"Forget all that, I just want you right now and I want you so badly."
I grabbed Josette's wrist with such force that she frowned.
"So you let him into my study?"
I asked slowly and deliberately, "You know, no one is allowed in my study without my permission, including you."
Josette's expression instantly turned cold.
She stood up from my lap, snatched her bathrobe and wrapped it around herself. "Ronan, are you out of your mind tonight?"
"You already said some nasty things at the auction and now you're acting like this at home? Don't you think that's going a bit too far?"
"Too far?"
I almost laughed out loud.
Steven seemed very considerate when he posted on social media to block his Miss Sunray.
I stood up, looking down at her. "Josette, I'm asking you, does emotional cheating count as cheating?"
Her eyes suddenly widened, then she snapped back loudly, "Only a dirty mind sees dirt everywhere!"
"Nothing is going on between me and Steven. We're clean. Go ahead and investigate if you want!"
"Also, if you don't like me giving people gifts, I'll have him return the watch tomorrow!"
"Is it necessary to be so angry?"
I shook my head and showed a sarcastic smile. "I'm not angry about a watch."
Josette thought I was backing down and her tone softened.
She reached out and touched my face with a bit of arrogance. "It's good that you are not angry. Then, I won't punish you for sleeping in the study tonight."
I let her lead me upstairs, lie down on the bed and close my eyes, pretending to fall asleep.
Once her breathing became even and relaxed, I went to the balcony, took out my phone and dialed a number.
"Dad, I've thought it over. I'll go through with the marriage arrangement with the Claires."
After hanging up, I sent a message to my secretary.
Putting down the phone, I looked at Josette's sleeping face.
She was as beautiful as an angel under the moonlight.
But I knew that angel was no longer pure.
The next morning, I arrived at the company earlier than usual.
Not long after I sat down, the office door was pushed open.
Josette rushed in angrily, followed by a red-eyed Steven.
She slammed the Patek Philippe watch hard onto my desk. "Ronan, I can't believe how petty you are!"
"He already agreed to return the watch to you and you actually had HR fire Steven overnight?"
"Doing such a despicable thing behind your back, are you still a man?"
I picked up the watch slowly, looked at it and swept it into the trash can beside me.
I called my secretary. "Have them come in."
Soon, more than a dozen luxury store managers came in with hundreds of famous watches in their hands.
They lined up in a row and bowed respectfully in unison. "Good morning, Mr. Cruz!"
I looked at Steven and said, "Since you like expensive watches so much, I'll grant your wish."
"Pick any you like. If you're not satisfied, we can bring in another batch. But you must return the pendant to me!"
Steven's face was flushed crimson. His gaze was fixed on the tips of his shoes and he wished he could disappear into the floor.
Josette snapped, "Ronan, what exactly do you think you're doing?"
"Just because you have money, you think you can humiliate people like this?"
I said calmly, "What's wrong? You can give him gifts, but no one else can?"
"Don't forget, I'm also his boss."
Josette was momentarily speechless, then changed the subject. "Then why did you fire Steven? You at least owe me an explanation!"
"It was not my idea for him to be fired." I leaned back in the chair, crossed my fingers on my belly. "The inspection team found issues with his work conduct. He wasn't a suitable fit for the company. It's as simple as that."
