She didn’t know what this woman was here for, but since the person in charge hadn’t shown up yet, she didn’t bother with pleasantries. The door opened again from the outside, and a figure in formal attire appeared at the entrance. “Ms. Nelson, would you please come with me?” Chloe had never been to this company before and didn’t realize that negotiating a deal here was so complicated.
Nevertheless, she got up and followed.
The person led her out of the conference room and straight downstairs. “Excuse me, when will your chairman finish the meeting?”
“Ms. Nelson, our chairman will be a while longer. So, to ensure you have a comfortable wait, the chairman has prepared a lounge for you.” Chloe raised an eyebrow. If they were preparing a lounge, it probably wouldn’t be over for at least an hour or two.
She didn’t like spending a lot of time on negotiations because even if she took on a project, she could usually finish it within four hours.
But now, just waiting would take an hour or two, which she felt was a waste of time.
However, since she was already here, it would be even more of a loss if she went back now.
Reluctantly, she went to the lounge.
Her phone buzzed with a message notification. She picked it up and saw it was a text from Michael.
[How’s it going?]
Hasn’t started yet. The client is still in a meeting. I haven’t even seen them.]
His reply came quickly: [It’s okay. Just wait a bit longer.]
Chloe thought for a moment: [Why don’t you go back first? I’ll take a taxi back later.]
He had been waiting for her in the parking lot, and it wasn’t fair to him.
She didn’t want to owe him anything more.
[It’s fine.] Chloe received a curt from the other side, leaving her at a loss for words. This person was as stubborn as ever.
The lounge was essentially a room in the resort, complete with a sofa and a bed.
Chloe walked out to the balcony, taking in the sight of the towering mountains. It was somewhat relaxing.
She waited a bit longer, idly wandering around the room and scrolling through her phone until the low battery warning popped up. Reluctantly, she put her phone down, deciding to go out and inquire about the situation. It had been over an hour since she arrived.
At the door, just as she was about to press the handle, she realized it was locked from the outside.
Even with her keycard, she couldn’t open it.
“Damn it!”
Chloe swore, a rare occurrence for her. She couldn’t figure out what was going on.
She wondered if she was intentionally locked in or if this was just an accident.
After a few more unsuccessful attempts, Chloe decided to call the resort’s front desk.
But when she picked up the phone, there was no dial tone.
She bent down and saw that the phone line had been cut.
Now she was sure she had been set up!
She grabbed her phone to message Michael, but the phone that had been working fine just moments ago now had no signal.Exclusive © content by N(ô)ve/l/Drama.Org.
She cursed under her breath and went out to the balcony, wondering if the poor signal was due to being in the mountains. She raised and lowered her phone, but there was still no signal.
It couldn’t be an accident. The resort had been operating for so long; there was no way they’d make such a rookie mistake. The only plausible explanation was that there was a signal jammer nearby.
Someone was clearly targeting her!
*****
Michael had been waiting in the parking lot the whole time. The moment Chloe told him the client hadn’t arrived yet, he became suspicious and asked his assistant back home to track Chloe’s phone. He hadn’t installed any tracking device on Chloe’s phone; it was satellite tracking.
Up until now, there hadn’t been anything unusual. Chloe’s phone had remained within a small area.
His phone rang. He glanced at the screen and answered. Ethan’s voice came through. “Mr. Shawn, Ms. Nelson’s phone signal just disappeared.”
Michael immediately sat up straight in the driver’s seat. “What happened?”
“The signal point blinked just now, and then it was gone. We can’t locate it anymore.”
She didn’t know what this woman was here for, but since the person in charge hadn’t shown up yet, she didn’t bother with pleasantries. The door opened again from the outside, and a figure in formal attire appeared at the entrance. “Ms. Nelson, would you please come with me?” Chloe had never been to this company before and didn’t realize that negotiating a deal here was so complicated.
Nevertheless, she got up and followed.
The person led her out of the conference room and straight downstairs. “Excuse me, when will your chairman finish the meeting?”
“Ms. Nelson, our chairman will be a while longer. So, to ensure you have a comfortable wait, the chairman has prepared a lounge for you.” Chloe raised an eyebrow. If they were preparing a lounge, it probably wouldn’t be over for at least an hour or two.
She didn’t like spending a lot of time on negotiations because even if she took on a project, she could usually finish it within four hours.
But now, just waiting would take an hour or two, which she felt was a waste of time.
However, since she was already here, it would be even more of a loss if she went back now.
Reluctantly, she went to the lounge.
Her phone buzzed with a message notification. She picked it up and saw it was a text from Michael.
[How’s it going?]
Hasn’t started yet. The client is still in a meeting. I haven’t even seen them.]
His reply came quickly: [It’s okay. Just wait a bit longer.]
Chloe thought for a moment: [Why don’t you go back first? I’ll take a taxi back later.]
He had been waiting for her in the parking lot, and it wasn’t fair to him.
She didn’t want to owe him anything more.
[It’s fine.] Chloe received a curt from the other side, leaving her at a loss for words. This person was as stubborn as ever.
The lounge was essentially a room in the resort, complete with a sofa and a bed.
Chloe walked out to the balcony, taking in the sight of the towering mountains. It was somewhat relaxing.
She waited a bit longer, idly wandering around the room and scrolling through her phone until the low battery warning popped up. Reluctantly, she put her phone down, deciding to go out and inquire about the situation. It had been over an hour since she arrived.
At the door, just as she was about to press the handle, she realized it was locked from the outside.
Even with her keycard, she couldn’t open it.
“Damn it!”
Chloe swore, a rare occurrence for her. She couldn’t figure out what was going on.
She wondered if she was intentionally locked in or if this was just an accident.
After a few more unsuccessful attempts, Chloe decided to call the resort’s front desk.
But when she picked up the phone, there was no dial tone.
She bent down and saw that the phone line had been cut.
Now she was sure she had been set up!
She grabbed her phone to message Michael, but the phone that had been working fine just moments ago now had no signal.Exclusive © content by N(ô)ve/l/Drama.Org.
She cursed under her breath and went out to the balcony, wondering if the poor signal was due to being in the mountains. She raised and lowered her phone, but there was still no signal.
It couldn’t be an accident. The resort had been operating for so long; there was no way they’d make such a rookie mistake. The only plausible explanation was that there was a signal jammer nearby.
Someone was clearly targeting her!
*****
Michael had been waiting in the parking lot the whole time. The moment Chloe told him the client hadn’t arrived yet, he became suspicious and asked his assistant back home to track Chloe’s phone. He hadn’t installed any tracking device on Chloe’s phone; it was satellite tracking.
Up until now, there hadn’t been anything unusual. Chloe’s phone had remained within a small area.
His phone rang. He glanced at the screen and answered. Ethan’s voice came through. “Mr. Shawn, Ms. Nelson’s phone signal just disappeared.”
Michael immediately sat up straight in the driver’s seat. “What happened?”
“The signal point blinked just now, and then it was gone. We can’t locate it anymore.”
“You inhaled a lot of smoke just now. I’m taking you for a checkup.”
She was pregnant now, and it must have taken quite a bit of burning to trigger the smoke alarm. There were even some streaks of soot on her face. Chloe struggled a bit in his arms. “Put me down first. I still have things to take care of.”
She needed to find out who was behind this.
“Someone deliberately locked me in. I have to get to the bottom of this.”
Michael looked into her determined eyes and sighed, “I’ll go with you.”
This time, Chloe didn’t refuse.
She didn’t know where to find the chairman, so she decided to try her luck at the conference room she had visited earlier.
As she appeared at the conference room door, she saw the assistant who had greeted her initially. The assistant’s eyes widened in surprise at her disheveled appearance. “Ms. Nelson, what are you doing here?”
“Is your chairman done with his meeting?”
The assistant stammered, utterly confused, “It’s over, Mr. Portman is currently inside…”
Before he could finish, Chloe walked straight over and pushed open the conference room door.
Two people were seated inside, and one was standing.
Both of the seated individuals had smiles on their faces. Chloe recognized one of them. It was Ariana.
Behind her stood a man, the same employee who had offered to take Chloe to the lounge over an hour ago.
So it was Ariana behind this.
Jeremy Portman was startled to see Chloe. “Ms. Nelson, why are you back?”This belongs to ch_àpT.ëR$fLO-w.cóm – ©.
“Back? Shouldn’t I be back?”
Chloe frowned, and her eyes filled with anger.
“Ms. Carey said you had something urgent come up and wouldn’t be able to discuss the partnership with us today. Has Ms. Nelson’s matter been resolved?”
Jeremy looked at her disheveled appearance, then glanced at the equally puzzled assistant behind her, even more confused.
Something urgent came up.
So that was what Ariana told him.
Chloe walked up to Ariana, looking down at her. “Ms. Carey, would you please explain why you said I had something urgent and left, and why you had your people lock me in a room at the resort?” Ariana’s face paled. She hadn’t expected Chloe to escape from that room.
“What? Wait, Ms. Nelson, I don’t understand what you’re saying. Ms. Carey is also here today to discuss the partnership. I was planning to choose one of you to collaborate with.”
Jeremy’s words made everything clear to Chloe.
No wonder Ariana had been so hostile towards her from the start. It turned out they were competitors.
But the tactics she used were simply too low-class.
Chloe looked at Ariana, a cold glint in her eyes.
“Ms. Carey, I understand you want this project, but using such underhanded tactics is truly unprofessional. Locking me in a room under the pretense of Mr. Portman’s name? Do you have so little confidence in yourself?” Chloe wasn’t wrong. If Ariana wasn’t insecure about her skills, she wouldn’t be so afraid of competition. Ariana’s f
Chloe understood the implications of Jeremy inviting two people.
She didn’t use the name Jioleek; she was just a security expert introduced by James. It was natural for Jeremy to be hesitant about her skills and want to choose between the two. Everyone was in business; comparisons were inevitable.
Jeremy’s words were merely an attempt to appease Chloe, as Ariana was the one who initiated the incident.
“Mr. Portman, you know my capabilities. If you entrust this project to me, I guarantee you won’t be disappointed.”
Chloe tuned out the rest of the conversation and followed the assistant to change.
She felt much better after shedding the damp clothes. When she returned to the conference room, both individuals had regained their composure.
Ariana’s presence indicated the matter wasn’t resolved.Text © 2024 CH-APtêrsfLöW_cóm.
Jeremy looked at Chloe with a smile. “Ms. Nelson, this project is crucial to our company’s future interests. I hope you understand my need for careful consideration in this matter.” Chloe nodded. “Of course, I understand.”
Chloe was curious to hear what more Jeremy had to say.
“Both you and Ms. Carey are top talents in this field, so I hope you can compete fairly. How about this – in three days, both of you provide me with an initial proposal. How does that sound?”
It was the first time Chloe had encountered a situation where an initial proposal was required in this line of work.
However, this project involved upgrading the company’s system and handling other specific design details. Creating a proposal wasn’t out of the question.
Seeing Chloe’s silence, Jeremy continued with a smile, “What happened earlier was just a misunderstanding. Ms. Carey already realizes she was wrong. Ms. Carey, please apologize to Ms. Nelson.”
Ariana’s eyes still held that same arrogance, but for the sake of securing this project, she had to lower her head to Chloe.
“I’m sorry.”
She just said those simple words, devoid of any sincerity.
Chloe understood that those who made it onto the rankings often carried a sense of superiority.
“Since an apology has been offered, let’s consider the previous incident settled. In three days, I’ll await both of your proposals, and then I’ll make a final decision on who to collaborate with. Do either of you have any further comments or requests?” Ariana didn’t even glance at Chloe. “I have no objections.”
She had never lost in this kind of showdown.
Chloe also nodded slightly. “I have no objections either.”
Jeremy stood up with a cheerful smile. “Then it’s settled. I have another meeting, so I won’t keep you any longer. I’ll have my assistant escort you out!”
After Jeremy left, Ariana finally glanced at Chloe. “Don’t get it twisted-I wasn’t admitting you’re any good with that apology. If you have any sense, you should back off now.”
Chloe found it somewhat amusing. “Regardless of one’s abilities, I’ve never seen anyone willingly give up an opportunity. Besides, the plans haven’t been finalized yet, and it’s still uncertain who will come out on top.”
She agreed to fair competition, not because she forgave Ariana. But because she was extremely confident in her skills.
Jioleek, who consistently ranked first, had never lost a competition. The person who could beat her hadn’t even been born yet.
Ariana scoffed at her words, having never heard of a hacker named Chloe. For her, Chloe was just a nobody. She couldn’t possibly compare to her.
“Don’t cry when you lose.”
Ariana stood up from the sofa, and her eyes filled with disdain.
“Those words apply to you too.”
Chloe remained seated calmly, her expression unfazed.
Disappointed, she gave up on her confrontation and left the meeting room.
As Chloe stepped out, she encountered a visibly anxious Michael. Šeeing her, he quickly approached. “I’ve scheduled an appointment at the hospital. Let’s head over now.” He hadn’t forgotten about taking her for a checkup.
Chloe, unable to refuse him and acknowledging that it was indeed time for her prenatal examination, agreed to go with him.
The checkup results were reassuring; the baby was perfectly healthy with no issues.
Michael, relieved upon hearing the news from the doctor, let out a sigh of relief. “That’s a relief.”
Over the next three days, Chloe focused most of her energy on preparing a project proposal, finding time to visit James at the hospital whenever she could. Initially, Maggie had been the sole occupant of James’ hospital room.
However, things got lively after Vicky arrived in Mamaica.
Vicky, a spoiled socialite, had little patience for Maggie and often exchanged sharp words with her.
When James had had enough, he’d snap at Vicky, who would storm out of the room in a huff.
Despite everyone’s assumption that she was genuinely angry, Vicky would always return the next day as if nothing had happened.
Today, Chloe was at the hospital, handing James a peeled apple.
Chloe teased, “Your room’s become quite the social hub. With two bodyguards flanking you, you must be enjoying all the attention.”
James rolled his eyes, clearly exasperated. “Enjoying it? More like I’m about to lose my mind.
“When can I get out of here? I can’t stand another minute in this place,” James said, frustration evident in his voice.
“I just spoke to the doctor. You’ll be able to leave once your stitches are out and your wound has healed,” Chloe explained.
Chloe wiped the fruit knife with a damp cloth as she replied, “Probably another two weeks.
“For an injury like yours, that’s considered fast.”Text © 2024 cHâPtër-sfLōw.cøm.
“Two weeks?!” James’ eyes widened in disbelief.
James groaned at the thought, saying, “Never mind. How did things go with the job you were sent to handle? They didn’t give you too much trouble, I hope?”
Chloe let out a small scoff. “They didn’t make things difficult, but they did put me in competition with another candidate.”
She chose not to mention her own setbacks to James.
There was no need to add to his stress when she’d only gotten a bit wet but hadn’t been seriously harmed.
James’ frown deepened. “Smith is really pushing it. I’m calling him right now!”
Chloe put her hand over his phone to stop him. “Don’t bother. Competition is part of the game. It’s actually a good thing.”
She thought, “Without competition, how can I prove my worth to everyone or show Ariana my capabilities?”
James chuckled, “You’ve got quite the fighting spirit.”
He knew Chloe wasn’t one to back down from a challenge; in fact, she thrived on it.
The mundane and predictable bored her.
“If I’m this strong, why shouldn’t I have some fight in me?” Chloe retorted with a smirk.
James laughed, nodding in agreement. “Yes, you’re the strongest.”
Just then, Vicky walked in and saw Chloe holding James’ phone. Seeing them like that, she jumped to the wrong conclusion, thinking they were holding hands. Without missing a beat, she shouted, “What the heck are you two doing?” She strode forward confidently and pulled Chloe’s hand away with a forceful flick.
These past few days, she had been engaged in a battle of wits and courage with Maggie and had momentarily forgotten about Chloe.
James couldn’t help but feel annoyed every time she showed up. “What is it this time?”
ace turned sour.
Jeremy, having heard all this, finally understood. He looked at Ariana with disappointment in his eyes.
Vicky didn’t waste a moment and pulled out some documents from her bag, thrusting them towards James. “Take a good look at this. Not only has she been pregnant before, but she’s also had a miscarriage!” Vicky thought, “Finally, I’ve caught Maggie in her true colors!” James scanned the report, visibly shocked, but his mind quickly dismissed its relevance.
“So what if she’s had a miscarriage? The child wasn’t mine, and neither was it conceived with me. Why are you showing me this?”
Vicky was exasperated. “Didn’t you read? It says she has a thin uterine wall and might have trouble conceiving again. If you get involved with her, your family line could end!”
Her frustration was palpable. Maggie’s inability to bear children made any future with her inconceivable.
James was taken aback by Vicky’s insistence and felt a surge of irritation.
“Vicky, first of all, I have no plans to marry Maggie. Secondly, if my future spouse can’t have children, we could always adopt. And third, I don’t like you and definitely won’t marry you.”
Her premature leap into the role of his girlfriend, or even wife, was grating on him.
Despite Vicky’s repeated exposure to his lack of interest, hearing it once more was no less painful.
“What’s so wrong with me?” Vicky asked, her voice trembling.
She had only ever had eyes for James, had never been in a relationship before, and her feelings were pure and intense.
James replied coldly, “It’s about feeling. I just don’t feel anything for you.”
His words were like a death sentence to Vicky.
The lack of a specific reason, merely the absence of feeling, was more crushing than any detailed criticism could be.
Watching Vicky storm out, Chloe shook her head in sympathy. “She’s just a young girl. Could you try not to be so harsh?”
James’ expression remained unchanged. “If I sugarcoat things, she might cling on even longer.”
He knew that girls could be sensitive, but Vicky was different.
Even with him laying it out as clearly as he did, Vicky kept pressing forward.
James was genuinely afraid that if he showed any sign of weakness, she might interpret it as a chance. And once that happened, he’d be stuck dealing with her for good.
Chloe reluctantly decided to leave it be. Seeing the report Vicky had left behind, she figured bringing up Maggie might not be the best move right now.
The room fell into an uneasy silence.
Half an hour later, James’ phone rang, displaying Asher’s name.
Assuming it was about his sister, James didn’t answer.
Unable to reach him, Asher called Chloe instead.
She picked up the phone, her brow furrowing as she listened. “He says Vicky’s gone to the most popular bar in town.”
James was momentarily stunned, thinking, “This woman is a real handful.”
Chloe, unsure how to handle the situation, handed her phone to James.
Asher said, “James, you need to take this call. I can’t manage her on my own. You know how chaotic things can get here at night. She’s alone in a bar, and I’m worried. Only you can get her out.”
James wasn’t supposed to leave the hospital. Even though his stitches were in place and his recovery was progressing well, getting out of bed could risk opening the wound.
So when Asher spoke, Chloe instinctively glanced at James to gauge his reaction.
After ending the call, James handed the phone back to Chloe, and his gaze swept around the room until it landed on his coat, which was hanging by the door.
“You’re actually going?” Chloe asked, and her voice tinged with concern.
James gave a curt nod. “You said it yourself. She’s just a young girl.”
The bar Vicky had gone to was notorious for being the roughest in town. James couldn’t fathom why Vicky had chosen such a place.C_Hã.pt_ër$FlóW_Com owns © this.
“Hold on a second. Your wound isn’t fully healed yet. Are you sure you want to go out there and look for her now?”
Chloe was apprehensive about the bar scene; anything could happen there.
James pressed his lips together, his resolve hardening.
“She’s Asher’s sister. That makes her almost like my own sister. I can’t just ignore this.”
If something happened to him, she’d have a hard time explaining it to Smith.
Chloe drove James to the bar.
At the entrance, Asher was anxiously waiting. As he saw James get out of the car slowly, Asher’s eyes showed a flicker of guilt. “Sorry, man. I really had no choice.” If Vicky had just listened, he wouldn’t have needed to drag James into this mess.
“Let’s go,” Asher said, leading the way into the bar.
Inside, the multicolored lights flashed across the faces of the three of them, making Chloe squint.
Asher knew where Vicky’s table was and headed straight for it.
Before they were even close, Chloe spotted a woman dancing on the couch, clearly lost in the music. It had to be Vicky.
She was holding a half-empty bottle of beer, her expression one of reckless abandon.
Nearby, a group of men leered at her, their eyes roaming over her smooth legs in a disgusting manner.
Asher, seeing the way those men looked at Vicky, lost his temper. He pushed through the crowd and stormed toward her.
“Vicky, get down from there!”
Vicky paused, then saw Asher. She stubbornly kept her gaze away. “Why should I? I’m having a great time up here!”
Chloe followed James closely.
When Vicky noticed her, she took a bigger gulp of her beer and even provocatively draped her arm around one of the men’s necks, trying to dance closely with him. Asher was fuming.
“Vicky, get down now!” Asher demanded, reaching for her arm.
The man next to Vicky scowled at the interruption. “Who are you? Didn’t you hear her? She doesn’t want to leave with you.”
“I’m her brother!” Asher snapped back.
The man laughed. “Her brother? Well, I’m her brother too. Since you’re her brother, maybe you should be a bit more understanding and let her enjoy herself.” James had been silent up until now. Seeing the man’s hand moving up Vicky’s thigh, he pulled out his gun and pressed it against the man’s chest. “Get lost.”
In this country, carrying a gun was legal, but for this man, seeing a gun pointed at him was a shock. He practically collapsed in fear.This belongs to C_häPtersflö_w-cøm – ©.
Vicky was furious. She was about to yell at James for interfering when she caught his cold, unyielding gaze.
“Get down.”
Vicky shrank back and reluctantly climbed down from the couch.
She pouted, asking, “James, who do you think you are to boss me around? Why do you care if I drink with someone else?”
The loud music in the bar made her almost shout her words.
James’ brow furrowed as he pulled her toward the exit.
The bass was so intense it was almost deafening.
Outside, Vicky shrugged off his hand, still bristling. “If you don’t like me, then stay out of my business. What are you even doing here? Do you think I care about you?” James ground his teeth. “Vicky, you’re an adult. Do you have any idea what those men inside are thinking about you? I could walk away, but it’s your brother who’s worried about you, so he called me here. Do you think I wanted to come?” Vicky’s eyes filled with tears.
“Then leave!”
Before anyone could react, a group of people burst out of the bar. One of them, brandishing a bottle, swung it at James’ head without hesitation.
James, who had been struck, was largely unharmed. He quickly teamed up with Asher, and within moments, they dealt with the rowdy troublemakers. “James, your head is bleeding!” Vicky exclaimed, her voice trembling as she pointed to the blood trickling down his forehead, her eyes brimming with tears. James touched his forehead, confirming the blood.
Chloe, seeing the seriousness of the situation, urgently pulled him away. “Let’s get you to the hospital and get that head wound taken care of. We need to make sure it’s properly bandaged.” James had just undergone surgery, and now, with this new injury, the potential complications were worrying.
Chloe had always felt coming to the bar was a bad idea, and this only confirmed it.
Vicky, sobbing uncontrollably, reached out to wipe the blood from James’ forehead.
“I’m so sorry, James. I didn’t mean for this to happen. I won’t come back here again, I promise. Please, don’t let this be serious. If you don’t want me around, I’ll stay away. Just please, don’t be hurt…” She had been so defiant earlier, but now she was a mess of tears.
Chloe glanced at her, thinking Asher was right. Only James could really keep her in check.
At the hospital, the doctor examined James’ wound and scolded him before bandaging it up.
Fortunately, the cut wasn’t deep or severe.
The doctor warned, “You can’t just wander off again. If this wound gets infected, it could be life-threatening.”
Vicky trembled with guilt, her eyes full of regret.
After the bandaging was done, she tentatively approached James. “James…”
She wanted to make amends and hoped he wouldn’t stay angry with her, realizing her mistake.
Asher sighed, “See, if you had just listened earlier, none of this would have happened.”
Vicky just pressed her lips, tears still streaming down her face.
As night had already fallen, Michael arrived to pick Chloe up. Noticing James’ bandaged head, he looked surprised.
“Chloe, I’m here to take you home.”
Chloe confirmed James was okay before grabbing her bag and preparing to leave.
She crossed paths with Maggie, who had been missing all day. Sensing trouble might follow her, Chloe decided to leave quickly to avoid becoming the next target.
On the fourth day, Chloe completed the draft and copied it onto a new USB drive before heading to the resort where she had previously visited.
Michael was reluctant to wait in the parking lot this time. “You almost got into trouble last time. I’m not comfortable with you going alone.”
Chloe bit her lip. “Then just wait for me outside the conference room.”
Michael nodded, satisfied with this arrangement.
Inside the conference room, the chairman was still absent, indicating how busy they truly were.
Chloe plugged her USB drive into the computer, but suddenly, the screen went blue. By the time it rebooted, the file was gone, and the USB drive had been completely wiped.
As Ariana walked in and saw Chloe sitting in front of the now-useless computer, a smug smile crept across her face. “Oh, I forgot to mention, that computer had a virus and can’t be used.” Chloe glared at her, realizing this was deliberate.
She hadn’t expected Ariana to be so persistent in her sabotage, having already played dirty last time.
“Did you actually put your proposal on there?” Ariana asked with a hint of mockery.
Chloe’s hand, which had been resting near the mouse, paused slightly. This tiny movement seemed to confirm Ariana’s suspicions.
“Oh, what a shame. Your proposal is gone. What will you show Jeremy now?”
Ariana smiled smugly, already feeling like the victor in this battle.
She glanced at her assistant, exchanging a satisfied look.
“Ms. Nelson, we told you before, you’re only embarrassing yourself by trying to compete with us.”Exclusive © content by N(ô)ve/l/Drama.Org.
Without a word, Chloe removed her USB drive from the computer and rose to sit on the other side of the room.
Ariana had expected Chloe to either scramble to recover her lost proposal or throw in the towel completely.
But instead, Chloe sat down with an air of indifference, as if the loss didn’t faze her at all.
Chloe glanced over at Ariana. “Mr. Portman hasn’t arrived yet. Why should I leave?”
She was confident that even without her USB, she could still present her draft.
Ariana studied Chloe for a moment before taking her seat next to her assistant.
Within three minutes, Jeremy walked in. Seeing both women already seated, he greeted them with a smile, saying, “Everyone’s here? Great. Let’s get straight to it. Let’s hear your proposals!” Ariana grinned, pulling out her proposal. “I’ll go first. I’m sure Ms. Nelson won’t mind, will you?”
“Not at all,” Chloe replied.
As Ariana began to explain her proposal to Jeremy, Chloe sat back, arms crossed, and focused on her phone screen.
Only when Ariana finished did Chloe finally put her phone down.
“Ms. Carey’s proposal is quite comprehensive and well thought out. I really like it!”
Jeremy’s praise could have been genuine or merely polite, but Chloe maintained a neutral expression, not offering any further commentary.Exclusive © content by N(ô)ve/l/Drama.Org.
“Ms. Nelson, what about your proposal?” Jeremy asked.
Ariana and her assistant were almost eager to see Chloe’s embarrassment. So, she responded, “Mr. Portman, Ms. Nelson’s USB was infected with a virus, and it seems her proposal might be lost.” Jeremy’s smile faltered.
As a businessman, he valued time above all, and he didn’t have the luxury to wait while Chloe scrambled to redo her proposal.
“Ms. Nelson, will you be able to provide the proposal?” He asked.
Chloe tapped on her phone and promptly sent a file to Jeremy’s device. “Of course. I have a backup.”
Ariana and her assistant were momentarily stunned. They had been so sure of Chloe’s downfall that they found it hard to believe she had a backup plan.
Chloe met Ariana’s gaze and said softly, “Ms. Carey, you seem surprised. Isn’t it standard practice to keep a backup of your work?”
Ariana’s face darkened. She shot a reproachful look at her assistant, blaming him for the failed strategy.
When Chloe finished presenting her proposal, Jeremy clapped his hands enthusiastically. “Ms. Nelson’s ideas are indeed innovative, completely different from the conventional approaches. If it weren’t for your proposal, I wouldn’t have thought of this new direction.” Ariana glared at Chloe, and her eyes filled with venom. She wished she could tear Chloe apart.
She said, “While the concept is impressive, it still needs to be practical. Mr. Portman, some ideas sound great in theory, but whether they can be executed is another matter.”
She thought, “After all, anyone can dream up grand ideas. Could Chloe really deliver such an advanced system?”
Jeremy hesitated, considering her point.
But Chloe’s confidence soon reassured him. She said, “Rest assured, if I’m confident enough to present this proposal, I’m equally confident in its execution. What you see in the proposal is exactly what the final system will be.” Jeremy’s smile returned, now with an added touch of surprise.
“With Ms. Nelson’s assurance, I’m much more at ease.”
The meeting concluded, and Jeremy quickly left to attend another engagement.
As soon as Chloe and Jeremy had left the conference room, Ariana and her assistant were the only ones left.
“Ariana, I…”
The assistant began to speak, but before he could finish, Ariana whirled around and slapped him hard across the face.
“Useless! Is this how you handle the tasks I assign you?” Ariana’s voice was icy with anger.
The assistant felt a pang of injustice. In his mind, he thought, “How was I supposed to know Chloe would have backup copies on her? I’m just an assistant. I don’t have the hacking skills to break into Chloe’s phone or computer.” “You’re as dumb as a rock. You’re supposed to be helping me, but you’re just dragging me down!” Ariana seethed, her eyes blazing. She fixed him with a cold, hard stare and added, “If I don’t get this project, you’d better pack your bags and leave!”
She needed an assistant, not an imbecile who only made things worse.
Meanwhile, Chloe had left the conference room at the resort and was heading towards the lobby where Michael was waiting for her.
Just as she turned a corner, she saw a familiar figure approaching from the other end.
“William?” The day before Chloe left for her trip, someone who looked just like William had nearly cost her her life. She still didn’t know who had sent that person.
Seeing William here now, in what felt like a déjà vu moment, was unexpected.
She had traveled all the way to Mamaica, only to bump into someone she knew. It was almost like being back home.
William was just as surprised to see Chloe. It took him a moment to recall she had mentioned something about going abroad.
They walked together toward the lobby, exchanging casual small talk. Chloe learned that William was in town for a competition taking place at the resort.
“When does the competition start?” Chloe asked.
“In a couple of days,” William replied.
“Well, good luck with it!” Chloe said with a nod.
Despite her familiarity with William, she remained guarded. After all, the man who had nearly harmed her looked just like him and was his half-brother.
There might be some hidden schemes she wasn’t aware of.
William seemed to sense her unease. “Chloe, I’m really sorry about what happened before. I didn’t know anything about it, but if it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t have let your guard down. Don’t worry. I’ll sort this out and get you an explanation.” Before coming to the competition, William had been trying to contact his brother.
Once he met him, he would make sure to get answers for Chloe.
Even though he hadn’t known about his brother for twenty years, he didn’t want someone with his face causing trouble.Exclusive © content by N(ô)ve/l/Drama.Org.
Chloe nodded slightly, thinking, “I’m abroad now, so that person probably won’t come after me aggressively.”
As they reached the lobby, Michael jumped up from the sofa. “All done? How did it go?”
Before Chloe could answer, Michael noticed William standing next to her.
Instantly, he went into protective mode, pulling Chloe behind him.
“What do you want for dinner tonight?” Michael asked, trying to change the subject.
Chloe almost laughed at the question. “What can you cook?”
Michael hesitated, admitting that even the simplest dish was beyond his skills.
William, catching the exchange, offered, “You guys settled here for good?” “Yes.”
“No, just temporarily.”
The two answered simultaneously but with completely different responses.
William’s face showed a hint of awkwardness as if he realized he shouldn’t have asked.
“Chloe, I’ll be around for the competition and will be waiting for results. If you need someone to cook, I’d be happy to help out,” William offered.
Both Chloe and Michael were taken aback by his offer.
As a top-tier chef, William was offering to cook for her daily. It felt a bit like hiring a high-end caterer for the role of a housekeeper.
She couldn’t help but wonder why William was willing to lower himself to such a role, especially when he clearly had plenty of money.
On the other hand, Michael’s mind was racing with alarm bells.
He thought, “Is he trying to get closer to Chloe on purpose? Does he think I’m invisible here?” Michael’s protective instincts flared up, his suspicion evident in his narrowed gaze.
