Beranda / Romance / The CEO's Secret Arrangement / Chapter 4: Love Is Not a Business

Share

Chapter 4: Love Is Not a Business

Penulis: Mayla Dinelli
last update Terakhir Diperbarui: 2022-09-17 14:09:30
When Chloe put her feet at the restaurant entrance, she was five minutes late.

"Good evening. How can I help you, milady?" a handsome man, wearing a black suit asked her.

"Good evening. I have a reservation in the name of Evan Bailey." she said trying to sound calm.

The man leaded the way to a private room, where her boss was waiting for her.

At each step taken her nervousness was increasing.

"Good evening." she said shamefully.

"Good evening, Ms. Rodriguez." Mr. Bailey said while he stood up on his feet.

He brazenly assessed the woman from head to toe, which made Chloe embarrassed.

The maître of the restaurant pulled out the chair for her to sit.

"Oh, thank you!" Chloe simply said. Mr. Bailey took his seat as well.

She felt like a fish out of the water. It was her first time at a fancy restaurant. She was used to attend middle class establishments, just like her parents' restaurant in New Jersey.

"May I ask what this beautiful lady would like to order?" the maître asked, shamelessly looking at her lips.

"You can bring a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 from Scarecrow and the chef's specialty for both of us." Mr. Bailey said rudely. "And if you want to keep your job, don't come back to this room tonight."

Chloe widened her eyes, glancing at the man in front of her.

The maître was speechless, so he just made his way out of the room.

Mr. Bailey was staring at her with those glacial eyes and the stiffened jaw.

"You're late." he pointed, without changing his expression.

"It was the traffic." she lied, uncomfortable. She didn't want to explain she spent countless minutes in a hot bath.

Mr. Bailey got up and started to walk around the table.

There was a strange energy between them. Chloe was avoiding his eyes, because they were too intense for her.

Chloe shivered when he whispered in her ear:

"You did great earlier today."

His lips touched her earlobe. Her breath became uneven.

It was so unexpected that she looked at him. For the first time at that night. And by all means it was a huge mistake.

He was too close. She could sense the strong aroma of his perfume.

Chloe exhaled heavily, while she felt a heat rising through her body.

Mr. Bailey didn't give her time to think twice when he ended the distance between their lips.

Chloe was took by surprise and she tried to get away, but Mr. Bailey had a possessive hand holding her neck.

He sucked her lower lip and then invaded her mouth with his tongue passionately. As the kiss was getting more intense, she put her arms around his neck.

Mr. Bailey wrapped an arm around her waist and lifted her off the chair.

He held her possessively with his big hands. She was totally given over to the kiss.

It was intense but they both needed air. He pulled his lips away from hers gently and said:

"We need to talk about business."

Chloe nodded, still confused. Her eyes were still closed because she couldn't look at him. Not yet.

Mr. Bailey took his arms away from her and made his way to his chair.

Chloe was breathing in and out to calm herself down. After a few seconds, she sat.

A short middle-aged man entered the room, to break the heavy climate that had set in. He was there to serve the wine.

Chloe wondered how that man could be so contradictory. She didn't have a lot of time to think about it because he started to speak:

"Let's talk about business now." he was always analyzing her moves. "What are your aspirations in life?"

"Is this business?" she mocked.

"It will be." Mr. Bailey said rudely. "For now, just answer what I ask you."

"I…" she started harshly but he interrupted her first:

"Please."

She let her guard down. Could that day get any weirder? She wondered. Mr. Bailey being nice was the last thing she would see in life.

"I just wanna be a successful businesswoman. To help others." Chloe said sheepishly.

"Who are the others?" he sounded interested.

"Hum… My family. And those who live in need."

She had a sad smile on her face because she remembered her parents.

"What if you were a millionaire?" he asked suddenly, studying her reaction.

"Impossible!" Chloe laughed, discredited.

"Impossible is just something that nobody has managed to achieve so far." Mr. Bailey took a sip of his wine while watched her.

"True." she just said, with her head down for looking so silly.

"I have a deal to offer you, Ms. Rodriguez." he said firmly as she lifted her head to glance at him.

"I'm all ears." she encouraged him to continue.

"Marry me."

"WHAT?" Chloe couldn't control herself not to scream.

"A contract marriage. We play a happy couple for one year and in the end of 12 months, you will receive one million dollars." Mr. Bailey explained briefly. "After one year you will be whomever you want. The sky will be the limit."

Her surprise turned to anger.

"Are you kidding? You don't have the right to propose something like that to me!" she spoke without thinking, gesticulating wildly. "Who do you think you are? You don't own the world!"

Chloe was furious and her eyes were burning red. She was staring at him, dismayed. Her breath was uneven.

Mr. Bailey was calm. At no time he had changed his tone of voice and his posture. It seemed like an usual subject to be dealt.

"What do you have to lose?" he simply asked while he touched her hand.

His eyes were bluer than ever. Mr. Bailey was looking right into her eyes.

She hesitated for a moment as she bit her lower lip. That touch made her shiver.

"The chance to be with someone who I love for real."

Chloe had the courage to speak while she challenged him with her glance.

She quickly withdrew her hand, breaking the touch.

"Come on! You know love doesn't exist! It is just an excuse to act like a fool!" Mr. Bailey said angrily.

Too many questions were on her mind and Chloe felt suffocated. She needed to get out of that room.

"I'm sorry to inform you that love is not a business, Mr. Bailey."

She got up and made her way to the door.

"Ms. Rodriguez!"

Mr. Bailey didn't move but his voice denounced how angry he was.

Chloe didn't look back.

"Chloe!"

When he tried to call her again, she was already gone.
Lanjutkan membaca buku ini secara gratis
Pindai kode untuk mengunduh Aplikasi

Bab terbaru

  • The CEO's Secret Arrangement   Chapter 60: To Infinity And Beyond

    Evan sighed heavily and opened the file.'Dear Evan, I'm sorry for everything I've been putting you through. I'm sorry for the photos in the magazine. I loved you at some point, but I was so blinded by fame, power and money that I couldn't realize in time how happy I could be with you. I am sending this email to inform you that I am leaving. I will go to Paris to resume my modeling career. Be happy. Maybe someday we'll meet there. Love, Jill.'Evan leaned back in his chair and stared at the computer screen. For the first time after all the mess Jill created in his life, he felt nothing for her. That rage that burned his body and made him think of all the times she made a fool of him was gone.That wedding plan was designed to play in Jill's face that he could be happy without her. However, at no time Evan really believed he could be truly happy.And there he was, smiling like a lover and feeling his heart warmed because the reason for his happiness was lying on his bed.Three months w

  • The CEO's Secret Arrangement   Chapter 59: Promises of Love

    "The baby is still alive, Mr. Bailey. However, his heartbeat is very slow. Ms. Rodriguez needs to take absolute rest for a period to be able to keep the child. In addition, I will keep her here for a few days to ensure recovery.""His heartbeat? Do you mean it's a boy?" Evan asked with eyes shining."Yes, sir. It's a little warrior." the doctor responded with a weak smile. "Congratulations!""Can I see her now?""Yes. She is asleep due to the medication, but she will wake up soon. Please avoid strong emotions. The baby's life is still at risk.""Thank you, doctor."Evan headed for the room where Chloe was, feeling his heart explode with joy. He managed to save his small family after all.He watched her sleep and ran his hand over her face, through her hair, and finally over her belly."We did it, buddy." Evan said with teary eyes. "So small but so brave. You'll be just like your mother. Thank you for not giving up on us, son. I promise you that I will protect you as long as I live. Be

  • The CEO's Secret Arrangement   Chapter 58: Rescue Operation

    Everyone was ready on time. The working day at the port was over, there was no one else in the place.The warehouse was no longer used for port operations, so it was far away from the others.In the distance, Evan could see three black SUV's, which were also part of his team, to assist in case of escape.He appeared to be calm, but inside his blood bubbled in his veins, burning every part of his body. If Victor had harmed his baby and his wife, he would pay with his own life.Josh approached Evan and handed him a gun."If necessary, you know what to do, sir."Evan glanced at him and nodded. It was show time."We have six men inside and ten men outside. Be fast and accurate. Don't hesitate to shoot." Josh passed on the information to the team. "Mr. Bailey, you will enter the warehouse with team two. Please, as soon as you are with Ms. Rodriguez, get out of there immediately.""Deal." Evan just said.The teams took their positions and everything happened very quickly. When Evan realized

  • The CEO's Secret Arrangement   Chapter 57: An Old Enemy

    "Why? Were you expecting someone in particular?" Victor laughed evilly. "Perhaps a lost princess?""What did you do?" Evan asked angrily."I warned you to protect her… But you didn't care, did you?""Don't play with me, Victor. I'll destroy you.""Try it, Evan. Just try it. You will never see that b*tch again!""What do you want?""I want everything that is yours. I want to see you crawling for mercy." Victor said with hate. "You know, Evan, you inherited an empire. You never knew what it's like to build something from scratch. There is a lot of pain and suffering. I have dedicated myself, my whole life, to build what I have, so as not to be in need. Suddenly a boy appears, thinking that he will take everything from me. You are a boast who never valued what you have! I want to see you suffer." "Your problem is with me. We will solve this from man to man." Evan stated dryly. "Release Chloe now.""Do you think I'm stupid? I'm not a boy like you!" he mocked. "Give up on the millionaire

  • The CEO's Secret Arrangement   Chapter 56: Fate Plays Tricks

    Evan ran back to the restaurant. Maybe she was still around. He needed to act fast."Evan?" Jane found him at the front door. "What happened? Why are you running?""I'm sorry, Jane." he said with regret."Why? What happened?" she asked distressed."It's Chloe." he felt a twinge in his heart. "I think she was taken.""Taken?" "I'm ready, let's go." Carlos said as he walked towards them. "What's wrong? Why are you pale?" he looked at his wife."Mr. Rodriguez, please. I need to know if there is any cameras here.""What's going on? Yes, we have cameras! They stay connected in my office." Carlos was confused."I need to check them out now." Evan tried to stay calm."Why do you think she was taken?" Jane asked in a choked voice."Because I found this on the parking lot floor, next to my car." Evan showed the shoe."I can't believe it! No! Is it a joke? Where's my daughter?" Jane screamed as tears welled up in her eyes. "Who would do that?""That's what I'm going to find out." Evan stated co

  • The CEO's Secret Arrangement   Chapter 55: Let's Take a Ride

    That was the worst part of the pregnancy, Chloe thought. Having to go to the bathroom every five minutes made her nervous. Not to mention morning sickness.However, the feeling of carrying a life was wonderful. Two hearts beating within one body. Motherhood was really something divine.After touching up her makeup, Chloe came out of the bathroom feeling more confident. They were finally going to form a real family! Chloe even imagined Evan buying baby stuff. She smiled at that thought.Before she reached the bar to find Evan, a waiter approached her and said."Excuse me, Ms. Rodriguez. Mr. Bailey asked to inform that he is waiting for you in the parking lot."Chloe frowned. Maybe it was better to have a little privacy to tell Evan the truth.Chloe thanked the waiter and headed for the parking lot right away.When she approached Evan's car, he was not there. Chloe shivered when she felt a strange sensation.She looked around and when her eyes returned to the car, there was a man stand

Bab Lainnya
Jelajahi dan baca novel bagus secara gratis
Akses gratis ke berbagai novel bagus di aplikasi GoodNovel. Unduh buku yang kamu suka dan baca di mana saja & kapan saja.
Baca buku gratis di Aplikasi
Pindai kode untuk membaca di Aplikasi
DMCA.com Protection Status