Chapter 177 Another Man Claims to Be Justin's Father
Having arranged Ethan's schedule for the following day and coordinated with the relevant departments, Jasmine left the office with the paperwork in hand.
After distributing documents to various departments, Jasmine entered Branson's office. "Mr. Branson."
Branson was reclining in his chair with his legs crossed, leisurely chatting on the phone. His sleazy demeanor made it clear he was bragging to one of his mistresses, boasting about bringing her closer and offering her a salary in the tens of thousands.
Seeing Jasmine enter, Branson hung up the phone with a smile, thinking his plans were about to come to fruition. "What did Mr. Ethan say?"
"Mr. Branson... I'm sorry," Jasmine confessed with a troubled expression. "Mr. Ethan said he can agree to all the other terms, but having a waiter from the hotel's service department become the deputy CEO's secretary... that's just not appropriate."
Sighing, Jasmine continued, "And that Zheng Yuan, he doesn't meet the political vetting standards..."
Branson's face darkened noticeably, feeling slighted. "I'm just asking to move two people I work well with, and Mr. Ethan disagrees?"
Branson knew this was Ethan sizing him up, testing his limits.
It was a duel between masters, with every move potentially lethal.
In Branson's view, Ethan was probing—after all, he could agree to something as big as merging two departments, but not to these two personnel changes.
"Tell Mr. Ethan that I vouch for these two individuals' capabilities. I have already spoken to both of them, and if Mr. Ethan doesn't agree, it won't sit well with me." Branson frowned, instructing Jasmine to relay the message.
"Mr. Branson..." Jasmine hesitated, nodded, and then left.
Returning to her office, Jasmine said nothing. She watched the clock for ten minutes before getting up once more.
...
In the office, Liam was reviewing a project with Ethan. His gaze followed Jasmine as she entered and then left the room.
"What are you looking at?" Ethan snapped, tapping Liam on the head with a file.
"It's just... Mr. Ethan, can we really count on Jasmine? She comes in, then goes out, in and out. I'm worried she might have bitten off more than she can chew and now she's freaking out. Should I go help her?" Liam was showing his softer side, concerned Jasmine might be overwhelmed.
"Do you think you're some kind of hero?" Ethan leaned back in his chair with a dark look. "Make sure you have all my tasks completed by tonight."
"Mr. Ethan, these are just small fry. Easy to handle, right?" Liam said with smug satisfaction.
"All right, just wait for Branson's resignation letter," Ethan confidently stated.
Liam was baffled, thinking Ethan too had lost his senses. Liam didn't understand why Ethan trusted Jasmine that much.
Leaving the office feeling bewildered, Liam worried Jasmine might end up with nothing, disappointing Ethan.
...
After being gone for ten minutes, Jasmine's complexion was a tad paler when she returned, as if she had had a slight scare.
She slipped into the office and took a deep breath before signaling Ethan with an 'OK' gesture.
Ethan's eyebrows furrowed. "Come here."
Jasmine approached briskly, her palms sweating with nervousness. "Mr. Ethan... I—"
"Is he bullying you?" Ethan's expression was dark and intimidating.
Jasmine shook her head.
Branson wouldn't dare bully her now; it was just that he grossed her out.
"Why are you so scared then?" Ethan took Jasmine's hand, noticing the nail marks she had dug into her palm and lightly slapped the center of it. "Lesson learned?"
The air seemed to freeze for a moment, and Jasmine was startled, her face flushing red.
Kindergarten teachers would smack the palms of misbehaving toddlers.
An incredibly simple gesture, yet coming from Ethan, it felt so... tantalizing.
Jasmine averted her gaze, her heartbeat quickening.
This man, with his strong sexual presence, was too intense to look at directly.
"I’m not... I'm not afraid." Jasmine had her own stubbornness and pride; she wasn’t afraid, she was just, just disgusted by Branson.
"Mhm, you're not afraid," Ethan agreed with a nod.
"Ding."
A notification sounded from Ethan’s computer.
With one hand still holding Jasmine's wrist, he opened an email with the other.
It was a message from Daria on WhatsApp. "Mr. Ethan! Branson has suddenly submitted a resignation letter, and he's clearly pissed. What should we do? I've already rejected it twice, but he keeps resubmitting, insisting I put it in front of you."
Ethan leaned back in his chair, a smirk crossing his lips. "Can't wait, huh..."
He almost wanted to praise Branson for the efficiency of his dramatic exit.
Pulling Jasmine close into his embrace, Ethan pointed at the resignation letter with a lazy tone. "Jasmine, are you my lucky star?"
Jasmine was stiff with tension, awkwardly leaning into Ethan, as if on pins and needles.
This pose was too suggestive.
She was practically straddling him.
"The adult world is full of deceit and power struggles every day; the corporate intrigue is so draining..." Ethan wrapped one arm around Jasmine, leaning on her shoulder.
Jasmine intended to stand up, but when Ethan said he was tired, she stayed put, allowing him to rest against her.
"I... I'll help you."
Her voice was soft and gentle, lacking strength yet heavy with significance to Ethan.
He had never felt this kind of security from anyone.
He had always been on his own, carrying the heavy burden, moving forward.
Suddenly, someone appeared to walk with him.
It was addictive.
"Why do you offer your help? Is it for a deal, cooperation, a boss-subordinate relationship? Or maybe... as spouses?" Ethan teased Jasmine.
Jasmine stared blankly at Ethan, wondering in what capacity she could help him. "Partnership?"
Ethan's brows furrowed and he let out a grunt, clearly displeased.
Jasmine didn't dare to say another word.
Inside, she was actually thrilled, because she felt she had value to Ethan.
She was also slowly discovering her own worth.
Ever since the scandal of the true and false heiress broke, she had been denied by everyone.
Once like a dazzling pearl held high, she had become as wretched as one could be, abject as dust, trampled in the mire.
"Is Justin spending tonight at Richard's place?" Ethan asked, a tinge of reluctance in his voice.
"Yeah, my brother has the day off tomorrow," Jasmine replied, somewhat giddy at the thought of Justin not disturbing Ethan.
After all, being Henry's son and always staying at Ethan's place was inconvenient.
If Ethan and Henry had a falling out, it would be even more awkward.
...
Richard had arrived early at the kindergarten gate to pick up Justin and immediately spotted the familiar black luxury car.
Erin.
"Boss, I'm off the clock," Richard said with a hint of helplessness.
"What, is replying to my messages a crime?" Erin took off his sunglasses and asked in a deep voice.
Richard cleared his throat. "No, I just didn't see it."
"Oh, I thought replying to me was punishable by law," Erin said sarcastically.
"Boss, I'm off duty," Richard reminded Erin once more, emphasizing his personal time.
"What a coincidence, so am I," Erin said cheerfully, unabashedly shameless.
"Justin! Which one of you is Justin, I'm his dad!"
Erin had just stepped out of his car when he noticed a commotion at the kindergarten, a man shouting Justin's name and claiming to be his father.
Clearly, he was there to cause trouble.
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