Chapter 268 The Growing Distance Between Lauren and Ethan
Lauren strutted ahead, sneaking peeks at Ethan through the hallway glass. He looked like he was wrestling with some heavy thoughts, frowning and all.
She let out a big sigh, feeling like she was the one messing with Ethan's head. But she was done with the guessing games and wanted to know why Ethan was keeping secrets. With her mind set, her steps got more determined.
They walked into the design department, one after the other. Even though Lauren had prepped herself, she was still taken aback by the influx of new designers.
She recognized a few of them, big names in City A. Just like Elodie had mentioned, most of these new faces had ditched Quentin's company.
Seeing Lauren's face turn icy, Ethan knew the jig was up.
Trying to play it cool, he walked up to Lauren and introduced her with a grin, "Hey everyone, this is Ms. Walker. She's on vacation right now, so some of you might not know her. Her designs are top-notch."
The design team lit up at the sight of Lauren. The old-timers, especially Elodie, rushed over to her.
Elodie chirped, "Lauren, you're back already!"
Other close colleagues gathered around, all smiles.
Despite everyone's excitement, Lauren couldn't join in. She kept a poker face, staring at Ethan, waiting for him to spill the beans.
But Ethan dodged her intense gaze, keeping his smile plastered on.
"Alright, let's save the catching up for later. Lauren just got back, so I'll take her to rest first. We can chat more when she's officially back at work, cool?" Ethan suggested.
No one argued, but curious glances bounced between Lauren and Ethan, like they couldn't wrap their heads around their relationship.
Just then, Richard strolled over and said, "Hey, Mr. White! You've been hanging with Lauren. This is our golden opportunity to get all the gossip. We can't just let her slip away!!"
Ethan blushed slightly, avoiding making the call himself as he glanced at Lauren. However, Lauren remained unfazed and relaxed."Alright, I'll clear things up. Mr. White and I are together. That good enough?" Lauren said with a faint smile, though her eyes held a different message that Ethan couldn't quite read.
But he didn't overthink it. He'd always dreamed of Lauren acknowledging their relationship in public. He should be stoked!
Lauren's words got the crowd cheering and clapping, making the office buzz with excitement.
Ethan's grin stretched wide, his face beaming with joy.
"Okay, everyone, settle down! Lauren and I will treat you all to a meal later. Let her rest first!" Ethan said, pulling Lauren away before anyone could protest, making a quick exit from the design department.
He took her straight to the parking lot, barely containing his excitement. "Lauren, I can't believe you acknowledged us like that today. I'm over the moon."
Lauren, with a sullen face, replied, "It's nothing."
Seeing Lauren's face, Ethan knew she was itching to ask about the designers who bailed on Robinson's Corporation. But he wasn't in the mood to dive into that mess right now.
In the car, the silence was thick enough to cut with a knife. Neither of them said a word, making the ride feel like forever.
Ethan forced a smile and asked, "Lauren, what's your craving for tonight? How about we hit up a nice restaurant to celebrate you being back?"
Lauren just stared straight ahead, ignoring Ethan. She was waiting for him to come clean. But no matter how long she waited, Ethan kept his mouth shut.
"Stop the car!" Lauren suddenly shouted.
Ethan glanced at her blank face and pulled over. "Lauren," he called out.
"Ethan, don't you have something to tell me?" Lauren asked, her eyes boring into him.
Ethan gave a guilty smile and said, "Of course, I have a lot to say. But you just got back, and I thought you needed to rest first."
"No need, Ethan. Let's talk now," Lauren said, dead serious.
She knew she wouldn't be able to eat or sleep until they hashed this out. Better to get it over with.
"Alright, how's Mr. Borgia? Why'd you come back so soon? And do we still own that house?" Ethan tried to change the subject.
"Ethan!" Lauren cut him off. "You know that's not what I wanna hear. What's the deal with those new designers? Why are Robinson's Corporation's designers here?"
Ethan kept his cool, his gentlemanly act in full swing. "Isn't it normal for employees to jump ship? Is it really worth making a big deal out of? I didn't hide it from you on purpose; I just thought it was a minor thing, not worth mentioning."
Lauren studied him, looking for any sign of guilt. But Ethan was a pro at hiding his feelings. He wasn't gonna crack.
"Ethan, I came back because I wanna build a good life with you. I really hope my past can stay in the past and not mess up our future," Lauren said earnestly.
She didn't realize her concern for Ethan's company wasn't just about him. It was also because it involved Quentin. Anything related to Quentin had her full attention.
Ethan was happy to hear Lauren say that, but his grudge against Quentin wasn't going anywhere.
"Lauren, let this go. When it's all over, I'll tell you everything. Trust me this once, okay?" Ethan looked at her with deep affection.
Lauren couldn't bring herself to hurt the lovestruck Ethan. She lowered her head, pushing her worries aside.
"Ethan, I don't want you to do something rash that you'll regret. A lot of people have poured their hearts into this company. I don't want it to face a crisis because of me or any personal motives. I just want a simple, peaceful life," stated Lauren.
Hearing this, Ethan felt a pang of sadness. But he was already in too deep to back out. He had never thought about turning back, and this time, he didn't want to miss the chance to take Quentin down for good.
