SWNOVELS Chapter 0237
Madison was reeling from the buzz when she was about to respond to Ethan, only to be yanked away by Charlie. "What are you doing standing here? Let's go." Before she could utter a word, her phone was abruptly disconnected by Charlie.
Ethan: "..."
William, driving, glanced at the man in the backseat, "President Grant?"
Ethan sighed softly, head bowed.
This Charlie, her daring growing by the day-now she's bold enough to hang up his calls?
Back at the gathering.
Madison was dragged back into the fray where a lively game was underway, the atmosphere charged.
Drink after drink, Frank's last shred of sobriety crumbled.
So immersed in the boisterous mood, he failed to notice the two newcomers just beside the commotion.
If attentive Frank missed it, the rest stood no chance.
Ethan, abstaining from alcohol, was entirely lucid.
He strolled in leisurely from outside, snowflakes dusting his black coat, radiating a chill, his towering presence like a robust mountain range. But this crowd was lost in revelry, utterly oblivious to his arrival.
Nor did Ethan mind-his focus was on Madison.
Though tipsy, she seemed coherent in speech and behavior, and he chose not to interrupt their party.
"President Grant, please take a seat here," William arranged a chair specifically for him.
Ethan leaned back, legs crossed, a half-smile on his face as he watched his employees indulge in mirth and merriment.
William coughed purposefully several times, failing to draw any attention from the inebriated group.
Ha!
They're usually so sharp and observant-why so slow today?
With the big boss here, they're still drinking?!
"Let them drink," Ethan gestured to William, "They've worked hard lately, they deserve to relax. Later, you go ahead and pay."
"Bending slightly, William replied, "Yes, President Grant. But you haven't eaten. Shall I order something for you here?"
Ethan declined, "I'll have some of what's left. A quick bite will do."
Unsurprised by his boss's down-to-earth behavior, William remembered times during the company's growth spurt when Ethan survived on leftovers-not from a lack of funds but sheer busyness. William cleared a corner table, and Ethan sat there quietly, dining alone.
As the scene unfolded, the absurdity heightened.
A pilot closest to Ethan turned to speak to a colleague, only to find himself facing an expectant...
President Grant!!!
The shock sobered the pilot instantly.
Ethan gestured with his chopsticks for silence, then casually asked, "What were you about to say?"
The flustered pilot dared not chit-chat with the big boss. "I... President Grant..."
Frantically, he signaled to his joyous comrades across the table, but to no avail they were too caught up in their fun.
About ten minutes passed in this odd tableau.
The buzz at the table died down as Madison's head spun wildly. She leaned on one hand, glancing to her side.
Then, addressing Charlie, she slurred, "Charlie." "Huh?" Charlie was equally drunk, her gaze hazy.
"I can't drink anymore, I'm starting to see Ethan."
Charlie burped, "Isn't seeing him normal?"
"How's that normal?"
Charlie, pointing across the table, said, "Isn't he sitting right there?"
Madison's eyes widened, "You see him too?"
"I'm not blind, am I?"
Their exchange instantly directed the collective gaze to Ethan.
Silence descended over the table.
The word 'deathly' hadn't been used in years, but at that moment, it was the only fitting description.
The room fell mute as if sound itself had been paused.
And then...
Frank staggered to his feet, glass in hand, burping, "Grant... President Grant..."
Thirty-plus bleary-eyed pilots, struggling to sit upright, witnessed their manager Frank approach the formidable boss.
And there, Frank slung an arm around President Grant, chatting like brothers.
Where's the door?
Can we escape?
Will there be a new manager tomorrow?
Should we stop our fearless manager from his reckless actions?
Ethan had finished eating, his gaze falling from Frank's hand on his shoulder to his face.
Frank, thoroughly inebriated, clung
to Ethan, passionately declaring,
"President Grant, as your
subordinate, your employee, I have complete faith in your business decisions."
Ethan's eyes narrowed, "Hmm."
The pilots' hearts nearly stopped.
One pilot stealthily Googled:
"Can heart rate increase due to external factors after drinking increase the risk of sudden death?"
Naturally, the answer was yes!
Frank's current actions had them sweating bullets for him.
Could President Grant lose his temper?
He wouldn't flip the table, would he?
Frank continued, "But, talking about age, I've seen a few things, right?"
Ethan took a drag, nodding lightly, "Hmm."
Frank, seemingly pleased, boldly lectured, "Then you should call me brother. Brother tells you, at your
age, it's time to settle down. That et
you
fine lady, everyone wants her. don't move fast, someone might steal her away. Then you'll be crying without a place to find her, right?"
The room went silent, breaths held.
William facepalmed.
Ethan extinguished his cigarette, surprisingly nodding again, adding, "Xiao brother is right."
"See, I knew you were smart, gets it in one. Cheers."
Ethan's smile remained as he clinked his water glass with Frank.
"Thank you, Xiao brother."
"Don't mention it," Frank waved generously.
The others were dumbfounded.
It was Brian who eventually stepped in, gently pulling Frank away, signaling it was time to disband.
After all, how could Frank face President Grant tomorrow?
The crowd rose, unsteady on their feet, but they didn't forget to bow slightly to Ethan while passing, bidding him goodbye. Ethan nodded to each, instructing William, "Get the company bus to take everyone home safely."
"Will do."
"Thank you, President Grant!" someone called out.
And then, from nowhere, another voice exclaimed, "May President Grant and Captain Madison tie the knot soon!"
That wish caught everyone
guard, but they all echoed in
"May President Grant net
and
Madison tie the knot soon!!!"
W
Their voices roared, as if they could tear through the heavens!