CHAPTER 2: MEETING MR MONTGOMERY.

Chloe stared blankly at her phone with no idea what she was supposed to do. Another from Ethan popped up.

Ethan Montgomery: And Miss Bennett? Don't keep me waiting.”

That one drained her. She shut her eyes for a moment. She was new to the company and somehow, she ended up on the wrong side of the most powerful person in the company. Her rent was due in exactly four days. Her mother's business was in need of finance, otherwise it would collapse.

"Hmm,” she exhaled heavily and heaved a sigh of frustration.

Then, she grabbed her things and headed to the executive elevator. When the doors opened, Ethan was standing inside with a cold stare in his eyes. Her heart beat fast for a moment. She got in.

Without saying a word, Ethan pressed the button to his floor.

“Miss Bennett."

She swallowed hard.

“Mr Montgomery."

“Tell me something," he said. “Do you normally talk this much about guys you find attractive?"

Chloe was stunned right there. She gave him the "are you for real?” look. But the man's face was as serious as it could be despite saying something like that. Chloe had been expecting him to lash out the moment he saw her. But this? Nothing could have prepared her for this.

"The voice note was a mistake, Sir,” she said. "It was intended for my best friend, not the group “

She tried to explain her situation. However, it didn't seem.as if he was paying attention to her. When she was done talking, he raised another concerning question.

“Do you actually think I'm attractive?“ he asked again.

At this point, Chloe was regretting how she ended up in the same elevator as him.

“That has nothing to do with your personality," she replied.

Ethan almost smiled. But he held it down. The elevator doors chimed and slid open.

“After you, Ms Bennett."

She got out and Ethan led the way into his office.

The office was luxurious, yet simple. Floor to ceiling glass windows overlooked the city. Expensive furniture and a little decorations here and there. There were no personal photographs or that of family.

“Please, sit," Ethan said and gestured that she should sit.

Chloe sat. He placed his phone on the desk and remained standing while still studying the person before him.

“Do you have anything to say to me?" He asked her.

Chloe cleared her throat. “I apologize for sending the voice note to the group."

Ethan was visibly thrilled by her reply. She only apologized for sending it to the group and not recording it.

“Does this imply that you stand by everything you have said in the voice note?" He pressed on.

Chloe had no problems apologising when she was wrong. But doing that now would be her lying to herself.

"Respectfully speaking, Sir, some of your management decisions are ….absurd, if I should say.”

Ethan raised a brow and slid one hand into his pocket. "How long have you spent in the company again? How many days? Less than a week? And you already understand my management decisions.”

Chloe cleared her throat and rubbed her palms together. "Perhaps, I'm simply observant.”

Ethan smirked. "Observations are subjective. If you draw conclusions entirely from them, that would be arrogance.”

Chloe looked at him and countered, “Authority without accountability could be a time bomb."

Silence broke out for the next couple of seconds. Ethan wasn't used to employees talking back at him. However, this little conversation looked like two intelligent minds playing a puzzle.

Ethan gave her a prolonged stare before finally breaking the silence.

“You see, Ms Bennett, that group is not just a public space. You have to understand that top executives are in that group. Really confidential and serious matters are discussed there. It's not okay in any way for such messages to get in. “

Chloe perfectly understood him. She nodded to every word he said.

“I understand perfectly, sir," she said politely. “I apologize for any inconvenience that might have caused. It won't happen again."

Ethan jumped into the next topic without spending a second to receive her apology.

“Concerning your presentation, it made a lot of sense, but lacked financial justification.”

Chloe was shocked to hear that. She had believed he was totally unimpressed by it.

Ethan adjusted his position. “At Montgomery Global, we don't have the luxury to exploit every unique idea simply because it's good.”

Chloe pulled herself together. "Sir, the company's current strategy will collapse soon. I can revise my strategy and give you enough financial justification.”’

"Let's see what you can do,” Ethan replied, his voice firm and solid.

Chloe got up and was about to leave when Ethan said, "And Miss Bennett?”

She turned.

"Keep my personal looks out of company discussions.”

She almost laughed. Shortly after she left, the door opened and Ethan's friend and assistant, Ryan Cole, walked in.

“Having troubles with the new girl?" He asked Ethan.

Ethan scoffed. “She's simply a new employee that needs to learn professional ethics."

Ryan giggled. “Perhaps, you need more employees that can actually give you trouble."

Ethan heaved a sigh. “Why are you here?"

Ryan's face got serious. “Your father is at it again. He wants you to meet with Vanessa Sterling immediately and get things moving.”

Ethan frowned. "No one will force a marriage with her on me. I'll not yield.”

Ryan looked visibly concerned. "A lot is at stake financially and with your position.”

Ethan leaned forward and clasped his hands over the desk. Then, he said plainly, "No one will dictate how my life should go. I will not marry Vanessa Sterling. If you don't mind, I have work to do.”

He pushed a call across to his secretary. Then, he typed a message to Chloe.

It read, “We have work to do. Be here in thirty minutes."