Chapter 41: Chapter 41

“K…kiss?”

Valerie couldn't find her voice, but of course Ethan heard her and smirked. “You should be grateful to me after what I did for you, right?”

With a nervous smile, Valerie nodded her head and replied. “I… I still don't understand how you found out about this event. I mean, I really don't understand, but I'm grateful to you for standing in for me.”

Ethan snapped. “What are you doing in the men's restroom, Miss Watson?”

She blinked her eyes rapidly, and stepped backwards. Truth was, she was rushing to get into the restroom, and she didn't even know which of the restrooms she stormed into. What if it were someone else who saw her in the men's restroom? “I… I didn't know it was the men's…” She stuttered.

Ethan scoffed. “When the hell did you become a stammerer, Miss Watson? You really amaze me with new behaviors every time.”

Valerie bit her lower lip hard. She couldn't find the right words to use. Probably, staring at his f******* hot face made her lose words.

“Hell no! What's wrong with you, Valerie? He's your boss, you knucklehead! Why are you having erotic thoughts about him? He'd never stoop so low to fall for someone like you. Wake up, girl”.

Valerie thought within herself, but of course, she smacked back into consciousness.

“Hey! Head out first. You don't want people to think that we're making out here, do you?” Ethan said with an expressionless face.

Valerie choked, and blinked her eyes rapidly. She blurted out immediately. “Hell no!”

He snorted. “It's bad for my reputation”

“You…” Valerie almost yelled at him, but got a hold of herself before storming out of the restroom and grumbling.

She banged the door roughly, and Ethan smiled. He walked towards the sink in the restroom, then he felt like he stepped on something. Bending over, he picked up a bangle. It was customized “Valerie” with a heart carved on it.

“This looks expensive. It's real gold. She can't possibly afford it.”

With a heavy exhale, he pocketed the bangle with plans of giving it back to Valerie.

Meanwhile, Valerie walked back to the hall. People couldn't take their eyes off her, she was the star of the show. “Valerie!”

She heard a faint voice call out to her. Turning swiftly, her eyes caught with that of Justin, and she turned her gaze away immediately. Her heart raced faster, and she clenched her fist. “What does he want?”

He walked closer to her, and dropped a note on the table before walking away. She quickly picked up the note, and unwrapped it. “Let's meet at…”

She was still reading when someone snatched the paper from her. Raising her head, she found Ethan glaring at her. She lowered her gaze instantly and mumbled. “That note is for me. What are you doing?”

He whispered to her. “Are you already flirting with other guys? I left you barely fifteen minutes ago, and this is what you're doing already? How bad of a girlfriend!”

“Girlfriend? This is just an act, right?” Valerie rolled her eyes.

For some reason, Ethan felt annoyed by her statement. He fumed. “Even so, you should be faithful, Valerie.”

“Fine”

He sat beside her and they held hands unwillingly. Valerie was busy on her phone when he unwrapped the paper and read. “Let's meet at the poolside in ten minutes. Please show up”.

He felt a sting of jealousy, and stole a glance at her. Who would want to meet with her? “Does she already have an admirer?”

A few minutes later, he excused himself and walked out of the hall. Mrs. Claudia couldn't take her eyes off him. She wanted him for her daughter.

On the other hand, Ethan walked towards the pool. He sighted a man standing at the poolside, and backing him. “What a punk!”

On hearing footsteps, the man turned around promptly. “Valerie, you…” He paused, and narrowed his eyes.

Ethan laughed sarcastically. “Surprised?”

He bowed his head, and replied. “What are you doing here? When did you become Valerie?”

“Wait a second! Aren't you the groom? What are you doing here? Do you actually want to meet with your wife's sister? How mortifying of you” Ethan smiled mildly.

Justin gulped hard. “You have no right to say anything about this because you don't know anything.”

Ethan glared at him. He felt like slapping him hard on the face. “You jerk. Aren't you supposed to be there with your wife instead of meeting in secret with your wife's sister? How despicable of you.”

“She's not just my wife's sister. She's the one who I truly love” Justin freaked out.

Ethan paused. “The one you love? What about your wife? Isn't she the one you're getting married to?”

“Stay out of this. I might be getting married to Patricia, but the truth remains that my heart is still with Valerie. She's the one who should be wearing that wedding dress and sitting next to me. I won't stop until I get her back from you” Justin ranted.

Ethan smirked. “Let's see how you'll do that”

Justin glared at him before storming out. Ethan exhaled deeply and thought.

“What the f*** Did I tell him? Was I actually being possessive of my daughter's nanny? Ethan, are you insane?”

At the Davison's villa, Ethan walked in with his suit hung on his shoulder. He had driven Valerie home after the wedding without them saying a word to each other. Stepping into the dim-lighted sitting room, he heard the familiar voice. “Where have you been, bro? I've been here for God-knows-how-long”.

He turned the switch on. “Nicole?”

Nicole gulped the last content of whiskey in the glass in front him, and teased. “Oh yeah. No one seems to know where you drove off to. Tell me, have you gotten a new catch, hmm? You're going on dates now, yeah?”

Ethan sighed. “Cut me some slack. I'm really exhausted.”

He dropped the suit jacket on the couch, and Nicole picked it up. Something fell out of the suit pocket.

Reluctantly, Nicole picked it up and quickly turned his gaze to Ethan, showing him the customized bangle.

“Why are you with this?”