Chapter 106: Chapter 106: A Kiss for You to See
### Chapter 106: A Kiss to Prove It
The next morning.
Sunlight streamed through a gap in the heavy curtains, casting a golden band of light on the carpet.
The bedroom was filled with a lazy and sated atmosphere.
Maxine Rhodes awoke to a full-body ache, trapped in an embrace that was a little too tight.
She had barely moved when the arm wrapped around her waist instinctively tightened.
"Morning, Mrs. Hawthorne."
His voice was husky from sleep, lethally sexy.
Maxine Rhodes shoved him, annoyed. "What’s good about it? Ethan Hawthorne, do you have any idea what time it is? I have a meeting this morning!"
Only then did Ethan Hawthorne leisurely glance at the digital clock on the bedside table. It was almost nine.
He, however, was in no hurry. He twirled a strand of her long hair around his finger. "What meeting is more important than having breakfast with your husband? Postpone it."
"I can’t postpone it!" Maxine Rhodes struggled to get up, but he held her down firmly.
"Then delay it by an hour."
Ethan Hawthorne’s tone was wheedling. "Just say that Ms. Rhodes was up late discussing plans for a crucial strategic partnership and is overly exhausted, requiring additional rest."
Maxine Rhodes was speechless.
Furious, she reached out to pinch the soft flesh of his waist. "Ethan Hawthorne! Have you no shame!"
Ethan Hawthorne easily caught her mischievous hand, brought it to his lips for a kiss, the laughter in his eyes deepening. "All I need is you."
In the end, the meeting was postponed by an hour and a half.
Meanwhile, Ms. Rhodes herself, the one with the so-called urgent business, was being cradled by a certain sated and now exceptionally clingy Mr. Hawthorne. He was half-forcefully feeding her milk and fried eggs, both at the perfect temperature.
"Eat more." Ethan Hawthorne watched her chew slowly, his brow furrowing slightly. "Your stamina is too poor. How will you handle more important negotiations in the future?"
Maxine Rhodes almost choked on her milk. She glared at him, her face flushing. "Shut up!"
Ethan Hawthorne chuckled and stopped teasing her, simply adding another slice of bacon to her plate.
After breakfast, as Maxine Rhodes was choosing her outfit in the walk-in closet, she looked at the telltale marks on her neck and collarbone in the mirror and felt another wave of annoyance.
After searching for a long time, she finally picked out a high-collared silk blouse that could just barely cover them.
Ethan Hawthorne had already changed into a sharp suit and was leaning against the doorframe, watching her.
Seeing her fretting in front of the mirror, he walked over and hugged her from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder and looking at their reflection, nestled together in the mirror.
"What are you trying to hide?" His tone was matter-of-fact as his finger gently traced a red mark on the side of her neck, his eyes darkening. "I think it looks great."
"Great, my foot!" Maxine Rhodes nudged him lightly with her elbow. "How am I supposed to face anyone!"
Ethan Hawthorne chuckled, then took a small velvet box from a nearby drawer.
Inside was a diamond necklace of simple yet utterly luxurious design. The pendant was a perfectly cut star, echoing the logo of her company.
"Wear this."
He took out the necklace and put it on for her himself.
The cool diamonds rested against her warm skin. The pendant landed just below her collarbone, a clever adornment that also discreetly concealed some of the marks.
He took a step back, studying her in the mirror with a focused, admiring gaze. "My star should shine brightly."
Maxine Rhodes touched the star at her throat, a warm feeling spreading through her heart.
’This man... He’s truly domineering and truly childish, but when he’s being thoughtful, I’m completely powerless against him.’
They left together. As the elevator descended, Ethan Hawthorne suddenly spoke. "I’ll have Erza Sinclair send some restorative supplements to your office this afternoon. Also, I’ve booked a private therapy session for you at seven tonight. I’ve sent the address to your phone."
Maxine Rhodes froze. "Therapy?"
"Mmm." Ethan Hawthorne’s expression didn’t change, his tone as flat as if he were scheduling a business meeting. "It’s for overstrained lumbar muscles, neck, and shoulders. You worked hard last night."
Maxine Rhodes was at a loss for words.
’I’ve decided not to speak to this infuriating man for the rest of the day!’
Ethan Hawthorne looked at her profile—pouting yet helpless—and a triumphant smile flickered in his eyes.
-
「Hawthorne Group, CEO’s Office.」
After arriving at the office, Erza Sinclair placed a simple report on Ethan Hawthorne’s desk. "Mr. Hawthorne, Benjamin Sterling seems to be secretly asking about your relationship with Ms. Rhodes. His methods are quite clumsy. Also, he was spotted near Stellar Tech today."
Ethan Hawthorne’s gaze lifted from his documents. He glanced at the report, the corner of his lip curling into a faint, mocking smile. "Is that so? It seems last time’s lesson wasn’t memorable enough."
He tapped a finger lightly on the desk and instructed, "No need to stop him. Also,"
He paused, a flicker of amusement in his eyes, "cancel all my meetings this afternoon. I’m going to pick up my wife from work early."
Erza Sinclair understood immediately. He adjusted his glasses. "Understood, Mr. Hawthorne. I’ll take care of it."
「Meanwhile, at Stellar Tech.」
Just before quitting time, Coco, holding a coffee, sidled up to Bubbles, who was busy coding. She gestured with her chin toward a spot downstairs. "Bubbles, look. That mangy dog is back. He’s squatting by the flowerbed across the street. He’s practically become a company landmark."
Bubbles didn’t even look up, her fingers flying across the keyboard. "The loser must have nothing better to do."
Coco nodded in agreement. "But seriously, doesn’t he feel embarrassed squatting there every day? Don’t you think Ms. Rhodes gets annoyed seeing him?"
Bubbles finally finished a block of code and took a sip of her herbal wellness tea. "Ms. Rhodes is in a rocket ship heading for space. That guy’s on the ground, pedaling a tricycle with a wheel about to fall off, yelling for her to wait for him. You tell me: should the rocket stop, or should the tricycle rider wake up?"
Coco gave a thumbs-up. "I get it!"
Bubbles elegantly picked up her tablet and jacket. "Alright, clocking out!"
The two chatted and laughed as they packed up to leave. Passing by Maxine Rhodes’s office, Coco poked her head in. "Hey sis, time to go home! Don’t work too hard! Oh, by the way, looks like there’s some unidentified trash downstairs again."
Maxine Rhodes looked up from her documents and smiled at her words, her expression calm. "Don’t worry about him. You two be careful on your way home."
The two nodded and left, humming a tune.
As evening fell, Maxine Rhodes finished the rest of her work and went downstairs.
She had just stepped outside when the familiar black sedan silently glided to a stop beside her.
Ethan Hawthorne got out of the car. He wasn’t in a suit today, but a black trench coat that gave him an air of effortless cool. He walked up to Maxine Rhodes in a few strides.
"Tired?" he asked, looking down at her.
Not far away, Benjamin Sterling was staring intently at them.
He overheard two female Stellar Tech employees who were leaving work discussing in low voices:
"Wow, Mr. Hawthorne is here to pick up Ms. Rhodes in person again! So handsome and thoughtful!"
"Mr. Hawthorne has been picking up Ms. Rhodes from work every day lately. It’s so sweet~"
"Yeah, yeah, they’re such a good match! Only someone like Mr. Hawthorne is worthy of Ms. Rhodes!"
Benjamin Sterling ground his teeth together. After watching the two get into the car and drive away, he rushed to the roadside, hailed a taxi, and pointed at the disappearing rear of the car ahead. "Driver! Follow that black Maybach up there! Don’t lose them, money is no object!"
’I’ll see just what those two are up to!’
The taxi driver glanced at the agitated man in the rearview mirror, asked no questions, and stepped on the gas to follow.
Ethan Hawthorne’s car wasn’t going fast, heading towards the well-known high-end residential area on the west side of the city.
From the driver’s seat, Ethan Hawthorne glanced in the rearview mirror at the taxi that had been following them ever since they left the office.
Of course, he knew who was inside. He even deliberately slowed down to make it easier for the taxi to keep up.
The car finally stopped in front of the apartment building, but it didn’t immediately pull into the underground garage.
Maxine Rhodes unbuckled her seatbelt and was about to get out, but she noticed Ethan Hawthorne hadn’t moved. Instead, he had turned off the engine.
"What’s wrong?" She turned to look at him, puzzled. He usually drove straight into the garage.
Ethan Hawthorne turned sideways, his gaze landing on her face.
The evening light filtered through the car window, softening her features. He didn’t speak, just reached out and gently brushed his thumb across her lower lip.
"Suddenly, I don’t feel like going inside so quickly," he said in a low voice.
*****
