Free Web NovelChapter 112: Chapter 112: I Want Him
"Ethan, what are you doing?"
Sophie Shaw grabbed Ethan Austin’s arm. "Let go, now."
"Sophie, this guy tricked me!"
"You were just hired. Calm down. Think about your sister, and your sister’s spacious apartment."
"..."
Sophie Shaw’s words gradually calmed Ethan Austin down.
He reluctantly released Alaric Blackwood’s collar. "Hired just because you say so? I don’t work for you."
"Your skills aren’t half bad. Be my sister’s personal bodyguard. You start tomorrow."
Alaric Blackwood’s tone was domineering.
Ethan Austin was stunned.
’I’m starting just like that?’
’Aren’t we going to talk about the salary?’
’No discussion about a probationary period or when I’d become a permanent employee?’
"You can discuss the specifics with my sister," Alaric Blackwood said dismissively. He glanced at Jaden, who had already passed out on the platform, then turned to Evan Ford and said, "Jaden’s your problem now." ƒreewebɳovel.com
The designated clean-up guy, Evan Ford, protested, "Seriously? Why do I always get stuck with the messy aftermath?"
Alaric Blackwood just gave him a smile, took Sophie Shaw’s hand, and pulled his wife out of the boxing gym.
Ethan Austin followed silently behind, his lips downturned as he glared at their tightly clasped hands. He was so jealous he could have pickled a whole jar of cabbage.
’What is Sophie thinking?’
’Doesn’t she know that men and women should maintain a proper distance?’
’They have a contract marriage, yet they’re acting so intimate. Anyone who didn’t know better would think they were a loving couple.’
"Kid, you got a driver’s license?"
Alaric Blackwood asked suddenly.
With a sullen look on his face, he grunted in affirmation. The next second, Alaric Blackwood tossed him the keys to the sports car. "You drive my car."
Before he had a chance to react, the man followed Sophie Shaw into the blue Cayenne.
’Unbelievable. And he had the nerve to say *I* was high on cheap tea. Alaric Blackwood is just as shameless.’
’To stop me from riding in Sophie’s car, Alaric actually pulled a preemptive strike...’
On the way back to The Metropolis, Alaric Blackwood was in high spirits, getting to ride with his wife.
He sat in the passenger seat, one arm resting on the open window, watching Ethan Austin dutifully following behind in the rearview mirror.
He raised his hand and flipped him off.
’He had a feeling Ethan could see it.’
Ethan Austin did see it, and he nearly exploded.
"Son of a bitch!"
Ethan Austin was so furious he gritted his teeth, his shoulders trembling with rage.
He slammed his hand on the steering wheel’s horn. The jarringly loud HONK made Sophie Shaw, who was driving, jump, and her hands trembled on the wheel.
"What is Ethan doing? He scared the life out of me."
Sophie Shaw muttered under her breath.
Alaric Blackwood turned to look at her, gently patting her shoulder. "Maybe he’s just not right in the head."
For the sake of road safety, he didn’t provoke Ethan any further, and the two cars proceeded smoothly to The Metropolis.
They arrived at Nina Halloway’s home at three-thirty in the afternoon.
Nina Halloway was awake, curled up on the sofa. Her slender arms were wrapped around her knees, her face buried in them.
She had been sitting curled up like that for over half an hour. Anne tried coaxing her, reasoning with her, even telling her jokes, but she remained motionless, face hidden, her shoulders trembling from time to time as if she were crying.
Anne didn’t know what to do. Thankfully, Alaric Blackwood and Sophie Shaw were back.
She got up and hurried over to Sophie Shaw.
"My boss has been like this ever since she woke up. I’m worried she might do something drastic," she said in a very low voice.
Sophie Shaw glanced toward the sofa and saw Nina Halloway curled into a small ball, looking sorrowful, pitiful, and helpless.
She volunteered, telling Alaric Blackwood, "I want to stay and keep your sister company."
"Okay."
Alaric Blackwood stroked her head, his eyes filled with boundless affection.
Hearing his voice, Nina Halloway finally lifted her deeply buried head.
Her eyes were bloodshot, and tear tracks stained her face. The moment she saw Alaric Blackwood, she let out a wronged, heartbroken sob, as if seeing her last hope.
Alaric Blackwood strode over to her, grabbed a tissue from the table, and bent down to wipe away her tears.
"I’ve already taught Jaden a lesson. Forget him."
"How can I forget?"
She had known Jaden since childhood, falling for him during her first blush of youth. When their families discussed their engagement, Jaden hadn’t objected, so she had assumed he liked her too.
She wanted to enter the entertainment industry, to become an actress, to do something she loved. Jaden had once been very supportive, cheering her on.
Now, everything had changed. He despised her work, saying she was "showing her face in public"... She even wondered if it was because she was too busy with work, always in a different city from him, that he had fallen for someone else. But he had said he never liked her in the first place.
"You have to forget. Jaden isn’t worth it."
Alaric Blackwood finished wiping her tears and, resting his hands on her shoulders, said, "Take this opportunity to give yourself a break. The doctor said you need to rest and eat well. You’re too thin right now."
"I’d rather work and keep myself busy."
’If she stayed at home, her mind would only run wild with thoughts.’
Alaric Blackwood patted her shoulder gently, then glanced over at Ethan Austin. As if calling a dog, he crooked his finger at him.
Ethan: ...
He stood motionless.
Alaric Blackwood frowned. "Get over here."
"Say please."
"Don’t make me repeat myself."
Before Ethan Austin could even start mentally cursing Alaric Blackwood’s tyranny, Anne was already pushing him forward.
He was pushed in front of the sofa and formally introduced to Nina Halloway.
"This is your new bodyguard, E...." Alaric Blackwood paused, then asked him, "What’s your name?"
"Ethan Austin."
Nina Halloway looked up, her gaze fixed on Ethan Austin.
She suddenly noticed that the new bodyguard had deep-set, double-lidded eyes, which looked remarkably like Jaden’s.
But he was taller than Jaden, and more powerfully built.
She stared at Ethan Austin’s eyes for a moment, as if completely mesmerized. Then, as if possessed, she reached out and hugged him.
"Hey?!"
A jolt like an electric shock shot through his entire body.
Ethan Austin froze, completely dumbfounded.
Nina Halloway’s arms were wrapped tightly around his waist, her cheek pressed against his chest.
At this scene, it wasn’t just Ethan Austin who was stunned; everyone in the room was dumbfounded.
Alaric Blackwood was the first to snap out of it. He grabbed Nina Halloway’s arm and yanked her away from Ethan Austin.
"Miss Superstar, what do you think you’re doing?"
’Has she lost her mind?’
’Hugging a bodyguard she just met.’
Nina Halloway froze at the question, her mind short-circuiting again.
She didn’t know what had just come over her either.
She looked at Ethan Austin. "I’m sorry. Your eyes look a lot like my ex-fiancé’s."
Ethan: ...
’Nowadays, does applying to be a bodyguard mean you also have to work as a stand-in?’
His head was starting to ache. He turned and shot Anne a look, trying to signal that he didn’t want this job.
But Anne pretended not to see.
"How are his skills?" Nina Halloway asked Alaric Blackwood.
"I tested them. They’re passable."
Ethan Austin silently fumed. ’What does he mean, "passable"?’
’I’m obviously incredibly skilled, okay?’
’The only reason Alaric Blackwood managed to land a punch on me last time was because I was drunk.’
’When I’m sober, Alaric is definitely not my match.’
"He’ll do."
Nina Halloway didn’t look toward Ethan Austin again. She just said to Alaric Blackwood, "I want him."
Alaric Blackwood pinched the bridge of his nose. He understood that Nina Halloway meant she wanted to hire Ethan Austin, but those three words, "I want him," combined with her recent embrace, really sent one’s imagination running wild.
"How about we forget it? I can arrange for a few bodyguards from the company. I’ll pick them out myself."
