Chapter 159 - Reputation In Mulch

Ethan's office

Assistant Chen was standing with a stiff smile on his pale, sweaty face looking at Ethan who was on a call.

Ethan was already busy with an international company's collaboration but this Zhang Hongmin has been getting on his nerves creating all sorts of troubles for him.

"CEO, I just received a call from Mr Zhang's secretary saying that he has made arrangements for the emergency meeting at The Glass House, private room 1..", he reported with a wary look on his face, his fingers tapping the rim of his spectacles nervously.

Early morning Mr Zhang's secretary had sent an email informing about a sudden meeting to discuss the second agreement between both parties and also the ongoing construction of the government project.

"Alright, first get everything prepared then call me, I'm busy right now..", Ethan glanced at him for a second before getting back to his work.

"Yes..", he had a smile expressing his relief and left hurriedly.

Ethan looked at the closed door, a chilling smile crept up his lips when the arrogant and smug face of Zhang Hongmin flashed past his dark eyes.

- - - - -

A black Maybach stopped in front of a luxurious skyscraper ornamented with large glass walls and windows in monochrome.

Attired in a light blue suit with a crisp white shirt underneath Ethan got down from the car flaunting his cold, handsome face as he made his way inside the seven star hotel with a bespectacled Assistant Chen following behind him.

"Oh my god! Isn't that Ethan Lee? Aah.. I can die happy now.."

"Why is Ethan Lee here? Pinch me! Ah! Is my make up smudged?"

"Look, It's CEO Lee. He's so handsome! Much more good looking than those A-list celebrities.."

With curios, overwhelmed and open-mouthed gazes following his every step Ethan strolled through the majestic lobby into the golden hued glass elevator.

The elevator came to a halt at the 17th floor where the private rooms were located, with steady steps Ethan stepped out of the elevator with his usual dignified and poised posture.

"This way Mr Lee..", a man in a black suit emerged from the corner escorting Ethan towards the private room booked by Zhang Hongmin.

The group stood in front of a large door with a crystal number plate displaying the number 01, two men in bodyguard's outfits blocked Assistant Chen's entry which made Ethan trepidatious as he raised his brow.

The man in black smiled and pushed the door open for Ethan to enter while nodding politely.

Ignoring the fawning man Ethan walked inside without even sparing a glance at him, a knowing smile in his dark eyes.

The private room was lavish and brightly lit with large chandeliers hanging from the dome shaped ceiling, he strolled inside his eyes darting around the cozy but quiet room.

"What's going on..", he thought looking at the empty private room.

Ethan was about to turn around and walk out of the room when a faint whimpering sound entered his pointy ears.

Halting his steps he turned around with a complicated gaze, he hastened towards the closed door of the lounge and pushed the door open.

Ethan entered the lounge to find a disheveled and hazy Zhang Lili whimpering on the large round bed with flashy red sheets and pillows as she tried to look ahead squinting.

"What the hell is going on here!", he was enraged beyond words, his hands were clenched tightly as he glared at her.

Zhang Lili was skimpily clad in a see-through lingerie in maroon which barely covered her assets, her fair skin against the red sheets was a sight to behold.

Ethan's eyes darkened visibly as the air around him turned chilly, a storm brewing in his heart. He was boiling with anger, the fury inside him was making him go crazy.

Angered by their audacity and repulsed by the sight of the half-naked Zhang Lili across him on the bed, Ethan called out his bodyguards who were stationed at a distance from the private room to throw the beauty out of the private room.

"Zhang Hongmin, you'll definitely pay for this bold behavior!", his dangerously calm voice rendered Assistant Chen speechless.

Ethan strolled after the bodyguards carrying Zhang Lili like a sack of rice, Zhang Hongmin's men emerged after hearing the commotion outside.

"Don't you dare open this door until I say!", Ethan growled at the man in black who was the manager.

Ethan's men subdued Zhang Hongmin's lackeys within seconds and locked them inside the private room.

In the lobby of The Glass House, Zhang Lili was mercilessly thrown on the floor in the centre of the lobby in front of all the guests present in the hotel.

"Aah.. hmm...", shrieks and whimpers echoed the now silent lobby with many influential people standing with hushed, bewildered expressions as they peered at her.

Zhang Lili looked in pain, discombobulated. Totally unaware of her surroundings she tried to sit up straight, her limbs were limp and weak, her face flushed and eyes half-closed.

Ethan was a merciless and cruel man, this trait of his was unknown to the world but Lucifer knew his friend very well.

He was a wolf in sheep's disguise, his sharp eagle eyes and cold-hearted personality allowing him to see-through his enemies is one of the secrets behind his success.

"Isn't that the no 1 socialite.. Zhang Lili? Aah! Why is she dressed like that.."

"Isn't it obvious? Shameless! Trying to climb into CEO Lee's bed.. Tch!

"How shameless and disgusting! I thought she's a goddess but look at her.."

People were maligning her image, passing disparaging comments at her helpless and disheveled state. Zhang Lili's reputation was in a mulch all thanks to her greedy father, Zhang Hongmin.

Ethan didn't pay any attention to the moving mouths around him, his cold and frosty gaze akin to glaciers was fixed on Zhang Lili's red face.

Without warning his shiny black leather shoes stomped heavily on her frail, slender and fair hand.

"Aahh..", her hoarse screams rang in the lobby with everyone's eyes fixed on her and Ethan who was looking like a beast out for his prey.

Seconds after Ethan stomped her hand ruthlessly, his men appeared with huge buckets of ice cold water with large chunks of ice in it and splashed at her limp body on the floor.

"Aaah.. ke ke! ke!", shrill scream followed by choking and coughing was heard.

The ice water hit Zhang Lili's head waking her senses, her woozy stupor broke and she looked at her surroundings in horror.

The large chunks of ice rendered her creamy exposed body with bruises and cuts, blood seeped out of her fair arms, legs and chest, her forehead had a large slash with blood dripping out.

She looked so beautiful, pitiful yet there was only cold hatred in Ethan's eyes who glowered at her with his dark black orbs.

Zhang Lili flinched under his gaze as her breathing hitched, her eyes red rimmed with hot tears as she looked down at her sorry and half-naked appearance.