### Chapter 33: Here to Back Up My Bestie
Maxine Rhodes sat in the living room, chugging several gulps of ice water, but felt the heat in her cheeks rise instead of fall. Those three bold, enlarged letters in her mind—XXXL—were like a haunting spell she couldn’t shake.
’Sothing’s wrong. This is very wrong.’
She put down the water glass in frustration. ’A man shouldn’t be slowing down!’
’My goal is to take down the Sterlings, sideline Benjamin Sterling, and build my own capital, not to be sitting here all flustered over so... uh, over a man’s size.’
’Has my dry spell been so long that my self-control is slipping?’ She subconsciously touched her burning earlobe.
This feeling of losing control left her feeling a bit lost. ’Should I text Susie?’
Susie Sumrs had far more relationship experience. She was one of those brutally realistic people who could see right through any man.
’If I told her what happened tonight, she’d definitely shriek with excitent over the phone and then break it all down for with perfect logic...’
’No way!’ Maxine imdiately shot down the idea. ’With Susie’s personality, if she found out, she’d probably grab her binoculars and rush right over to get a front-row seat to the drama.’
’But... speaking of Susie, I just rembered sothing.’
She’d been bugging her for ages, insisting she had to et Ethan Hawthorne in person to vet him and see if he was good enough for her best friend.
’And as it happens, I don’t have any plans this weekend.’
Maxine took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart. She texted Susie, who agreed instantly.
While she was texting, Ethan erged from the bedroom, having changed into soft loungewear. The ends of his hair were still damp, making him look exceptionally cozy and alluring.
He walked right over to the arm of the sofa where she was sitting, bent down casually, and picked up the half-drunk glass of ice water from the coffee table in front of her.
Maxine’s heart skipped a beat, and she blurted out almost instinctively, "Wait, that’s my..."
...drink.
Before she could get the words out, Ethan had already pressed his lips to the rim of the glass right where hers had been, tilted his head back, and taken a drink. His sexy Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed.
He set the glass down. Two distinct condensation rings, one higher than the other, now marked the glass, their edges blurring together suggestively.
He looked down at her as she sat frozen, a hint of innocent inquiry in his eyes. "Hm? What did you say?"
Any words Maxine might have had were caught in her throat. The heat that had just faded from her cheeks ca rushing back, even stronger this ti.
’It’s not that...’
’Am I supposed to point out, "I already drank from that"? That would make it seem like I care!’
’But... the implication of an indirect kiss is just too obvious!’
"N-nothing."
She averted her gaze in embarrassnt, feeling as if the remaining water in the glass had beco scalding hot.
Ethan watched the blush coloring her ears and the side of her face as she struggled to appear calm, and the amusent in his eyes deepened.
"Any plans for the weekend?" he asked, his tone casual, relaxed from his shower.
Maxine collected herself. "My best friend has been wanting to et you. If you’re free this weekend, we could all get a al together."
"Of course," Ethan agreed readily, his voice gentle. "I’ve been wanting to et your friends as well. You can set the ti and place."
Maxine nodded, swiping her finger across her phone screen a few more tis before standing up. "I’m going to go take a shower, then."
"Alright," Ethan replied.
Maxine walked into the bathroom with a change of clothes. The warm, humid steam hadn’t fully dissipated, and the faint scent of his usual body wash lingered in the air.
She imdiately noticed a brand-new non-slip mat on the smooth tile floor. Beside it, a pair of shower slippers had been thoughtfully laid out.
On the shelf, her skincare products and toiletries were arranged neatly, clearly distinct from his own minimalist toiletries on the other side, yet standing right next to them.
This ticulous thoughtfulness made her heart flutter.
The steamy air seed tinged with his scent, silently enveloping her. As Maxine stood under the showerhead and the hot water poured down, she thought about how, just monts ago, he had been standing in this very spot...
The realization made the water suddenly feel scalding. In the small space, the citrus scent he’d left behind felt like a silent invasion, weaving itself into the oud and rose fragrance on her skin and creating threads of intimacy.
「On a weekend afternoon, in the private room of an elegant restaurant.」
Susie Sumrs arrived fifteen minutes early. Ditching her usual sweet style, she wore a sharp, black leather outfit with her hair pulled into a high ponytail. She sat ramrod straight, fingertips tapping on the tabletop, radiating an aura that scread, "I am not to be trifled with."
’Today, I’m here to back up my best friend. And to conduct an inspection!’
A waiter gently pushed the door open, and as Ethan Hawthorne and Maxine Rhodes walked in side by side, Susie’s sharp gaze imdiately locked onto him.
’Objectively speaking, the man’s looks and build were both top-tier, and he had a calm, distinguished air about him. He was definitely pri quality, but that just ant she had to be even more on her guard!’
"Susie, this is Ethan Hawthorne," Maxine said, making the introduction.
"Mr. Hawthorne, this is my best friend, Susie."
"Miss Sumrs, a pleasure to et you. I’ve heard a great deal about you." Ethan nodded slightly, his deanor composed and his tone polite as he smoothly pulled out a chair for Maxine.
"The pleasure is all mine, Mr. Hawthorne. Your reputation precedes you," Susie replied with a slight nod.
They had barely sat down, and before the waiter had even finished pouring the tea, Susie cut straight to the chase. "Mr. Hawthorne, I’m not going to beat around the bush. For a man of your caliber—wealthy, handso, the complete package—using marriage to seal a business deal seems a bit unconventional, don’t you think? In this agreent, what are your personal attitudes and expectations toward our Max?"
"Susie!"
Maxine gave her a light kick under the table.
The faintest hint of a smile touched Ethan’s eyes. He calmly lifted the celadon teapot and poured a cup of Pu’er tea for Maxine, filling it most of the way.
He then paused for a mont in thought, his gaze frank. "Choosing marriage was an act based on my utmost trust in Director Rhodes’s abilities and character. It’s also the most stable guarantee I could offer. As for Director Rhodes as a person..."
He turned to Maxine, his tone respectful. "She is an admirable partner. My expectation is that, for the duration of our agreent, we will treat each other with respect and work together in good faith. And as for her priority... with , she will always co first."
Just as Ethan was giving his smooth reply, a man who appeared to be the manager knocked and entered. He spoke respectfully to Ethan, "Mr. Hawthorne, the ’98 Romanée-Conti you keep here has been decanted. Shall I serve it now?"
Susie raised an eyebrow. "You even had the wine prepared in advance, Mr. Hawthorne?"
Ethan was perfectly composed. "I heard that you’re quite the connoisseur of fine food and wine, Miss Sumrs. I had this prepared especially for you."
The icy expression on Susie’s face instantly thawed. She was clearly pleased, but she forced herself not to smile. After all, the inspection wasn’t over.
Susie: "What does my Max have to drink before bed?"
Ethan: "Warm water. It’s better for her stomach."
Susie: "What’s her favorite thing to do when she’s in a bad mood?"
Ethan: "Be alone. She usually watches an old movie."
Susie: "What are her three must-order dishes for hot pot?"
Ethan: "Shrimp paste, tripe, and fatty beef."
...
This ticulous attention to detail, this intimate knowledge, secretly astonished both Susie and Maxine.
Maxine hadn’t even realized he’d paid such close attention to her little habits. A strange, subtle feeling washed over her.
Susie dropped her interrogator’s stance and leaned close to Maxine, whispering, "Babe, this guy is on another level. I’m about to fold. Why don’t you two just... make this fake thing real?"
Maxine whispered reproachfully, "Susie!"
After dinner, Maxine’s phone rang. With a quick gesture to the others, she stood up and stepped out of the room to take the work call.
Once Maxine was gone, Susie looked at Ethan, her expression more serious than ever. "Mr. Hawthorne, I don’t care how big your business empire is. When it cos to Max, you are, first and foremost, a man—her husband in the eyes of the law. If you’re only ever going to see her as a partner, then please, rember your boundaries."
Her tone softened, tinged with a hint of heartache. "She might seem invulnerable now, like she can handle anything on her own. But really, she’s just used to it. It’s not that she can’t get hurt, she’s just too proud. She hides all her wounds away."
Her gaze was intense. "So if you’re thinking of anything more... you’d better be prepared to give it one hundred percent of your sincerity and patience. Because she deserves the absolute best. Otherwise, I, Susie Sumrs, will be the first one to stand in your way!"
*****
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