Chapter 148

Ethan Blackwood woke with a skull-splitting headache.

His vision cleared to reveal Ethan Young perched on a chair, watching him with concern.

"Mr. Blackwood, you're conscious at last. My duty here is complete."

Relief washed over Ethan Young's face. He'd been on high alert all night.

The memory of Vivian Lockhart's lingering gaze had kept him vigilant. That woman would pounce given half a chance.

Ethan Blackwood massaged his temples, struggling to piece together last night's events.

Flashes of drinking games with Vivian surfaced. Nothing more.

"Was I intoxicated?" His voice turned icy. "Impossible. I never lose control."

Ethan Young barely suppressed an eye roll.

This was textbook behavior. Blackwood always denied his drunken escapades. Normally, he kept the man from excess.

But Vivian had outmaneuvered them both.

"Of course not, sir," Ethan Young deadpanned. "You merely... lost all dignity."

"Preposterous!"

Ethan Blackwood's pride flared. "I know my limits."

The secretary's lips twitched. The man's delusional arrogance never ceased.

Without evidence, even he might doubt last night's spectacle.

"Do you truly recall nothing?" Ethan Young probed.

"Vivian left after beating me at that absurd game. You brought me home."

"That's the sanitized version." Ethan Young leaned forward. "Shall I describe how you dragged us to karaoke? How you screamed lyrics like a banshee? How you clung to Mrs. Blackwood like a limpet?"

Ethan Blackwood's expression darkened. "Lies."

The karaoke humiliation he could believe - it had precedent.

But begging Vivian to stay? Unthinkable. He despised physical contact, especially with her.

Ethan Young produced his phone with theatrical flair. "Then behold your disgrace."

The video showed Ethan Blackwood wrapped around Vivian like human ivy. Staff struggled to pry him loose as he whimpered pathetic pleas.

"Erase that immediately!"

Heat crawled up Ethan Blackwood's neck. This couldn't be real.

"Ah... about that." Ethan Young winced. "It may have briefly appeared on our corporate site before I removed it. Potentially downloaded."

"WHAT?!"

Ethan Blackwood's roar rattled the windows.