Chapter 2

He gave me a cold, condescending look, saying nothing, yet saying everything.

In the end, he just walked away, and I cried so hard my hands shook. I didn't dare truly offend him.

He wasn't wrong about one thing: good jobs are hard to come by.

And a good job with connections? Even harder.

Reality bites, and not using the connections I had would be plain stupid. I mourned my shattered romantic illusions for one night, then dutifully reported for work the next day.

Others asked me: What's your relationship with Mr. Ethan?

I swept up the last remnants of my shattered romantic illusions and simply said, "We're alumni."

Ethan was pleased with that answer and took even better care of me.

He took care of me so well, it eventually led to the bedroom.

It wasn't complicated. Ethan's 'one that got away' got divorced. Ethan gleefully went after her, only to 'happily' get the shocking news that she’d remarried her ex and was expecting their third child.

He got absolutely wasted.

The next day was a crucial meeting with investors.

If that deal didn't go through, the entire team's bonuses were gone.

Watching our massive bonuses evaporate, everyone in the group was tearing their hair out.

As 'Ethan's connection,' I was, of course, chosen to go 'talk sense into him.'

I admit, when Ethan hugged me tight, his eyes misty with tears, I still felt a despicable flutter in my heart.

Five years, from eighteen to twenty-three, weren't something you could just forget.

He held me so tight, as if he wanted to crush my bones. Big, heavy tears landed on my shoulder, and his gasps mingled with my own as our mouths found each other.

Tears are a man's best beauty treatment.

Male beauty was just too tempting. I couldn't resist, and I indulged completely.

When he called out his first love's name in my ear, I choked him.

His eyes were bloodshot, and he pushed hard into me, grinding his hips.

I was so into it, I even slapped him a few times, watching him gasp and plead. I honestly didn't even care that he was calling out another woman's name.

The next day, I was woken by a splash of cold water.

Ethan silently put on his suit, casually tossing me a freshly delivered, clean business suit to replace yesterday's, which was… covered in unidentified liquids.

He buttoned the last button, then pointed to the bedside table. All the documents were already neatly arranged there.

"If I don't see you in half an hour, don't bother coming in tomorrow."

I jolted awake. Ignoring the bruises and bite marks he'd left on my legs, I quickly got ready, enduring the discomfort to stand by his side all day.

Ethan didn't spare me a single glance the entire time.

It wasn't until after work, when I couldn't hold on anymore and wanted to go home and rest, that he suddenly called out to me.

"Skylar."

My familiar name sounded foreign coming from him.

His eyes had reverted to how they looked that night in our senior year—chillingly indifferent.

"I always thought you were smart, honest, and knew your place."

His fingers tapped lightly on the armrest, his finely articulated hands making me distracted.

"But yesterday… I hope you understand one thing."

"A small slip-up between adults, as long as it's consensual, isn't something to be morally judged."

Jerk.

That word popped into my head, but I kept my polite smile.

"I hope we maintain a purely superior-subordinate relationship at the company."

Ha.

My fists were clenched so tight. If I could, I would've repeated my 'heroic' act from when Mr. Biggs was trying to get him wasted.

But reality bites, and my connections still depended on him.

I nodded at him. "Okay, Mr. Ethan."

He was still rambling on, then paused, choked for a second when he heard me, and stared at me with a strange expression.

I rolled my eyes internally. What are you staring at? Never seen a gorgeous woman before?

My future hung on him right now. I'd be insane to pick a fight.

Perhaps my docile obedience pleased him, because after that deal closed, my bonus was five times what others got.

All those zeros... I thought that kind of money only existed in Hollywood movies.

So, all his dirty talk? My brain just translated it to:

"Want Daddy's fat balance to fill your bank account?"

Yes, I did. More than anything.

From then on, Ethan and I maintained this purely 'consensual adult' relationship.

From twenty-three to twenty-seven, my promotion speed was much faster than most.

As a highly 'professional' and 'consensual' subordinate, I naturally met all my boss's needs.

I even went above and beyond, always available, and kept him utterly satisfied.