Chapter 186 Ethan's Possessiveness Over Jasmine
Wrapped in Ethan's arms, Jasmine felt an unexplainable sense of security. However, she couldn't help but wonder if Ethan had heard her conversation with Daniel...
Perhaps he had misunderstood something.
Daniel and Ethan were at loggerheads inside the elevator.
"Jasmine is my ex-girlfriend. Aren't you afraid that gossip will make us a laughingstock?" Daniel tried to remind Ethan not to tarnish his reputation.
Ethan sneered, "You're already engaged, yet still entangled with your brother's wife. If word got out, whose reputation would truly be tarnished?"
Daniel clenched his fists. "Who doesn't know I've been with Jasmine?"
"What? You think because you've been blind once, you can't see clearly again?" Ethan retorted, fixing a cold gaze on Daniel.
As tensions escalated and it appeared they were on the brink of confrontation, Jasmine instinctively embraced Ethan, whispering softly, "My... my sight has been restored."
Daniel tightened his grip on his fists, his expression darkening to a frightening degree.
Jasmine was deliberately provoking him.
"Ethan, you just hate me, that's why you have to pick a fight over everything. You consider Jasmine, who I discarded, as a treasure," Daniel sneered before stepping out of the elevator.
"You look so pathetic scrambling on the floor for your dignity," Ethan retorted, gripping Jasmine's hand.
Daniel's knuckles whitened as he paused briefly, then strode away briskly, his expression clouded with fury.
In due time, Ethan would face his own set of challenges. Branson had already begun causing turmoil within the project team, and Ethan would inevitably be tasked with resolving the ensuing chaos and justifying the situation to the board.
After Daniel left, Jasmine, feeling nervous, tried to pull away from Ethan's grasp.
Ethan, however, held her wrist tightly and pulled her into his office.
Feeling Ethan's anger, Jasmine was gripped by fear. It felt as though her heart had lodged itself in her throat, suffocating her with dread. The thought of Ethan becoming enraged and abandoning her sent shivers down her spine.
"Still in love with Daniel? Hoping he breaks off his engagement with Serena?" Ethan's anger was palpable.
Jasmine, frightened, looked at Ethan, shivering and unsure how to explain.
Ethan was truly intimidating when angered.
"I... I didn't mean..." Jasmine started to cry. "That's not what I meant."
She was just being sarcastic toward Daniel.
Ethan snorted. "I'm angry, can't you see?"
Jasmine's tears streamed down her cheeks as she nodded vigorously. She could discern his anger perfectly well.
Ethan felt a twinge of regret in his chest as he observed Jasmine's tear-streaked face. He realized he had frightened her with his anger.
Lifting her chin, Ethan wiped away her tears. "You're mine..." he whispered.
Jasmine looked at Ethan, not daring to speak.
In his eyes, she saw an intense desire to possess her. It was even more terrifying than Henry's possessiveness.
For some reason, Jasmine felt intimidated.
"What will you do to make it up to me?" Ethan asked.
Jasmine bit the corner of her lip, shaking her head. "How... How do you want me to make it up to you?"
Ethan moved closer to Jasmine, feeling an urge to kiss her.
Jasmine froze, her heart racing up to her throat. Ethan's recent inclination toward kissing her was becoming increasingly noticeable.
"Justin is going over to Richard's place tonight..." Ethan reminded her in a husky voice.
Jasmine, belatedly realizing, nodded. "Right, right..."
"So tonight... I want to sleep with you," Ethan said, cornering Jasmine against the wall.
Shivering, Jasmine spoke up. "Haven't we... always slept together?"
"You're talking about 'sleep' as an adjective, I'm talking about it as a verb," Ethan responded, raising an eyebrow.
"Oh…" Jasmine's face flushed crimson in an instant. It was bewildering how he could be like this. The rumors about Ethan being frigid and aloof toward women might have been unfounded after all.
He was clearly overstepping his boundaries.
Suddenly, their conversation was interrupted when Liam came knocking from outside the door. "Mr. Ethan, Branson, and the whole project team are waiting for you in the conference room."
Startled by Ethan's sudden departure, Jasmine swiftly smoothed down her hair and gathered her documents before following him out of the office, her steps quick and determined.
"How's the situation?" Ethan's voice cut through the hallway as they walked.
Liam, clutching a stack of papers, nodded in response. "I've managed to sway these individuals already."
Ethan accepted the files with a nod of approval. "Good job, Liam."
Liam, his eyes rimmed with dark circles, let out a tired chuckle, pleasantly surprised by the recognition. He hadn't slept a wink the entire night...
Jasmine trailed behind Ethan and Liam as they made their way into the conference room, the weight of the documents in her hand feeling heavier with each step.
Upon entering, the sight of Branson's ashen complexion sent a shiver down her spine; his glare at her was unmistakably hostile, his anger practically tangible in the air.
Feeling exposed under Branson's intense gaze, Jasmine instinctively lowered her head and sought refuge behind Ethan, hoping his presence would shield her from the brewing storm.
"Mr. Ethan, the people from our project department are planning to resign with me," Branson declared, attempting to salvage his pride, secretly hoping for Ethan to persuade him to stay.
Ethan leaned back in his chair, glanced at Branson, and then over the project team members. "Whoever wants to resign, stand up and let me see."
The team members exchanged uneasy looks, none daring to be the first to stand.
Branson clenched his fists and stood up on his own.
Ethan nodded. "So, it's just Mr. Branson leaving?"
Others, who were in Branson's grip, nervously stood up as well.
Ethan glanced at Liam. "Notify HR to process their resignations."
Branson stared at Ethan in shock, realizing that Ethan was indeed firing the whole project team. "Mr. Ethan, the board won’t be pleased with this decision."
Branson appeared confident, aware that Clara had intervened and was en route with Howard. With the chairman herself joining them, Branson anticipated how Ethan would manage the situation.
"Mr. Branson seems quite anxious. Let's expedite his paperwork; after all, he was the only one who submitted his resignation yesterday," Ethan said, giving Liam a look.
Liam nodded and informed HR to process Branson's resignation.
Clara and Howard had yet to arrive, causing Branson to feel slightly panicked. "Ethan... you're jumping the gun," Branson said, slamming his fist on the table in anger.
"Mr. Branson, that's hardly fair. You're the one who initiated the resignation. As the CEO of Stellar Enterprises, am I not allowed to approve an employee's departure?" Ethan said in a low voice.
Jasmine glanced at Liam and pulled up the banner they had prepared earlier.
It read, "Farewell Party for Mr. Branson."
The entire project team gasped, each too afraid to utter a word.
"As for the remaining members of the project team, none of you have handed in resignation requests, leading me to believe it's because you all feel a sense of loss at Mr. Branson's departure, which is understandable. With him leaving, his position will soon be vacant, and we'll have to choose a successor from among ourselves. I've identified a few candidates whom I'm quite impressed with," Ethan disclosed, presenting a list of names that Liam had prepared the night before.
This move effectively undermined their unity from within.
Several individuals cast anxious glances toward Branson before tentatively voicing their concerns. "Mr. Branson, we sincerely apologize. Gaining entry into a corporation of this caliber was no small feat. However, aligning ourselves with your vision doesn't assure the stable income we presently rely on—we have loved ones depending on us. Please accept our apologies."
Branson's face darkened, and he clenched his jaw tightly.
"I want to see who dares to fire Branson." The doors burst open, and Clara entered angrily with Daniel by her side.
She was clearly intent on challenging Ethan for control of the company.
Ethan narrowed his eyes, noting that Howard hadn't made an appearance... It seemed Clara had Howard's full backing.
"Aunt Clara, such bravado," Ethan said with sarcastic amusement. "But you're too late."
He projected the news of Branson's successful resignation onto the screen. "It’s not that I wanted to fire Mr. Branson; he chose to resign on his own—there’s a difference."
"Ethan!" Clara trembled with fury, her complexion turning from pale to flushed. "Your father said that you've been working too hard lately. He's appointed Daniel to take over for now, so you can go home and rest!"
Clara was clearly forcing Ethan out of the CEO seat.
Jasmine watched Ethan anxiously; this must have been Howard's doing, otherwise Clara wouldn't be so confident.
The true storm within the company seemed imminent.
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