Mr. CEO, You Look Strangely Familiar

Audrey closed her eyes, tilted her head up, and hooked her arms around Ethan Ellsworth’s neck. Although he wore a gentle smile, he felt nothing.

But he knew this was his only chance. If he missed it, he wouldn’t get another opportunity to get close to her. Tipping her off now would mean failing to gather enough evidence to wipe out her entire group in one fell swoop.

So, Ethan Ellsworth played his part flawlessly.

The sound of kissing traveled through the listening device. On the other end, Chloe Marshall was in agony, a thin mist clouding her eyes.

Nora Ainsworth pulled Chloe Marshall into the restroom and shut the door.

”Chloe, it’s been so long. Why don’t you just be honest? If you like him, tell him. Don’t leave yourself with any regrets. Even if he doesn’t like you back or rejects you, Chloe, at least you’ll feel better.”

”Nora!” Chloe Marshall hugged her. ”It hurts so much. My heart feels like it’s being stabbed with a knife. I never thought I could love him this much. But at the same time, the more I love him, the more I’m afraid of losing him. I’m scared that even seeing him will become a luxury.”

Nora Ainsworth held her tightly and said, ”In love, someone always has to take a risk. The road ahead is long, and there are many turns. Don’t see everything so bleakly. Maybe what’s waiting for you isn’t darkness, but another dawn.”

Tears rolled down her cheeks, her heart throbbing with pain. ”I understand.”

Nora Ainsworth mused, ”Chloe, compared to me, don’t you think you have a much better chance?”

Chloe Marshall lost control, sobbing uncontrollably. ”But you’ve already decided to be brave, Nora. No matter the outcome, I’ll be with you.”

”Same here. No matter what happens between you and Ethan Ellsworth, as long as I’m around, Chloe, I won’t let you give up hope on life.”

Ethan Ellsworth felt the time was right. He covertly took out the needle he held between his fingers, but he fumbled, and it fell to the floor.

Ethan Ellsworth’s heart tightened. Just then, Audrey opened her eyes and looked at him before closing them again. She rolled over, pinning Ethan underneath her. Keeping his own eyes shut, he fumbled around on the floor.

He finally felt it but struggled to pick it up.

His clothes were almost completely undone by the time he managed to pinch the needle between his fingers.

Without hesitation, he jabbed it forcefully into Audrey’s back.

The entire needle disappeared inside.

Her body stiffened instantly, and her eyes flew open.

”What did you just stick in my back?”

Seeing her expression clear up considerably, Ethan Ellsworth seriously doubted what Quentin Grant had told him—that as long as the needle was in her, she wouldn’t be able to get away.

”Darling, I don’t have anything on me. Stick you with what?”

She gasped. Her eyes, which had been momentarily clear, slowly glazed over. Soon, she looked as if she had fallen asleep.

He reached out and shook her. When he saw that Audrey was unresponsive, Ethan Ellsworth finally put the earpiece from the listening device hanging around his neck into his ear and whispered, ”It’s working.”

Quentin Grant’s voice came through his earpiece. ”You can’t get out right now. Turn on your phone’s recording function. Ask her anything, and she’ll answer truthfully. You only have fifteen minutes. I’m contacting the police now. After you get the recording, just stage the scene.”

”Roger that.” Ethan Ellsworth hung the listening device back around his neck.

He took out his phone, started recording, and asked, ”Were you the mastermind behind the hotel attack a few days ago?”

And just as expected, the closed-eyed Audrey replied, ”Yes.”

Ethan Ellsworth asked again, ”Why did you do it? Why hurt so many innocent people?”

Audrey answered, ”To get revenge on society.”

Ethan Ellsworth continued, ”Then why did you treat your own sister that way?”

”She disobeyed my orders, leaked my information to outsiders, betrayed me, and even openly opposed my authority, conspiring with my husband’s family against me.”

Ethan Ellsworth asked no more questions. He saved the recording, then looked at the surveillance cameras and dismantled all of them to prevent any footage from leaking.

The minutes ticked by. At the thirteen-minute mark, footsteps could be heard outside.

The voice of one of Audrey’s subordinates came from outside the door. ”Ma’am, someone’s knocking. Should we let them in?”

Ethan Ellsworth replied calmly, ”Miss Audrey is busy right now. I’ll ask what she thinks.”

Then he said, ”Miss Audrey, some friends are here. Should we let them in?”

With her eyes still closed, Audrey uttered two words: ”Come in.”

The subordinate outside was a little surprised but maintained his loyal attitude. ”Yes, ma’am!”

Soon, the sounds of fighting and gunshots erupted from outside.

Within two short minutes, everyone outside was subdued. The door was pushed open, and the police cleared the way. Just as they handcuffed Audrey, she slowly regained consciousness.

Looking at the scene before her, she was furious. ”So you’re a police informant!”

Ethan Ellsworth sneered. ”I’m no one’s informant. I just can’t stand people who senselessly slaughter the innocent. Audrey, even if the death penalty is rare in your country, I’m sure you won’t get to live. Given your heinous crimes, what’s sacrificing a bit of my charm if it means I can capture you?”

She decided to deny everything to the bitter end. ”Where’s your proof? Show it to me!”

Ethan Ellsworth took out the recording and played it. Her face turned completely ashen.

”I plotted for so long, only to have you destroy it all so easily.”

”Even a sure-footed horse can stumble, let alone a person. Take her away.” Ethan Ellsworth turned and walked out the door. Quentin Grant, Herman Hawthorne, Nora Ainsworth, and Chloe Marshall were standing there, waiting for him.

”Let’s take the private jet back tonight. I don’t want to spend another day in this godforsaken country.”

Quentin Grant nodded. ”That’s the plan. Ethan Ellsworth, we owe this one to your spirit of self-sacrifice. So, tell us, how should we reward you?”

Ethan Ellsworth thought for a moment. ”Your buddy here isn’t missing anything at the moment... except a wife.”

Nora Ainsworth pushed Chloe Marshall forward a step. ”This, we can arrange.”

Ethan Ellsworth froze. He looked at Chloe Marshall, whose eyes were swollen like walnuts, and immediately asked, ”You idiot, what happened to you?”

”Boss Ellsworth!”

”Hmm?”

Chloe Marshall opened her mouth, but before she could speak, Audrey’s sister, who had just been rescued from another room, came limping over. ”Sir.”

Ethan Ellsworth turned around. ”It’s you.”

”Thank you so much for saving me.”

Ethan Ellsworth replied politely, ”It was nothing, really. Don’t mention it. But this place is a mess. You should go live somewhere else.”

Tears streamed from the woman’s eyes. ”I was born and raised here. I don’t know where to go. Benefactor, if you wouldn’t mind, could you possibly—”

Before she could finish, Chloe Marshall cut in urgently, ”No, he can’t!”

”And you are?”

”I—I’m his—his—assistant!”