The Retired CEO's Guide To Being Spoiled-Chapter 158: Circles of Power

"Well done, Ethie. You really know how to hide your treasures, don’t you? Where on earth did you find a wife who is so obedient, so beautiful, and so utterly adorable? And to keep him hidden away so thoroughly... No wonder you have been turning down every invitation to go drinking lately. It turns out you have been busy at home, playing house and taking care of your little wife."

Ethie?

Julian blinked, his internal monologue stalling for a second. This was the first time, the absolute first time, he had ever heard anyone dare to address Ethan Caldwell, the feared Vice President, the ruthless business tycoon, by such a rustic, diminutive, and frankly, ridiculous nickname. It sounded affectionate, yes, but also hilariously out of place for a man of Ethan’s stature.

Julian couldn’t hide his surprise. His eyes widened slightly, his curiosity piqued as he looked directly at the man who had spoken.

The man caught Julian’s stare and grinned. It was a wide, dazzling smile, full of charisma. However, as his lips parted, they revealed two slightly sharpened canine teeth. It gave the smile a feral quality, stripping away the civil veneer to reveal something wild and dangerous, like a wolf baring its fangs in play.

Julian froze internally. He was intimately familiar with this archetype. In his previous life, he had encountered countless men like this, individuals who projected the image of a dissolute, carefree playboy or a wasted heir, but who were, in reality, old foxes in disguise. They used their chaotic exterior to mask a calculating, ruthless interior.

The Julian of his past life would not have feared such a man. He would have met the gaze with equal steel. But the Julian of this world was different. He was supposed to be softer, more sheltered.

Reacting quickly to maintain his persona, Julian feigned a sense of intimidation. He let his shoulders drop slightly and shifted his body, scooting backward just an inch until he was pressed firmly against Ethan’s side, silently seeking safety and protection.

Ethan noticed the small, instinctive movement immediately.

Without a second of hesitation, the man’s arm snaked around Julian’s slim waist, pulling him even closer until there was no space left between them. It was a clear, possessive gesture, a silent declaration of ownership and protection to everyone in the room. Ethan narrowed his eyes at the joker, his voice dropping to a warning tone that was firm, though devoid of genuine anger.

"Louis, put that attitude away. Restrain yourself. Do not scare him. He is very timid."

Louis York. That was his name.

Having issued the warning, Ethan turned his attention back to Julian. His gaze softened instantly, the hard edge melting away as he looked at the young man beside him. He began to introduce the group, his voice gentle and reassuring.

"Do not be afraid. These are my childhood friends; we grew up together wearing split-pants. You have already met Simon, Patrick Lane, and Kieran."

The three men who had been named offered warm, polite smiles in greeting.

Kieran Talbot, the doctor, pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. The lenses caught the light, hiding his eyes for a brief moment before he winked, a mischievous smirk playing on his lips.

"Hello there, our new in-law. How is your health holding up these days? Has it stabilized? Do you need me to prescribe any more... supplements or tonics for stamina?"

Julian’s face flushed a deep, brilliant red. The implication was clear as day. Kieran was teasing him about the aftermath of their "activity" at the clinic, implying that Julian might need medical help to recover from Ethan’s intensity.

He chose to ignore the profound, teasing subtext layered within Doctor Talbot’s polite inquiry. Biting his lip slightly to suppress his embarrassment, Julian simply nodded his head in a shy, silent greeting, hoping the heat in his cheeks would fade before anyone else decided to join in on the fun.

Ethan Caldwell did not let the lingering tension from Louis’s teasing hang in the air for too long. He shifted his attention and his hand, gesturing with a deliberate, graceful motion toward the man sitting with the impeccable posture of a statue in the dimmer corner of the room.

"That is Felix Tate." Ethan introduced, his voice carrying a note of deep respect: "He is a career military officer, currently stationed in the Northern Military District. The last time, during our wedding, he was deep undercover executing a classified mission, so he was unable to return in time to attend. He could only send a gift from afar. It is only now, because he happens to be on a rare leave of absence, that he could gather with everyone here."

Felix Tate looked directly at Julian. He offered a sharp, curt nod, a gesture devoid of excess flourish but heavy with acknowledged respect. His face was resolute and stoic, etched with the discipline of his profession. He was a man of few smiles, yet his eyes were clear, burning with an intense, upright integrity.

"Greetings, Mr. Sterling." Felix said, his voice deep and steady, like the rumble of distant thunder: "I have heard your name mentioned for a long time."

After the formal introduction with the military officer, Ethan turned his finger back toward the man with the sharp, canine-like teeth, the one who had audaciously called him "Ethie" just moments before.

"As for this smooth-talking loudmouth." Ethan said, his tone dripping with a mix of annoyance and familiarity: "This is Louis York. He is the mysterious boss behind the curtain of Golden Era Entertainment."

A ripple of genuine astonishment washed over Julian, causing his eyes to widen imperceptibly. Golden Era Entertainment was not just a company. It was a titan. It was one of the three most powerful pillars supporting the current entertainment industry, holding the contracts of countless A-list stars and controlling a massive monopoly on film and media resources.

In his previous life and through the rumors of this world, Julian had only heard whispers about the true owner of that empire. People said the owner bore the surname York, that his movements were ghostly and secretive, and that he never showed his face to the media, leaving all public matters to be handled by a hired CEO. Julian had imagined a shrewd, middle-aged tycoon, perhaps balding and calculating. He had never expected the puppet master to be this young man sitting before him, who looked so recklessly unconcerned with the world.

Julian quickly composed himself and offered a polite, obedient greeting to both men.

"Hello, Brother Felix. Hello, Brother Louis. I am Julian Sterling."

He addressed them both as "Brother", using the respectful honorific. After all, they were all roughly the same age as Ethan, though some, like Felix, carried themselves with a maturity that made them seem older. Julian couldn’t help but think internally that if this body had been born just a year or two later, the age gap would have been significant enough that he might have had to change his address to "Uncle" to be properly polite.

"Oh, come now, do not be so formal." Louis waved his hand dismissively, his smile widening to reveal those dangerous teeth again.

He reached out and poured a glass of fresh fruit juice, sliding it across the glass table toward Julian. In truth, Louis had initially reached for the bottle of strong spirits, intending to push a glass of hard liquor toward the young man to test his mettle. However, he had caught the scorching glare Ethan was shooting at him, a look that promised swift retribution if he dared to intoxicate Julian. Louis wisely pivoted to the non-alcoholic option.

"Calling me Louis sounds so distant and stiff." Louis complained playfully: "Just call me Louis. And by the way, Ethie... do you not intend to introduce your precious treasure in more detail? I heard from Simon that the recent collaboration project with Iris Visuals has the fingerprints of our new in-law all over it?"

Louis’s question acted like a stone thrown into a calm lake, instantly drawing the attention of everyone in the room. The atmosphere of casual teasing dissipated, replaced by a genuine, sharp curiosity. These were men of business and power. Money and innovation were languages they spoke fluently.