The CEO's Sweet Pie

Choose between（1）

A massive crystal chandelier hangs from the hollowed-out second floor like a star plucked from the sky. The door to the ballroom on the first floor is adorned with idyllic white lacquer flowers, and a small, exquisite garden extends beyond as if nature were gently offering itself to this feast. Evelyn walks lightly like a cloud, following Ivan at a subtle distance, joining him only when he turns to look at her, then whispering to introduce the business magnates and directors who have come to shake his hand. Occasionally, Ivan will select a few familiar industry leaders and introduce them to Evelyn's world so that she, too, can catch a glimpse of the changes in this business empire.

The group laughed and chatted until they reached the center of the room, where two men with similar faces came face to face. The one in his forties called out with a hearty laugh before they reached each other, "Ivan, our new store is about to open. Can your wife come to celebrate and hold the ribbon?"

Ivan smiled faintly, "James is so kind. I thank you on Sarah's behalf. Let me introduce you; this is my new secretary, Evelyn." After saying that, he turned to Evelyn, "These two are James, the General Manager of Infinity Solutions, and Joseph, the Deputy General Manager. The company is developing rapidly and is preparing to launch a brand new marketing management system, which could become an important client of ours." Evelyn smiled like a flower, "I hope Mr. James will not be stingy with his advice in the future.

In his early thirties, the younger Joseph had a pair of peach-blossom eyes fixed on Evelyn. As they shook hands, he said half-jokingly, half-seriously, "Miss Evelyn has such an elegant name, and Ivan is truly blessed from a past life with a heavenly girlfriend and a beautiful secretary." Evelyn smiled and withdrew her hand. "Mr. Joseph is too kind. I'm truly overjoyed to hear your words. However, everyone knows that the beauty of our future president's wife is unparalleled worldwide. How dare we ordinary women compare ourselves to her?" Ivan's smiling gaze swept over her face, and she turned to the others, "Everyone, wait a moment; I'll say hello to William. James laughed, "That's fine, go ahead. We'll be able to talk about the case later. "Of course, see you in an hour." After saying that, Ivan led Evelyn away, and when they were some distance away, he whispered, "Stay away from that young man." Evelyn smiled and said nothing.

Shuttling between hundreds of upper-class elites when a celebrity cornered Ivan, Evelyn took the opportunity to retreat to an unoccupied window and enjoy the juice in her hand. Suddenly, she saw Ethan enter the room with his date.

Almost simultaneously, he noticed her and grinned at her from a distance. She raised her glass in response. After a few words with his date, Ethan came over to her. She stood motionless at the window and smiled, "Hi." Ethan played familiarly with her hair, "I like it down better." She looked at her companion and teased, "You're a lucky man; this beauty by your side is not a bit less beautiful than Sarah."

Ethan laughed, "No matter how beautiful she is, she can't compare to you. Had I known you were coming, I wouldn't have brought anyone else."

"Your words are sweeter than honey, and I can't find you." I went to Las Vegas to negotiate an investment and won't return until noon. He looked at Ivan in the distance, "He didn't give you any trouble at the Yuen's last time, did he? Evelyn sighed, 'Are you doing this on purpose, trying to push me into the fire? He raised an eyebrow, "Of course. You always refused when I invited you to such occasions in the past, but now you're here with him!"

Evelyn laughed lightly, not taking up the conversation, and asked, "Did the loss of Ruan's list significantly impact the Nord Group?"

"A huge impact." She frowned, "Then why did you change the cover of the tender, knowing how meticulous he was?" A trace of smugness flashed in Ethan's eyes, "I did it on purpose, as bait. I was playing the long game, waiting for him to take the bait." She was taken aback, "You set him up?" "Exactly. Why else would I have played along with Ruan Yunzhi?" He took her hand and gently stroked the ring he had given her a year ago. It has been a long time since we last danced together. As soon as he thought that, he reached out and removed the hairpin from the back of her head.

Evelyn was not expecting this move from him and let out a small cry. Her long, black hair fell like a waterfall, like ink-black silk rippling noiselessly in the air, attracting the curious glances of those around them.

Ethan shook his head at the Givenchy suit she was wearing. "If I'd known, I would've had someone send a tux."

No dance music was playing in the hall, just a few groups of people talking in low voices. Ethan gestured in a specific direction, and the waltz melody replaced the soft background music. With a wave, he led them out in an elegant flourish.

The onlookers stepped aside to make room for them and applauded.

Although he had lost a business deal, he had "taken possession" of Ivan's secretary, who was just as eye-catching, in full view of the public. In this arena of fame and fortune, it is hard to say who won or lost.

Is this the scene Evelyn longs for? Not necessarily.

Is this what she hates? Not at all.

It doesn't matter to her. In this prosperous time, she wants for nothing. Whether it's Tina or Ethan, it doesn't matter what happens as long as they're happy. She cooperated with Ethan's every move, spinning on her toes like a cloud, attracting onlookers and thunderous applause. When the song ended, in the lingering aftertaste, he led her to the back door.

In the garden, he kissed her passionately on the cheek.

"Follow me," he said.

She couldn't help laughing. "First, we elope to the ends of the earth, and then we vow to be faithful for the rest of our lives?" He pinched her neck in annoyance. Say it! Do you love me?!" She widened her eyes in surprise. Do you think there was any need to ask? She raised her left hand and answered for the thousandth time with deep feeling, "I swear, till death do us part. "

A small flame ignited in his eyes, and he almost wanted to slap her. With gritted teeth, he said, "Ivan and I, we have to choose one; whom do you choose?" "What is the premise of the choice?" "The premise is that I am depressed and don't want you to stay at his side anymore!" "Then I'm unhappy too. You change girlfriends daily; I want you to stay by my side, right?" "Dream on." He refused directly, raising his chin haughtily, "Only an i***t would give up the whole forest for a single tree."

Looking in the half-closed door, he saw her silhouette waiting expectantly. Her smile remained the same, "Here, your forest awaits you." With a long sigh, he placed his lips on her forehead for a long time before he turned and walked away. When he reached the door, he turned suddenly and pointed his finger at her, his eyes full of a fiery yet cold warning, "Don't ask such stupid questions again. Maybe I'll say yes one day, and then you'll regret it." She said nothing but smiled as she watched him embrace the woman until they were out of sight.

The garden was so quiet under the night sky that she could hear the whisper of summer insects and ice. A low, lingering voice suddenly drifted into the air above her head: "Whom will you choose?" She looked up to see Ivan on the second-floor terrace, hands clasped, leaning over the railing and looking down at her from a position of superiority.

"What are the requirements for choosing?" she asked.

The infinite darkness reflected the twinkling stars in his eyes, "There are no prerequisites." "How can you choose without prerequisites?" "There must be prerequisites?" "Of course. For example, if you choose between brothers, you will naturally choose Ethan; if you choose between friends, you are better than Ethan; if you choose between lovers, both are first class; if you choose between husbands-" She smiled slightly, her eyes clear as a mirror, "None of you are suitable. To or not to, to release or not to release, each choice has specific prerequisites.

"You just take what you want from everyone..." He suddenly placed his palms on the railing, and his slender body jumped down from a few meters. His words were still in the air, and his figure had already blocked their path like a spell. "Is it okay with everyone or just him?"

This reckless move should not have come from such a mature and stable man like him, but he did. The moment he jumped, there seemed to be no hesitation. This behavior, inconsistent with his identity, made her feel a strange sensation in her heart. She wanted to back away, but he grabbed a strand of her hair.

She had to say, "Ethan is my boyfriend. That identity gave her a special feeling, including his intimacy with her, which was taken for granted.

"I'm your boss. Is that harassment?" He smiled mockingly, and the fingers tangling in her black hair suddenly tightened.

The sharp pain in her scalp made her lean closer, but her eyelashes remained lowered, falling to the collar of his shirt. She shouldn't have known, but she knew in her heart that his displeasure stemmed from the fact that she had already made a decision. Ethan was her friend, and she still looked at him respectfully as her benefactor.

He remained silent for a long time until she had to look up.

His gaze rippled with shallow waves, with a moving haze, as if the separation of those years had never existed, and she was finally standing in front of him again. Time had brought them closer but had long separated them into the sky and the sea. Looking back over the 2,500 lonely nights, he had never seen her face clearly, not even a trace to remember.

She looked at her watch. "You have an appointment with James from Infinity Solutions in five minutes." He let go of her hair slowly, his emotions returning to normal. "You're a perfect secretary who does her job well." His tone was so flat that it was hard to tell if it was a compliment or sarcasm.

She smiled, walked around him, and pushed open the door. In the blinding light, she suddenly felt more tired than ever, and for the first time, the thought of leaving halfway occurred to her.

His lonely figure was in the garden. Her fingertips lifted slightly, and a faint, indistinct scent lingered in her nose, like her lukewarm attitude toward him. It was vague and unpredictable, for she retreated faster than he expected.

But this was the last time.

He looked up at the vast night sky for a long time, a cold smile curling the corners of his lips.

It had taken him two years, two whole years, to prepare a vessel that would trap her for the rest of her life.