The CEO’s Secret Lover Watched Him Choose Another Chapter 04

The CEO’s Secret Lover Watched Him Choose Another Chapter 04

He stormed off, pulling Sophia to the front of the group.

I lingered at the back, chatting casually with the others.

At dinner, Sophia announced brightly, “Did you guys know about the Perseids? Ethan says there’s a lookout point nearby. They say you can see up to a hundred shooting stars an hour.”

Everyone perked up, eager to go.

Jake waved them off. “Can’t you take a hint? You can watch from the hotel. Leave the lookout for the people who actually need it.”

The group caught on quickly. “Yeah, no kidding. The lookout’s obviously for the couple.”

Ethan was piling food onto Sophia’s plate. He didn’t say anything, but the smile on his face said enough.

Sophia blushed. “You guys can come, too…”

The buffet wasn’t working for me. The flavors were too heavy. I chewed a piece of seafood, but the seasoning caught in my throat and wouldn’t go down.

I spat it out, stood up, and went looking for something plainer.

Jake followed me, lowering his voice. “Hey, Olivia. I saw your post about wanting to watch the meteor shower from the lookout. Maybe skip it, okay? Don’t get in Ethan and Sophia’s way.”

I nodded. “I know.”

“Top student for a reason. Hey, here’s something you might not know. The whole number thing was my idea.”

I nodded again. “I heard you tell Ethan.”

His eyebrows shot up in surprise, but someone called him from across the room, and he hurried off.

I opened a container of oatmeal. Just then, Ethan came over to get pumpkin soup for Sophia.

His tone was casual. “I was out of line earlier. I shouldn’t have snapped at you.”

“I get it. You’re mad because I’m rooming with Sophia. But look, she took the bed, I slept on the floor. We just talked.”

“This is just how the game worked out. Nothing’s going to happen.”

I ladled oatmeal into my bowl and said, “Alright.”

He didn’t look up. “Tell your parents we should stay in Meadowbrook. No need to move to Crestwood. Once we’re settled in our jobs, we can make it work here.”

I didn’t answer.

I turned to go. He hesitated, then called after me, “Olivia… Sophia really wants to see the meteor shower tonight. I promised her I’d take her.”

“The Perseids come every year. Next year, I’ll come with you.”

I stood with my back to him, my palm pressed flat against the bowl, not feeling any warmth.

When I spoke, my voice was barely there. “Okay.”

He let out a breath, relieved, and passed me on his way to grab another plate of strawberries for Sophia.

After dinner, I went back to my room and packed.

The clothes I’d set aside for the meteor shower went into the trash, along with the pamphlet advertising it.

I zipped the suitcase. It felt noticeably lighter.

My flight was last minute. I’d be leaving that night.

Ten minutes before takeoff, the Perseids streaked across the sky.

Everyone was filming, gasping, posting. I pulled out my phone and saw one unread message.

[Everything’s set. Your parents are resting. I’ll be waiting at the airport.]

The plane climbed higher.

I leaned back against my seat and closed my eyes.

Ethan, there’s no next year for us.