Chapter 148 Evening Workout
Emily Sullivan was about to speak when Jonathan Bennett, returning from delivering a signal jammer to Oakwood Estate, pulled up in his sleek black Porsche. The window rolled down smoothly, revealing his handsome face.
"Mr. Sullivan," Jonathan greeted with practiced charm before shifting his attention to Emily. His smile was polished yet contained a hint of mischief. "Miss Sullivan, Merry Christmas."
Emily returned his smile with practiced ease. "Not as merry as yours, I bet. Where have you been enjoying yourself?"
Jonathan arched an eyebrow, his smile turning roguish. "Where else? In the arms of a beautiful woman, of course."
Matthew Sullivan, though equally known for his playboy ways, couldn't help but frown at such talk in front of his cousin. He cleared his throat disapprovingly and tugged at Emily's arm, forcefully steering her away from Jonathan's provocative presence.
Jonathan watched the Sullivan cousins retreat, an amused smile playing on his lips. He shook his head slightly.
Now he understood why his uncle was so obsessed with a seemingly naive college student. Beyond Olivia Reed's obvious beauty, there was something pure and untainted about her—a quality nearly impossible to find, especially in their privileged circles. You could search with a flashlight and still come up empty-handed.
No wonder Ethan was so protective of Olivia.
Of course, there had to be more reasons, reasons Jonathan wasn't privy to.
After parking his car, Jonathan sauntered toward the main house, one hand casually tucked into his pocket. Just as he approached the entrance, Ethan emerged from inside with Emily Sullivan following closely behind.
"Leaving already?" Jonathan asked with a curious smile.
Ethan's expression was serious, his voice commanding. "Perfect timing. Take Miss Sullivan for a tour of the gardens."
Jonathan froze. "...What?"
Ethan's eyes darkened, danger flickering in them. "What are you standing there for? Get moving."
"That's hardly appropriate," Jonathan protested.
Ethan stepped closer, placing a hand on Jonathan's shoulder and leaning in to whisper, "Do as I say, or you'll spend the rest of Christmas laid up in bed."
Jonathan clenched his jaw in frustration.
Emily watched the exchange with amusement before turning to Ethan. "Mr. Bennett doesn't seem very sincere about this."
Ethan's voice was cool and detached. "I have urgent business to handle. Let Jonathan show you around the gardens for now. I'll personally entertain you this afternoon."
Emily, displaying remarkable social grace, smiled brightly. "Very well. I'll hold you to that promise."
Ethan stepped aside, making a phone call to Justin.
"Make sure Olivia's roommates understand that no matter what they see online, they're to keep their mouths shut. If they want to graduate without issues, they'll stay quiet."
"Understood."
"And that actress friend of hers—Daisy, was it? Make sure she stays silent too."
After giving his instructions, Ethan turned around only to find Blake standing a short distance away, his expression dark and stormy.
Blake's mouth curved into a cold, sardonic smile. "Playing the puppet master, Uncle? Why not just kill everyone who knows and be done with it?"
Ethan's voice turned icy. "That includes you. Keep your mouth shut."
"Are you joking?" Blake scoffed. "You think I'd keep your secrets? I can't wait to tell Olivia everything. She'll hate you for it."
Ethan calmly unbuttoned his cuff, rolling up his sleeve with deliberate slowness before launching a lightning-fast punch toward Blake's face.
Blake, fresh from three months of intensive training on the island, wasn't the same man he'd been before. He dodged skillfully, his body shifting just in time as Ethan's fist whizzed past. Blake immediately countered with a kick aimed at Ethan's midsection.
Ethan's core muscles tensed as he arched backward, easily avoiding Blake's attack. In one fluid motion, he snapped forward again, his fist connecting solidly with Blake's face.
This time Blake couldn't evade, the blow making his nose throb painfully as blood threatened to spill.
Jonathan, guiding Emily through the estate grounds, happened upon the scene just as the fight unfolded. Emily caught a glimpse of Ethan's impressive display of agility—the way he dodged and then struck back with perfect form.
The sight of Ethan's athletic prowess ignited something primal in Emily. Her mind immediately conjured images of how that powerful body might move in more intimate settings. Her desire to possess him intensified to a nearly unbearable degree.
Ethan straightened the collar of his coat with one hand, smoothing the fabric as he assessed Blake with appreciative eyes. "Not bad. The training wasn't wasted."
Blake, seeing Emily's presence, refused to make more of a spectacle. He wiped the corner of his bleeding mouth with his thumb, his expression defiant. "Not too shabby yourself, Uncle. Thirty years old and still so... vigorous."
Ethan raised an eyebrow, his smile loaded with meaning. "Naturally."
Both men understood the implication. Blake's teeth clenched in frustrated anger, feeling as though he'd shot himself in the foot with his own remark.
Ethan moved closer to Blake, resting a hand on his shoulder and speaking in a voice only they could hear. "I practice my stamina every night. At least two hours."
Blake's fists clenched at his sides, his eyes blazing with hatred.
---
Olivia ate lunch, took a nap, then studied in the library until five o'clock. After putting away her books, she found Sarah in the kitchen preparing vegetables for dinner.
Olivia leaned against the doorframe, peering in. "What's for dinner tonight, Sarah?"
Sarah turned with a mischievous grin. "Roasted broccoli, olive oil tossed lettuce, sliced cucumbers with a pinch of salt, and instant chicken broth."
Olivia's face fell. She retreated to the living room, grabbed her phone, and called Ethan.
Ethan was in the middle of entertaining Emily Sullivan, having just left a luxury flagship store. His phone rang, and thinking it might be Ashley checking on the situation, he pulled it out with slight irritation. Seeing Olivia's name on the screen, his expression instantly softened.
"Hey, baby," he answered in a lowered voice, moving away from Emily. "Have you eaten?"
Olivia's voice came through small and petulant. "Ethan, I want to go out for dinner."
A deep, indulgent chuckle rumbled from his chest.
"Be patient, sweetheart. Just a couple more days until I'm done with this, and I'll take you anywhere you want to go."
"I know you're getting engaged today," Olivia said bluntly. "I won't interfere, so why keep me locked up here?"
Ethan's smile vanished, his voice dropping to a dangerous octave. "So you'd be happy for me to get engaged to someone else?"
Olivia's frustration was evident. "Don't twist my words. Your engagement isn't something I have any control over."
Ethan paused. "Do you trust me, Olivia?"
Instead of answering directly, she sidestepped the question. "Ethan, I can't control what you think or decide, but I can make my own choices."
Ethan's brow furrowed deeply, his voice tense. "Olivia, what exactly are you saying?"