Chapter 198

Vivian arrived at Blackwood Group headquarters.

No one stopped her at security. Employees greeted her warmly as she passed through the lobby.

Rachel Miles, Ethan's executive assistant, was the most devoted shipper of their relationship. Her eyes sparkled as she rushed to welcome Vivian.

"Mrs. Blackwood! Mr. Blackwood is currently in a board meeting. Would you prefer to wait in his office, or shall I interrupt the meeting?"

"I'll wait in his office."

"Right this way!"

Rachel nodded eagerly.

Normally, no one entered the CEO's office without explicit authorization.

But rules didn't apply to the boss's wife.

Vivian settled into Ethan's leather chair, swiveling absently. The plush cushion molded to her shape comfortably.

Her gaze landed on a crystal paperweight on the desk. Something about it tugged at her memory.

"Rachel...is this the gift I gave him last Christmas?"

Rachel's face lit up. "You remembered! Mr. Blackwood treasures this. He polishes it himself every morning."

"And this fountain pen. He refuses to use any other, even when the ink cartridge needs replacing."

"This mousepad too! The corner's frayed but he won't let us order a new one."

Vivian's eyebrows shot up. "Seriously? The Ethan Blackwood I know would never use second-rate gifts like these."

Rachel leaned in conspiratorially. "He's changed recently. Insists on drinking that awful Zambawi coffee blend you once bought him as a joke. The entire executive floor has developed caffeine headaches."

Vivian choked on her water.

These delusional shippers. Her relationship with Ethan was more battlefield than romance these days.

After Rachel left, Vivian waited.

Bored, she studied the floor-to-ceiling windows. The angle, the view...it matched perfectly with the mysterious photo she'd received.

She pulled out her phone, comparing the image to the actual window-

"What are you doing?"

Ethan's icy voice made her jump. Her phone clattered to the floor.

She snatched it up. "Waiting for you. Obviously."

"Who authorized you to be in my office?"

His sculpted features darkened as he advanced. "And in my chair? Have you lost your mind?"

Territorial as always. He hated anyone touching his belongings.

"It's just a chair." Vivian gestured around. "I let you keep all these gifts, didn't I?"

"I never wanted them." His tone dripped disdain.

"Great! I'll take them back then. Save them for my next boyfriend."

Ethan's eyes flashed danger. "Try it."

"You don't want them but won't let me reclaim them? Typical tyrant behavior."

Without responding, he hauled her out of the chair. "State your business. Quickly."

Vivian's expression sobered. "Why did you release Evelyn? Did you suddenly grow a conscience?"

Ethan studied her for a long moment before murmuring, "What if I said it was because I couldn't bear to see you upset? Would you believe me?"