Chapter 197

The private jet cruised smoothly at thirty thousand feet.

Vivian Laurent leaned against the leather seat, her fingers drumming impatiently on the armrest.

"I don't need your special treatment." She shot a cold glance at the offered juice.

Ethan Roscente paused mid-air before placing the glass on her tray table.

"The designer exhibition in Eudora is worth seeing," he remarked casually.

"My schedule isn't your concern."

Vivian plugged in her headphones and maxed out her tablet's brightness. Sketches of her latest gown design flickered across the screen, the lines still imperfect.

Ethan's gaze drifted from his documents.

He noticed the faint dimple that appeared when Vivian bit her lower lip in concentration. Her stylus moved in absent circles like a lazy cat kneading.

His throat tightened involuntarily.

The cabin air suddenly felt stifling. Ethan loosened his tie but only grew warmer.

Vivian looked up, catching his lingering stare.

"Too much free time, Mr. Roscente?"

"Reviewing proposals." He hastily lowered his eyes to the files where numbers had blurred into gibberish.

Vivian scoffed, pulling the blanket tighter.

She didn't see Ethan carefully retrieving the slipped blanket later, handling it like fragile porcelain.

His fingers hovered a breath from her hair before retreating to tuck the edges neatly.

When the attendant brought dinner, Ethan silenced her with a finger to his lips.

"Let her sleep."

His untouched steak grew cold as he watched Vivian's lashes flutter with each breath, casting delicate shadows.

During turbulence, she instinctively curled deeper into the blanket.

Ethan's hand shot out to steady her shoulder, lingering long after the shaking stopped. The residual warmth made him clench his fist.

"'AN Atelier design inspiration'..." He read the filename on her tablet, lips quirking upward.

So this was how she worked. Forehead creasing in focus, eyes brightening with breakthroughs.

These details captivated him more than any corporate secret.

When Vivian turned, a strand of hair caught on her lips.

Ethan held his breath as he gently freed it. The brief contact sent electricity shooting up his arm.

He recoiled just as her lashes fluttered.

Retreating to his seat, Ethan pretended to check emails. His burning ears betrayed the thunderous heartbeat.

Only the steady hum of engines and their synchronized breathing filled the cabin.