Chapter 10

The drive to BluTech passed quietly.

The morning traffic crept through the bustling city where sunlight shimmered and reflected against rows of glass buildings and skyscrapers. Most of the way, Alexander read reports on his tablet, and answered phone calls with crisp replies.

“…Push the Singapore meeting to Thursday.”

“No…make it Friday.” He paused. “…Good.” Then the call ended.

I sat next to him in a white bodycon corporate dress, paired with a black handbag, and white heels. Mia made sure to chose to make me a walking spotlight apparently.

“You always sound like you’re firing someone when you’re on the phone.” I said, glancing his way.

“I usually am.”

I rolled my eyes and simply turned my head away from him.

The Blutech Headquarters towered over the business district like monument of glass and steel, giant enough to dominate its surrounding.

People, possibly the employees, bustled out the revolving doors, each carrying laptops, tablets and/or takeout coffee cups, but the moment Alexander left the car…everything changed.

Conversations stopped.

People straightened up.

And security greeted him immediately.

“Good morning, Mr. Thorne.”

He acknowledged them with a small nod before walking inside. I followed after him as fast as I could, but he took big strides like a man on business…

Well, I mean he is on business, but still.

As I moved with him, the whispers started almost immediately.

“So that’s her…”

“I thought the marriage was a rumor…”

“Oh my gosh, she actually exists…”

“She looks younger than I expected…”

Every pair of eyes seemed fixed on me. And at that moment, I understood what Mia had meant. However, being the center of attention felt suffocating as it was addictive.

Alexander finally slowed his pace just enough for me for me to catch up with him.

“Just keep walking.” He said quietly, not even sparing me a glance.

“Easier said than done, Mr. Longlegs.”

“You’ll get used to it eventually.”

“This is all temporary, so I hope not.” I stated, and I swear I saw his jaw tighten for a second.

The executive floor was quieter. More intimidating than when I was her before my interview.

Glass offices could be seen looking out on the skyline of the city, as assistants rushed around carrying folders and tablets. Alexander’s secretary, Emma, greeted us immediately.

“Good morning, sir.” She said, and smiled warmly at me. “And good morning, Mrs. Thorne.”

I smiled back. “Just Chloe is fine, dear.” I gently told her, but she held a horrified look instead.

“I couldn’t possibly, ma’am.”

Before I could insist otherwise… A loud voice echoed from the reception area.

“Chloe!”

I froze. “No…no way in hell.” I muttered, as I turned to the voice.

I saw Mark come rushing towards us, along with Ruby right behind him. They both looked noticeably different from the confident couple I’d seen at the gala. They seemed less sure of themselves, and less confident.

Mark’s smile was strained. And Ruby looked considerably pale.

“Chloe.” Mark stopped at a respectful distance away. “We’ve been trying to reach you.”

I stared at him, as though he’d just grown a second head.

The heck he means he’s been trying to reach me?!

“…Who let you two in here?”

“We had an appointment here initially.” Ruby said, quickly stepping forward. “We, however, wanted to apologize.”

I glanced at Alexander, who hadn’t said a word to kick them out. He seemed to just watch.

And under his gaze, Mark rubbed the back of his neck nervously.

“What happened before…even before last night…I made some mistakes, and handled everything badly.”

You’re a living mistake, yeah…

“I know you’re angry, I deserve that.”

Ruby nodded eagerly, putting on a bit of a pout.

“But despite it all…” Mark continued. “…we were hoping we could start over.”

I laughed, absolutely livid right now.

“Start from where? Fetus? Or the beginning of life?”

“Chloe-”

“I don’t want to hear my name out of your mouth.” I spat at him, a warning and a threat at the same time that made them both flinch a bit.

“You emptied my bank account. Money I was saving to my future.” I started, and watched Mark lower his head.

“I know, I-”

“You cheated on me with my snake-for-a-stepsister.”

“…”

“You humiliated me.”

“Chloe please just-”

“And now you have the galls to come here and apologize?”

“We’ve changed, Chloe.”

I didn’t respond, and let the silence linger. I was quite surprised with this one. I looked from one to the other for a brief second. Part of me almost believed them with the pathetic act they were putting on.

But Ruby broke that silence. “We know we’ve got some faults, but things have worked out well for you now…”

I caught her gaze drift briefly toward Alexander.

“…to say the least.”

And there it was. The jealousy. Hidden beneath polite words and that fake sweet smile.

“Marrying into wealth seemed to have solved everything for you.”

The sentence wasn’t loud. It didn’t need to be. It was live enough to make several nearby employees look over, like some juicy gossip was about to land.

My hands slowly curled into fists. Because I knew exactly what she was implying. The reason I was with Alexander, after shortly being betrayed and dumped by Mark.

“So…this is why you’re here.” I said softly.

Ruby blinked innocently. “What do you mean?”

“You’re not here to apologize.”

Marked looked uncomfortable. “Ruby…”

“We’re genuinely happy for you.”

“Oh, I bet.”

“Of course.” She smiled, looking around as though she’s contemplating something, with a finger on her chin. “Although, it all happened rather…quickly.”

And the silence lingered again when she paused. Letting her words take root to rot the mind whoever could catch on with what she was implying.

That I trapped Alexander somehow.

That I married him for money.

That I climbed into another life overnight.

I felt their stares then and there in the lobby.

Mark went still, as though realizing where Ruby was going with it.

“She’s right actually, Chloe.” He began “I know we did you wrong, but…you didn’t even invite anyone to your wedding. Or wasn’t there any?”

I felt weak all of a sudden, as a lump formed in my throat and my stomach churned uncomfortably.

“I’m rather concerned for you, Chloe. We don’t want you missing yourself up into something immoral. And I’m not implying you sold off your body or anything.”

“That’s enough, Ruby.” I said in a weak tone.

“No, I only meant-”

“You’ve said enough.” The voice didn’t belong to me this time. It was deep, and final, as though any other word after his would be the last thing anyone would say.

Alexander.

He had been quiet the entire time. Watching, listening, judging. And I hadn’t really noticed. Actually, I forgot he was even there as I was used to fighting my own battles.

He stepped forward.

His gaze settled on Ruby and then Mark with the same calm expression he’d worn when exposing the waiter at the gala.

“Did you really come here to apologize…or to embarrass my wife?”

Neither of them could answer. They seemed to have thought they could bend his mind against me. But they paled when they saw the opposite effect. Mark gulped subtly.

“M-Mr. Thorne, it’s not like that. We were-”

“You’ve mistaken my silence for ignorance. Or even indulgement.”

His voice was steady as he continued.

“If I wanted to hear insincerity…” He adjusted his cuffs, his voice becoming dangerously deep. “…I’d attend the Parliament.”

Even Emma could not help but smile proudly.

Alexander then turned to security. “Escort them to wherever their meeting is. If they still have one.”

Mark looked mortified, and Ruby had gone pale as a sheet.

“And if they ever set foot here again…” He turned to me, and gently took my wrist. “…it will be recorded as trespassing, and they should be arrested immediately.”

Alexander took me down the corridor, his grip firm on my wrist.

“Where are going?” I said, still trying to ground myself after what just happened.

“Conference room.”

“…Now?”

“You wanted to prove your skills.” He stated as he opened a door for me. “Let’s not waste the morning.”