followed her gaze, though they were on the top floor, the view of the courtyard was clear. Two security guards were chasing someone.
Perhaps to avoid disturbing the guests, the guards communicated via walkie-talkies, silently and swiftly surrounding the fleeing individual.
The pursued person moved clumsily, clearly not a professional, but their familiarity with the environment allowed them to evade capture momentarily.
Vivian opened the window and assessed the situation, twirling the knife in her hand before launching it downward.
The thin blade sliced through the air like a swift silver streak, "swish," embedding itself in a nearby tree trunk, its handle quivering slightly, emitting a faint hum. The gleaming blade reflected a cold, deathly light.
The man froze in terror, still feeling the icy breeze of the passing blade. If not for his quick reflexes, noticing the incoming object from the corner of his eye and halting, the knife might have slashed across his nose or even pierced his skull.
Drenched in cold sweat, the man hadn't realized where the knife came from when the guards seized the opportunity to apprehend him.
Vivian observed for a while longer, confirming there were no accomplices, then shrugged regrettably. "Caught a mouse. Looks like I have to go down there." Her tone betrayed her disappointment.
Ethan gaped at Vivian, stunned. They were on the third floor! That distance, and she hit her target with precision. This was no ordinary skill. Her claims of being a special operations agent in her past life—were they actually true?
He watched as Vivian selected a custom-made security chief uniform from the wardrobe, different from her usual office attire, tailored for the jewelry exhibition with a more authoritative and functional design. Petite Vivian looked formidable in it.
As if it was her true self.
As Ethan watched Vivian prepare to leave, she paused at the door, turning back towards him.
Just as Ethan wondered why she returned, Vivian suddenly rose on her tiptoes and stole a kiss on Ethan's lips.
"I'm just collecting some overtime pay, not too much, right?" Vivian grinned slyly, her eyes narrowing like a mischievous fox who'd gotten her way.
Before Ethan could react, she darted out of the room.
Damn it!
Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!
What was she doing?
Ethan covered his lips, his face burning hot, staring at the door through which Vivian had vanished, unable to move for a long moment.
