Chapter 146

The office door had just clicked shut when Zachary heard a heavy sigh behind him.

"Got chewed out again?"

The sudden voice made him jump. He turned to see Felix's bruised face and blurted out, "Mr. Roland, did someone come after you?"

Felix's expression darkened further. "Thanks to your precious Mr. Roscente," he ground out.

He'd come hoping to unwind, only to get pummeled by Ethan the moment they sparred. If not for his decent reflexes, he'd be in a hospital bed right now.

Zachary swallowed hard, eyeing the bruises.

Suddenly, his bonus deduction didn't seem so bad.

"Here to see Mr. Roscente?" Zachary forced a laugh. "Friendly warning—he's not in the best mood today."

Felix scoffed. "When is he ever?"

Fair point.

Zachary nodded in agreement, then noticed the file in Felix's hand. "Business?"

Felix waved the folder with a smug grin. "Guess what this is."

"Something good?"

"The Luming Project proposal." Felix smirked. "Thought I'd give your boss a preview. Show him what real professionalism looks like."

He hadn't forgotten Ethan's snide remarks about his taste last time. Today, he'd reclaim the upper hand.

This proposal should've been submitted when Ethan returned to New York, but it got delayed. If not for the project team's reminders, he might've forgotten entirely.

Probably because that bastard Ethan scrambled his brains last time.

Zachary stepped aside. "Go ahead. But tread lightly—don't set him off again."

Felix waved him off and pushed the door open.

"Busy, Mr. Roscente?"

Ethan didn't look up. "What do you want?" His peripheral vision caught Felix's garish shirt, and he frowned. "Spend any more time in nightclubs, and you'll catch something."

Felix fired back, "Oh, like you're so virtuous. That stone face of yours scares everyone off. Sophia still won't give you the time of day."

Ethan's pen stilled.

"Girls these days prefer sunny guys like me," Felix continued, gaining momentum. "Your gloomy act just makes them run. That professor hanging around Sophia seems perfect for her—same field, good looks. Imagine their kids—"

A vein throbbed at Ethan's temple.

He pinched the bridge of his nose. "State your business or get out."

Seeing Ethan's expression, Felix slapped the file onto the desk and perched on its edge. "Already cracking? Pathetic."

Ethan's gaze turned glacial, zeroing in on the side of Felix's thigh touching the desk. "Looking to die?"

Felix's entire left side went numb.