Chapter 130 Fired for Love
Author's POV:
Ethan's lips curved into a cold smile. "They wouldn't dare."
They wouldn't dare detain him; at most, they could only make him lose some money.
Olivia wrapped her arms around his arm and leaned against him. "I'm just glad you're okay."
The car pulled into the underground garage. Justin handed the keys to Ethan and glanced at his watch. "It's two o'clock now, sir. We still have seven hours until the nine o'clock meeting. You should get some rest. Don't exhaust yourself."
Ethan wrapped his arm around Olivia's waist as they entered the private elevator, ascending directly to the top floor of the building. He maintained an apartment in the corporate tower.
Stepping inside, Olivia took in the black and white minimalist design of the massive penthouse. Everything felt sterile and cold, like a showroom rather than a home.
"Is this place always empty?" she asked, running her hand along a pristine countertop.
"I used to stay here frequently during my first couple of years with the company," Ethan replied. "Not so much anymore."
What he didn't say was that before Olivia came into his life, he had occasionally spent nights here. Since meeting her, he hadn't stayed a single night, and rarely even stopped by for afternoon breaks. Despite its disuse, the apartment was immaculately maintained, cleaned daily by his staff.
Olivia wandered to the floor-to-ceiling windows, gazing out at the skyline. Buildings stretched as far as she could see, each with scattered lights still burning in the early morning hours. The collective glow resembled stars in a summer sky.
Ethan approached from behind, wrapping his arms around her waist. He rested his chin on her shoulder, turning slightly to kiss her cheek.
"Ethan," Olivia said, turning in his arms and hugging his waist. She looked up at him, her face soft in the dim light. "I hope someday we can stand at the top again and watch fireworks together."
Her reference to "the top" meant more than just physical height. She didn't aspire to reach Ethan's level, only to get close enough.
Ethan's Adam's apple bobbed. "Okay."
Olivia stepped back from his embrace. "You should get some sleep now."
Ethan picked her up in his arms. "Together."
Once in bed, Olivia crawled on top of him, kissing his face, then his lips. Just as she started to move away, Ethan gripped her lower back.
"Be good," he said, his voice husky. "Don't tempt me. We still have business to handle during the day."
Her face flushed. "I wasn't thinking of that."
"Well, I was," Ethan admitted. "But we can't right now."
Olivia quickly rolled off him, putting some distance between them on the bed. Ethan immediately pulled her back into his arms, burying his face in the crook of her neck and kissing her softly.
"Sleep," he whispered.
Using his muscular arm as a pillow, her back pressed against his warm chest, Olivia drifted off within minutes.
When Olivia woke, Ethan was gone. She walked out of the bedroom to find Sarah sitting on the living room couch.
"When did you get here?" Olivia asked with a smile.
Sarah stood, returning the smile. "Mr. Bennett called this morning and asked me to come."
After breakfast, Olivia waited for Ethan in the apartment. Recalling Justin's earlier comments, she picked up her phone and searched "Bennett Enterprises."
---
In the executive office suite, Ashley sat on the visitor's sofa, watching Ethan fasten his cufflinks, head bowed in concentration.
"You really won't break up with her?" she asked.
Without looking up, Ethan replied flatly, "No."
Ashley rose from her seat. "Fine. The board will vote on your position as CEO at the shareholder meeting."
"Whatever," Ethan responded indifferently.
The vote resulted in Ethan's removal as CEO of Bennett Enterprises, with Warren taking his place. Warren was Ashley's nephew, three years older than Ethan, and had joined the company before him. Following Ethan's dismissal, Justin's position was also restructured.
Leaving the boardroom, Justin quietly asked, "Do you really plan to hand the company over to Warren?"
Ethan loosened his tie with one hand, a cold smile playing on his lips. "Since he's so eager to take the fall, let him have it for a few days. It'll give us a chance to clean house."
Justin understood immediately. Ethan was turning the situation to his advantage. The vote had revealed which board members were aligned with Warren, providing the perfect opportunity for a major purge of Warren's supporters.
Justin gave Ethan a thumbs-up, an equally calculating smile spreading across his face.
---
Bennett Enterprises, founded on July 21, 1990, was a diversified business conglomerate spanning military contracting, scientific research, finance, real estate, and pharmaceuticals.
The legal representative was listed as Lionel Montgomery.
The name Montgomery suggested a connection to Ethan's mother's family—possibly one of his uncles.
As Olivia scrolled down to read more, Ethan returned. She quickly closed the browser and set her phone aside.
Ethan noticed her nervous reaction and walked to her side, glancing at her phone. "What were you looking at?"
Olivia smiled casually. "Nothing important, just some entertainment gossip."
"What gossip?" Ethan asked offhandedly.
Remembering something Grace had mentioned earlier, Olivia replied, "There's this fantasy drama that's popular right now. I heard the male lead is gay."
Ethan let out a derisive laugh. "He is gay."
Olivia's eyes widened. "Really? How do you know?"
"He had an affair with Mason Bennett," Ethan explained with distaste. "Mason fucked him until he needed emergency medical attention. Some paparazzi caught them at the hospital, and Mason paid half a million to keep it quiet."
Recovering from her shock, she asked, "Are you talking about the famous director Mason Bennett?"
Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Who else would I be talking about?"
Olivia pondered this for a moment. "Is Mason Bennett a family member of yours?"
Ethan removed his tie and tossed it onto the sofa, his tone casual. "He's Blake's uncle."
"So... that makes him your brother?" Olivia asked hesitantly.
Ethan nodded slightly, then changed the subject. "I've been removed as CEO."
"The family pressured me to break up with you. I refused, so the shareholders voted to remove me from my position."
Olivia stared at him, frozen.
Ethan looked at her, his expression unreadable. "I'm unemployed now, Olivia. I can't provide the luxurious life you've grown accustomed to. Do you still want to stay with me?"
Olivia immediately wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing her face against his shoulder. "If that were actually true, it would be wonderful," she said softly.
"Oh?" Ethan stroked her hair. "You're hoping for my downfall?"
She shook her head against him. "No, I don't want you to fall. I just wish I could love you without any reservations."
When Ethan was just Ethan—not the third son of the powerful Bennett family—she could love him freely, without hesitation.
Something shifted in Ethan's chest, a sensation both tender and burning. His Adam's apple bobbed rapidly as he caressed her head, kissing her face before capturing her lips in a kiss that was both gentle and passionate.