Chapter 75: Chapter 75

“What are you talking about, sir?”

Valerie was confused and couldn't wrap her head around what President Ethan meant.

Blinking rapidly, Ethan gradually let go of her arms. “I just want to have a talk with my cousin, Nicole.”

“Oh!” Valerie bit her lips and showed him in. He walked into the apartment and straight to the couch, looking around the well furnished living room.

He thought. “Not bad! Could this be the reason Valerie agreed to stay with him instead of the mansion?”

Just then, Nicole walked out of the kitchen with a plate of dessert. “Hey, Val. I made you some banana split. That's your favorite dessert, right?”

“Yes, please.” Valerie smiled as he passed the plate in front of her, and she took the plate and ate the dessert hungrily.

President Ethan watched her eat the dessert, and that made him freak out. He clenched his fist in annoyance. She was probably eating it that way because it was Nicole who made that for her. They must be a thing for her to be so happy eating what he made for her.

Nicole sat heavily on the couch, and refilled his glass with some wine. Then he cleared his throat noisily, but that didn't snap Ethan out of his thoughts. “Ethan, why are you here?”

“Uhm… I'm here to see you, or am I not allowed to visit my cousin?” Ethan forced a smile at him.

On hearing that, Nicole laughed sarcastically. “I can't remember the last time you came to visit me, Ethan. This is a first for sure.”

“You're really ungrateful, aren't you?” Ethan mumbled.

There was silence between them for sometime before Valerie spoke up. “President Ethan, don't you care for dessert? Nick, you can help him get some.”

Nicole snorted. “Why should I help you get dessert? Oh, Val. You're the only one I can help do that. Ethan is not a visitor, I can show him to the kitchen to get him some.”

“Why should Valerie be here with you?” Ethan couldn't hold himself anymore. He just needed to know why Nicole is so possessive of Valerie.

Nicole turned his gaze to him with his eyebrows puckered. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me. Why do you want Valerie to be here instead of in the mansion?” Ethan snapped.

Confused, Valerie stared at him in surprise. “Sir, I… I… just wanted to spend my leave here with Nicole.”

“As what? Is he your husband or maybe your boyfriend? Do you have any romantic relationship with him? If not, why would you be with a man you're not related to, all alone in his house?” Ethan freaked out.

Nicole scoffed. “You're not serious, are you?”

“Sir, Nicole and I are not doing anything wrong. He insisted that he wants to take care of me, that's why I have to be here.” Valerie explained.

Getting furious, Nicole got up from the couch and glared at him. “Shouldn't you be grateful that I'm taking care of her after all the allegations your fiancée laid on her?”

President Ethan blinked hard and tried to get a hold of himself. “I mean… she should be in the mansion. At least, she'll be well taken care of there. That's the least I can do after the trouble we put her through. She's in this condition because of me.”

“Now I understand you, Sir. But I'm really very comfortable here, I know you just want to make up for everything. I want you to know that it's not your fault, and that I'm fine here.” Valerie smiled.

Ethan bit his lips and whispered almost inaudibly. “Don't you understand it? I want you to be with me in the mansion?”

“Sir?” Valerie raised her brows as she didn't hear him.

Ethan forced a smile as he got up from the couch, and picked his keys from the table in front of him. “If you really want to be here, then that's okay. You can come back to the mansion and continue your job when you get better.”

“I was actually thinking she'll be needing a new job. I'm sure you saw how raged Aunt was because she didn't want her in the mansion.” Nicole added.

“No way.” Ethan snapped.

Valerie nudged her. “Nicole! What's wrong with you? I already told you that I love my job, and I love Audrey too. Sir, please take care of Audrey.”

“Alright. I'll leave now.” Ethan walked out of the apartment, concealing his burning rage.

“What is wrong with you, Ethan? Why are you getting so annoyed over this? Valerie is just a nanny to my daughter, why can't I get her off my mind?”

Thoughts kept running through Ethan's mind as he drove in his car. “Am I in love with her? No freaking way! I have to focus on taking care of my daughter.”

Meanwhile, Rebecca paced around in annoyance as she kept on dialing the number. This was the one hundredth time she was dialing Ethan's number, but he has refused to pick her call or return them.

“Monica! Monica!! Monica, get your crazy self here, you freak.” Rebecca yelled as the servant rushed in almost immediately.

Monica knelt in front of her, visibly shaking in fear. “Yes, ma'am.”

“Are you deaf? I've been calling you.”

Monica snapped. “I was in the kitchen, ma'am. I'm sorry.”

Rebecca gulped hard, and signalled her to stand up, which she did. “Take a good look at me, don't I look beautiful?”

The surprised Monica stared at her, confused. “Ma'am?”

“I said, am I not beautiful?”

Monica gulped hard. “Of course, you're stunning, ma'am.”

“I'm educated. I went to school in the states. I'm from a very influential family, and I own a big fashion house. Likewise, I can get anything I want, all I have to do is to say the word. How is she better than me?” Rebecca broke into tears.