Chapter 124: No Secrets To Hide

The warmth of the moment lingered in the quiet room, but the cold weight of reality hit me like a splash of ice water.

I gently stepped back, breaking the kiss and creating a steady distance between us. The sharp, analytical part of my brain—the part that had been turned off for just a fraction of a second—snapped right back into control.

Patricia looked at me, a bit startled by my sudden shift in posture, her breathing still slightly uneven from the rush of the night.

"Patricia," I said softly, my voice completely calm, controlled, and quiet. "You know I have Chloe."

Patricia blinked, taking a small step back and resting her hand against the marble pass. "I... I know," she said, looking down for a moment before looking back up at me. "I guess... I just thought with everything we were building, maybe it was different. Or that it wouldn’t be a big deal..."

"Chloe is open-minded about a lot of things," I replied smoothly, keeping my tone grounded and void of any anger or panic. "She doesn’t mind me hanging out with other women, working closely with people, or building things together. But kissing is where the line is drawn. And to be completely honest with you... I’m at fault here too. I leaned into it instead of stopping it immediately."

I could see a flicker of guilt cross Patricia’s face as the weight of what just happened settled in. She rubbed the back of her neck, taking a slow, deep breath to steady her emotions.

"I’m sorry, Ethan," she said quietly, her voice full of genuine regret. "I really am. I don’t know what just happened... the adrenaline from tonight, beating Durev, saving my career, Olden’s praise... it was just a massive wave of emotion, and I let it get the better of me. I didn’t mean to put you in that position or disrespect your relationship."

"Hey," I said gently, cutting her off before she could spiral into feeling terrible about herself on the biggest night of her life. "Don’t ruin your night over this. What we accomplished today is still historic, and you earned every bit of your success. I’m not going to let a mistake taint what you built here."

Patricia nodded, letting out a long, shaky exhale, visibly relieved that I wasn’t holding it against her or creating a wedge between us professionally.

"Thank you, Ethan," she murmured. "We’re good. Strictly professional."

"Strictly professional," I agreed with a small, reassuring nod.

As I walked out toward my car under the cool night sky, the lingering quiet of the avenue gave me room to think. The situation with Patricia was handled and diffused, but my mind was already moving to the next necessary step.

I wasn’t the type to hide things or play double games. Chloe trusted me, and honesty was non-negotiable. I knew I’d have to sit down with Chloe later and lay it all out—calmly, transparently, and without excuses.

I pulled out my phone, leaning against the hood of my car as the ocean breeze swept past the quiet boulevard. I dialed Chloe’s number.

She picked up on the second ring, her voice soft and full of that familiar warmth. "Hey... I was just thinking about you."

"Hey," I said, keeping my tone calm, steady, and deliberate. "It’s good to hear your voice. I know it’s late, but I wanted to check in. I’ve got a lot to tell you about—there’s been a massive shift with everything over here, and we have a lot to talk about when we catch up."

I didn’t bring up Patricia or the kiss over the phone. A conversation like that deserved face-to-face honesty, eye contact, and total transparency.

"I was actually planning on booking a flight back tonight," I continued. "I can meet you at the penthouse as soon as your plane lands."

"No, don’t fly back yet," Chloe said smoothly, her tone turning gentle, almost persuasive. "I know how hard you’ve been pushing lately with all these projects and stress. I don’t want us surrounded by the city or work when I get back. Let’s take some real us time."

"An oceanside retreat?" I asked, a slight smile breaking through my serious demeanor.

"Exactly," she replied softly. "Just the two of us, right there where you are on the island. Clear water, fresh air, no business calls, and no distractions. I really just want you all to myself for a few days. I’m taking a flight out and coming straight to the island to meet you."

I took a slow breath, looking back one last time at the glowing glass facade of LUMEN down the street before turning back toward the coast.

"Alright," I said, my voice softening. "Oceanside it is. I’ll have everything set up for when you land. Safe flight, Chloe."

"See you soon," she murmured before hanging up.

I slid my phone back into my jacket pocket, feeling the weight of the upcoming conversation resting quietly on my shoulders. I was glad I didn’t have to board a long flight back to the penthouse, but having Chloe fly directly out to the island meant our long-overdue sit-down was going to happen right here in paradise—just a few miles away from the very showroom floor where it all went down.

Later On.

Before heading to the airport, I made a quick stop back at LUMEN to handle a few final operational details.

The place was absolute chaos in the best way possible. Even during a quiet afternoon prep window, the dining room was buzzing with a steady stream of high-profile guests, walk-in foodies, and local press trying to snag reservations weeks in advance. Patricia’s name was on everyone’s lips.

Despite the line jumping, the tickets piling up, and the kitchen running at full throttle, Patricia immediately stepped away from the pass the second she saw me walk through the door. She poured two glasses of sparkling water and joined me at a corner booth, making sure I had her complete, undivided attention.

We sat together for a while, talking comfortably—not about the drama or the high-stakes politics, but about how much we actually had in common outside of work. It was easy, grounded, and refreshingly quiet compared to the war we had just fought against Durev.

Then, my phone buzzed on the table. A notification popped up from my flight tracker app: Chloe’s private arrival is on final approach.

"I have to go," I said, setting my glass down and sliding out of the booth. "My flight’s landed."

Patricia stood up with me, walking me toward the side exit to avoid the crowd. Right before I reached the door, she stepped in close and gave me a quick, gentle peck on the cheek.

I stopped in my tracks, raising an eyebrow as I looked at her with a quiet, questioning stare. "...?"

Patricia immediately held her hands up in a playful, innocent gesture, a faint smile on her face. "It’s just a friendly peck, Ethan. Nothing more, I promise. Strictly a ’thank you for saving my life’ goodbye."

I just shook my head with a faint, knowing smirk, pulled my keys from my pocket, and walked out to my car.

Twenty minutes later, I pulled up to the private terminal. The jet’s engines were winding down on the tarmac, and there was Chloe, stepping down the stairs in a effortless white linen outfit, looking radiant under the island sun.

I leaned against the door of my car, watching her walk over with a warm smile, knowing that within the next few hours, I was going to have to lay every single card on the table.