Chapter 5: The Ultimate Colossal Beast
Avery Miller stepped in, her head slightly bowed, her hands nervously intertwined as she stood waiting in front of the desk for his invitation to sit.
Her eyes, shimmering like pools of water, stole glances at him, only to find his deep gaze fixated on the documents on the desk, his thin lips tightly sealed, and his face, stern with distinctly defined lines, yet devoid of any words of reprieve.
In the silence of the CEO's office, so quiet that the drop of a pin could be heard, Avery stood uneasily.
She subtly shifted her feet, contemplating taking a seat on the sofa to wait while he finished his business.
Just as Avery inched forward, a sound erupted from the desk. Lifting her head, her eyes flickered with panic, only to realize it was merely a page of his document turning.
Why was she so nervous? It was just a page turning, yet it sent her into a cold sweat.
Gently pinching her hands, Avery lowered her gaze and took another step forward.
The man at the desk, as if deliberately opposing her, turned another page. She looked up at him; his face still stern, utterly engrossed in the documents.
Could he be doing this on purpose?
Avery watched him intently for a long while.
Seeing his expression unchanged, unaffected by her presence, she stealthily raised her foot again…
"Hey, okay, I'll be right there." His voice, deep and sensually masculine, broke the silence.
Avery's raised foot hung in midair, uncertain whether to step down or retract.
Ethan Montgomery, acting as if he saw nothing, picked up his phone and walked out without so much as a glance at her.
With the door closing behind him, Avery let her foot fall and sighed, trotting despondently to the sofa. She sat down, lifting her legs to rub her aching feet.
Ethan Montgomery was an enigma. Being around him oscillated between tension and fear.
Would he lend her the ten million?
Her father had practically sold her to him, now, who else could she turn to but him? But would he lend it to her?
And if he didn't, and kept her from leaving, what then?
Was she destined to be a lifelong bride-in-training to him?
The thought alone was disturbing.
No, this was a society governed by laws. Trafficking was a crime!
If he dared to confine her, she would sue him. Her father was already destined for prison, having robbed her of her innocence and freedom.
Adding another charge to his list would be nothing but fitting retribution.
And as for suing Ethan Montgomery for assault, well, that would see how he fares in his next life.
Hmph, the wolf in sheep's clothing, the ultimate, invincible predator!
Ethan Montgomery pushed the door open, his gaze immediately capturing Avery Miller in her sulky demeanor, petulantly biting her nails, legs crossed, absentmindedly picking at her feet.
A barely audible snicker escaped him, his dark, ink-like eyes softening with a hint of warmth.
Striding across the room, his long legs carried him past a flustered Avery to his desk where he made an internal call. Shortly after, his stunningly attractive secretary walked in.
"CEO Montgomery," she greeted, her head bowing.
Dressed in a sleek black suit that hugged her shapely figure, her hair was pulled back tight, her complexion pale but flushed with youth.
Despite being well into her thirties, she radiated a youthfulness of someone barely twenty. Handing him a folder, she said, "This is the proposal from France for your review."
"Good, book two tickets for me. I'm flying to Paris tonight," Ethan commanded, briefly scanning the document, his tone cold and detached.
"Yes," the secretary turned, offering Avery a polite smile and a nod from the couch before clicking out on her seven-inch black heels.
"Come with me," Ethan stood, his tall, athletic frame towering before Avery. Absorbed in her nail-picking, she hadn't even noticed his approach.
"Oh... Oh," Avery stammered, looking up at him. Her amber eyes, wide and frightened like a rabbit's, slowly stood up, her head bowing under his deep, icy gaze.
Throughout the flight, Avery remained clueless about their destination.
Could he be taking her to Paris?
Were those tickets meant for both of them? She chuckled to herself.
They weren't even married, yet here they were, seemingly on a honeymoon. Such romance seemed almost too impulsive for Ethan.
Sitting beside him, Avery's eyes stole glances at him.
His features were sharply defined, a stern jawline, dense black hair, and deep-set eyes as dark as obsidian beneath strong brows. His prominent nose and sensuously thin lips were mesmerizing.
Avery covered her mouth, stifling a giggle.
Getting ten million from him in Paris seemed increasingly feasible.
She planned to ask for a "confession fee" when he declared his love - a trivial amount for someone as wealthy as him.
Her excitement was palpable, her heart racing with exhilaration.
The thrill of being fancied by a wealthy man was intoxicating.
Once off the plane, she decided, she'd find a secluded spot to laugh heartily to the skies, lest the joy cause her internal harm.
"If you keep staring, I'll just have to fuck you right here." The voice beside her, sensually icy and authoritative, jolted Avery Miller from her thoughts.
She glanced around, only to find everyone's eyes on her, while the man who uttered those words, Ethan Montgomery, closed his eyes as if nothing had happened, pretending to rest.
Do all domineering CEOs in TV shows talk like this?
It was him who had made such a bold, public statement, so why were all these eyes fixed on her?
Stop looking, she thought, I'm neither a celebrity nor a tycoon, nothing to gawk at. Better to sleep now, and wake up to the sights of Notre-Dame and the Eiffel Tower.
For the remainder of the flight, to avoid being stared at as if she were some kind of monster, Avery shrunk into her seat, avoiding his gaze, trying to be as inconspicuous as possible.
However, her stomach chose this inopportune moment to rumble loudly.
Avery Miller looked down, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment and helplessness. She had eaten a lot at lunch, but she hadn't had dinner yet.
Ethan Montgomery opened his dark eyes, a flicker of curiosity in his gaze, then closed them again.
Avery pouted, feeling slightly wronged. She had half-expected him to offer her a meal.
The plane landed smoothly at Paris Orly Airport, and soon, staff arrived to collect their luggage.
"CEO Montgomery," a man greeted, bowing politely in front of Ethan.
The man looked to be in his late forties or early fifties, slightly balding, tall with a beer belly, a foreigner who spoke fluent Mandarin.
His entourage also bowed to Ethan, who ignored them, walking straight ahead with determination.
Avery followed Ethan, her steps quick and slightly clumsy, reminiscent of a child trailing behind her father.
Upon exiting the airport, Ethan suddenly stopped.
Avery, unable to brake in time, bumped into his back, causing him to sway slightly.
He turned around, his eyebrows furrowed with a look of suppressed anger.
Touching her nose, Avery looked up at him, her eyes wide and blinking, the tip of her nose reddening as she covered it.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone