The Callous CEO

Chapter 4 Mr. Ethan

Ethan didn't pay much attention to the car beside him and continued to sit there, lost in his own thoughts. He didn't care about who it was, as he already had enough on his mind and didn't want to think about trivial things.

Suddenly, the car's driver stepped out and opened the door for a stunningly beautiful lady who emerged from it. Ethan was slightly mesmerized by her beauty and quickly looked away, not wanting to stare. However, he couldn't shake the feeling that she was approaching him directly, and she stopped right in front of him.

Confused, Ethan looked up, thinking she needed directions or had mistaken him for someone else. Perhaps the person she was looking for was behind him. But her gaze was fixed on him, and it left him surprised.

"Good day, Mr. Ethan. Please get in the car, and let's go," she said with respect in her voice.

Ethan felt his ears deceive him and looked at her with widened eyes, unable to comprehend what was happening.

"Mr. Ethan?" she called out again.

"Yes?" he responded absentmindedly. His mind was swirling with confusion. Why should he get into a stranger's car? What was their motive?

"Please get in the car and let's go," she repeated her words, and this time, suspicion filled his face.

"What is this? Why are you insisting that I get into your car? Were you sent by the Miller family to play tricks on me? Please leave. I have nothing to do with you," he said harshly, his words laced with frustration.

Kate, the beautiful lady, understood his reaction. Anyone in his situation would react even worse.

"I apologize if my actions make you think I'm playing with you. Let me start again," she said, offering a warm smile. "I'm Kate, the secretary of HD Company. I'm here to pick you up, sir," she said respectfully, as if reporting to her superior.

Ethan thought he must have misheard. He never sent his resume to HD Company. Why would he? It was one of the most powerful companies in the world, and very few people had the opportunity to work there. He hadn't even considered trying his luck there, as smaller companies had rejected him. So why would a company of this magnitude waste their time on him?

And if he were to compare the Arthurs company to his own, it would be like comparing a mere bird to the radiant sun. No matter how hard they tried, they could never reach his company's status. He had overheard the Arthur  couple once discussing their desperate desire to land a single deal with HD, hoping it would elevate their reputation. But their attempts were futile, and even the receptionist showed disdain for them. He couldn't fathom what the managers at their company were doing.

Now, he found it perplexing that Kate was treating him with the same indifference. His suspicion grew, and he stood up, glancing around to check for any hidden cameras. Kate's confused expression conveyed her bewilderment at his sudden behavior.

"Is there something wrong, Mr. Ethan?" she asked, causing goosebumps to ripple across his arms.

Something didn't feel right. His suspicions deepened.

"Where are they hiding?" he asked, desperately searching for answers.

"Who, sir?" Kate inquired, clearly puzzled.

"The cameras and the people you came with. Is this some reality show where you choose someone to exploit for entertainment? If this is just for ratings, I'm sorry, but I don't have time for this. I already have enough on my plate; I'm not interested in another drama in my life. I'm not a camera person," he snapped, his voice filled with frustration, before walking away.

"Wait," she called out, halting him in his tracks.

He expected her to retract her words, his eyebrows raised in anticipation.

"What?" he responded harshly.

Kate reached into her bag and presented him with a card. He stared at it for a few moments, his eyes widening in disbelief, before cautiously accepting it from her trembling hands.

The name on the card brought back memories of a chance encounter when he had traveled to the location of the Miller family's business for a previous business deal. He never imagined he would come face to face with one again.

He looked at Kate, lost for words, but one thing was certain—she was telling the truth.

"You... You," he stammered, his shock palpable.

Understanding his state of mind, Kate wanted to put him at ease and avoid any awkwardness between them. After all, she needed to impress him as his employee.

"Mr. Ethan, shall we go now? We have a lot to discuss, and we can do so in the car," she said, offering a respectful smile.

Ethan's tongue remained tied, still reeling from the shock. Unbeknownst to him, Daphne and her new boyfriend emerged from the café nearby, catching sight of Ethan frozen in disbelief. Daphne felt a twinge of jealousy. How could he so easily move on with someone else mere weeks after their divorce?

"Well, isn't this my poor ex-husband?" Daphne sneered, pausing to scrutinize Kate from head to toe, dismissing her as insignificant. She continued, relishing in Ethan's stunned state.

"How is life treating you, huh? You don't even have anything to your name, and you're going around proposing to anyone you see. You won't be as lucky as you were when you first saw me," she said, her words laced with disdain.

Kate felt a surge of fury, but she knew better than to interfere. Her boss wouldn't appreciate her involvement in personal matters. However, the insult from her former partner was becoming increasingly difficult to handle.

"Oh, you can't work up a decent response? I guess you were cheating on me with this...thing you call a woman even before I left you. You are a disgrace to all men," she smirked, trying to provoke a reaction.

Ethan noticed the anger burning in Kate's eyes as she prepared to respond. She looked like a lioness ready to pounce on its prey.

"You..." Kate started to speak, but Ethan interrupted her, holding his hand up to silence her.

"If I didn't know you, I might have mistaken you for someone raised in the countryside with the way you're speaking. It doesn't reflect the manners of a well-trained young mistress from a prestigious family. It's a shame there are no cameras and paparazzi around to witness this side of you. Your well-behaved self and carefully crafted image would crumble," he retorted, his words biting with sarcasm.

Daphne, taken aback by the sharpness of his tongue, seethed with anger. She had never been insulted in such a manner before. Ethan's response caught her off guard.

"Don't worry, I'm not saying all this to win you back. I would rather sleep on the streets forever than be with you. And if I were to choose someone to be with, it would be this beautiful lady beside me," he said, moving closer to Kate and taking her hand.

Kate was shocked and instinctively tried to pull her hand away, but when she looked into Ethan's eyes, she realized what he was trying to do.

"You don't have to worry. I will never bother you again. I now have a girlfriend who cares for and loves me very much. And if you'll please excuse me, we were on our way for a date before you interrupted us. Please excuse us," he stated firmly.

Without waiting for Daphne's reaction, Ethan escorted Kate to the car and they quickly drove away, leaving Daphne fuming with rage. She vowed to get back at him at all costs. He would pay for this, she promised herself, and she stormed off with her new boyfriend.

Inside the car, Ethan breathed a sigh of relief. He was glad to have escaped the toxic presence of his ex-partner. For the first time in a week, he felt refreshed. Perhaps it was because of the empowering words Kate had spoken to him.

Who was he now? And why had Kate come to his rescue? Could it be possible that she was offering him a job similar to the one he had with the Arthur family three years ago?