My Clingy CEO Husband

###Chapter 10: I Hear President Sterling Likes to Bet

Benjamin Sterling gritted his teeth, reflexively shirking responsibility. "It’s all that jinx Maxine Rhodes’s fault..."

"President Sterling," Ethan Hawthorne cut in coldly, his voice laced with indisputable authority. "To blame one’s business failures on a woman... that’s rather unbecoming, wouldn’t you say?"

Benjamin Sterling was taken aback and quickly corrected himself. "Yes, yes, you’re right, Mr. Hawthorne. It was a slip of the tongue."

After all, Benjamin Sterling’s sole purpose for hosting this banquet was to beg this business titan for help. He swallowed his humiliation, plastered on an even more obsequious smile, and trailed Ethan Hawthorne like a shadow, his tone groveling.

"Mr. Hawthorne, I won’t lie to you. The Sterlings have run into some difficulties recently, with our cash flow... As long as you’re willing to lend a hand, I’ll agree to any terms! Really, any terms at all!"

Ethan Hawthorne casually swirled the crystal glass in his hand, his indifferent gaze sweeping over Benjamin’s pathetic, groveling display. "You’ll really agree to any terms?"

"Of course! Of course!" As if clutching at straws, Benjamin Sterling nodded and bowed eagerly.

Ethan Hawthorne leaned in slightly, a predatory, cat-and-mouse amusement in his eyes. His voice carried clearly to Benjamin Sterling and the surrounding guests, who were all straining to listen. "I hear... that President Sterling enjoys making wagers in private? And that you have a taste for particularly... inventive stakes?"

Benjamin Sterling chuckled. ’Looks like this Ethan Hawthorne knows how to have fun, too.’

’This should be easy then.’

He put on an obsequious smile. "I wonder what Mr. Hawthorne has in mind? Heh heh, as long as it pleases you, I’ll make the arrangements immediately."

The moment he finished, Ethan Hawthorne elegantly pulled a few bills from the inner pocket of his suit and contemptuously slapped them against Benjamin Sterling’s face.

Benjamin Sterling’s face instantly went white as a sheet, his lips trembling uncontrollably.

"I hear," Ethan Hawthorne said, pacing before him. His voice wasn’t loud, but it carried enough for everyone to hear. "That President Sterling enjoys playing... little party games at the dinner table? Like, for instance, making someone drink out of a high-heeled shoe?"

The room fell instantly silent. Every guest’s eyes were fixed on him, their expressions a mixture of shock, contempt, and, for the most part, the gleeful anticipation of watching a good show.

Rose Joyce bit down hard on her lip, her hands nervously twisting the hem of her skirt. Her heart ached for Benjamin, but she was too intimidated by Ethan Hawthorne’s powerful, cold aura to take a single step forward.

Benjamin Sterling could feel the stares coming from all directions, each one a needle stabbing into his pride.

He wanted to turn and walk away, but then he thought of his company on the brink of bankruptcy, of the crumbling Sterling Family...

He closed his eyes, nearly drowning in the overwhelming wave of humiliation.

’This was the same ridiculous thing he had forced Maxine to do six months ago to please a difficult client! But Maxine had refused that day, hadn’t she?’

"Mr. Hawthorne, this... this isn’t appropriate..."

"Not appropriate?" Ethan Hawthorne raised an eyebrow. "But didn’t President Sterling once say that this is what true ’drinking culture’ is all about?"

His gaze fell to the shiny leather shoes on Benjamin Sterling’s feet. "Go on, President Sterling. Drink this wine from your shoe. It’s perfectly fitting."

A series of gasps went through the crowd. Even Rose Joyce covered her mouth in shock.

Benjamin Sterling’s face was ashen as he tremblingly removed his leather shoe.

The mixed stench of cheap leather and sweat was enough to make him gag.

"Mr. Hawthorne, can’t we..." Benjamin’s voice was pleading.

Ethan Hawthorne remained unmoved, merely extending the wine glass. "Drink."

Under the watchful eyes of everyone present, Benjamin Sterling squeezed his eyes shut, poured the wine into his shoe, and then, trembling, lifted the foul-smelling designer leather shoe.

He hesitated for a long moment before finally, under Ethan Hawthorne’s icy stare, tilting his head back and forcing the leather-tainted wine down his throat.

As the harsh liquor, mingled with an indescribable flavor, flooded his mouth, Benjamin Sterling fought the urge to retch, and tears streamed uncontrollably down his cheeks.

Benjamin Sterling had just swallowed the mouthful of wine, which reeked of leather. His stomach churned violently, and tears of humiliation still clung to the corners of his eyes.

His face was ashen, and though his lips trembled, he couldn’t utter a single sound.

From a short distance away, Maxine Rhodes had watched the entire scene unfold.

Ethan Hawthorne was making Benjamin Sterling pay for his past disgusting actions, turning them right back on him.

Looking at Ethan Hawthorne, Maxine suddenly felt like she had someone in her corner. ’This can’t be a coincidence,’ she thought. ’But how did he know?’

Seeing that Benjamin was on the verge of a breakdown, she set down her glass and walked over.

’This can’t be allowed to escalate,’ she thought. ’It would reflect poorly on Ethan Hawthorne.’

"Mr. Hawthorne."

All heads turned toward the voice to see Maxine Rhodes approaching with grace and composure.

She glanced at the pathetic sight of Benjamin Sterling, then turned to Ethan Hawthorne with a polite smile. "Mr. Hawthorne, what could our dear President Sterling have possibly done to displease you?"

Ethan Hawthorne raised an eyebrow, playing along perfectly. "Just experiencing President Sterling’s most highly-recommended test of sincerity."

Seeing Maxine, Benjamin Sterling clutched at her like a drowning man. He practically lunged at her, whispering urgently, "Maxine! You’re the best at negotiations. If you can help me close this deal, I... from now on, I’ll do whatever you say!"

Maxine quietly regarded his pathetic state, but all she could see in her mind was the memory of his recent, smug sneer.

She gave a cold laugh. "President Sterling, so you remember me now?"

She leaned in slightly, returning the humiliation he had dealt her, word for word. "But didn’t you just tell me to go home? To not cause trouble at such an important event?"

Benjamin Sterling froze as if struck by lightning, the color draining completely from his face.

Maxine straightened up, her gaze sweeping over to Rose Joyce as she smiled. "Besides, you brought Miss Joyce with you, didn’t you? On such an important occasion, having her here to... assist you should be more than enough."

Nearby, Rose Joyce clenched her fists. A flame fueled by jealousy, resentment, and ambition roared to life inside her.

’Who says I can’t help my Benjamin?’ she fumed. ’Anything Maxine can do, I have to do better!’

Rose Joyce’s eyes landed on the handsome, distinguished, and incredibly powerful Ethan Hawthorne, and a bold, foolish idea sparked in her mind.

She immediately adjusted her posture, deliberately thrusting out her chest and swaying her hips as she stepped forward, practically pressing herself against Ethan Hawthorne. Her voice was saccharine sweet. "Ethaaan~~ Don’t be angry~~ Why get so worked up over business?"

With that, she reached out a red-manicured finger to touch Ethan Hawthorne’s glass, her eyes practically oozing seduction. "Why don’t you... let me have a drink with you? Help you cool off? We could find a quiet place and take our time... talking. There’s always a solution for business, isn’t there?"

The blatant proposition left the onlookers stunned.

The instant she leaned in, Ethan Hawthorne took half a step back in disgust, his gaze turning glacial.

Before Ethan Hawthorne could even speak, Maxine let out a soft laugh. She stepped forward gracefully and gently intercepted Rose Joyce’s hand just before it touched him.

"My dear Rose," Maxine’s voice was still gentle, but her gaze was sharp as a blade. "Mr. Hawthorne is a notorious germaphobe; he dislikes people getting too close. Everyone in our circle knows that. You should save... this little routine of yours for someone who’ll appreciate it."

She then turned to Ethan Hawthorne. "Shall we?"

Rose Joyce was stung with shame and indignation. But seeing Maxine make her own move on Ethan Hawthorne, a twisted sense of glee instantly washed away her humiliation.

’Does Maxine think she can step in, act all high and mighty, and play the hero, and Mr. Hawthorne will suddenly be impressed? Pathetically naive!’

She glared at the pair, eagerly waiting to see how this reckless woman would be humiliated in turn.