Billionaire

Chapter 41

The room buzzed with envious murmurs.

“Looks like we’re already full from all this lovey–dovey talk, and dinner hasn’t even started yet,” someone joked. Vivian grinned and chimed in, “So, when are you going to bring your boyfriend over for us to meet? A great guy like that is a rare find.”

Linda blushed and laughed, “Sure, when the time comes.”

Though Linda was chatting with everyone else, her eyes kept drifting to Chloe. But Chloe’s face remained inscrutable, showing no sign of interest. Linda’s heart sank a little.

Just then, the server brought over the tablet with the menu. Linda handed it to Chloe. “Chloe, pick whatever you like. Don’t hold back.”

Chloe took the tablet with a smile and swiftly made her choices. A few minutes later, she handed it back to Linda. “You might want to check it over.”

Linda waved it off and passed it to the server. “I trust your taste.”

Soon, the dishes began arriving. At first, everyone was having a great time, enjoying the food and drinks. But before long, Linda noticed something odd. Two hours had passed, and the plates and bottles kept coming.

Everyone was too wrapped up in the feast, showering her with compliments. on her generosity, so Linda stayed quiet. But when the meal finally ended, the server brought over the bill, and Linda’s jaw dropped.

Ninety–eight thousand!

She looked at the server in disbelief. “How can it be this expensive?”

The server explained patiently, “You’ve ordered every dish on our menu, including some rare off–menu items. The total cost came to eighteen. thousand, and you also ordered four bottles of our twenty–thousand–a–bottle red wine. Plus, there’s the five percent service charge.”

Linda felt like she might faint. She didn’t have that kind of money. She had thought the bill might be high, but not this high.

The others were just as stunned and began to turn on Chir

“Chloe, was this some kind of payback? You racked up a ninety–eight thousand bill! Where’s your shame?”

“Have you never had good food before? Why are you taking advantage of Linda like this?”

“I think Chloe should foot the bill. She ordered it. She should pay for it.”

Chloe remained unflustered, her smile unwavering. “You were all quiet while eating the truffle casserole and Kobe beef. No one complained about how expensive the ingredients were. And as for the wine, I only ordered one bottle; you guys added the rest.”

“Chloe, don’t try to weasel out of this.”

Chloe replied calmly, “If you’re all that concerned for Linda, let’s split the bill evenly. No one ate less than anyone else. It’s the fairest way.”

Suddenly, everyone fell silent. Splitting the bill would mean each person would have to pay almost ten thousand, which was a few months‘ salary for most of them.

A girl next to Linda spoke up. “Linda’s boyfriend is well–off. She’s going to be living the high life soon. She won’t mind covering a meal for us.”

Linda felt like she was on a spit over a fire. The truth was, she and Lucas didn’t have much money. Since Lucas went abroad, the Moncada family had cut off his financial support. Their life overseas wasn’t as glamorous as people thought. Lucas was too proud to ask his family for help, and Linda only had a few tens of thousands in her account, money she’d earned from tutoring over the past three years.

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Unable to cover the nearly hundred–thousand–dollar dinner bill, Linda had no choice but to call Lucas.

Lucas, who had returned to his company by now, likely wasn’t strapped for cash anymore.

When he heard she spent nearly a hundred thousand on dinner, Lucas‘ voice. carried a hint of irritation, “Linda, were you dining on dragon meat? A meal for ninety–eight thousand?”

Linda’s voice was filled with grievance, “I got an exclusive interview with Connor and was treating my colleagues. It was Chloe who ordered the meals. I didn’t realize she ordered so much food, including some very expensive wine.”

The mention of Chloe made Lucas frown. His tone softened considerably towards Linda, “I’m sorry, I misunderstood you. It was Chloe’s doing, then.”

After a brief pause, Lucas said, “I’m nearby. I’ll be right there.”

Ten minutes later, Lucas showed up at Antique House.

He first settled the bill, and then, he made his way to the private room.

Upon seeing Lucas, Linda’s eyes shimmered with tears, as if she had suffered a great injustice. She hurriedly approached Lucas. “Lucas, you’re finally here.”

In front of everyone, Lucas gently put his arm around Linda’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, I’ve taken care of the bill.”

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing that the bill was settled. Their attitudes changed instantly.

Vivian led the praise, “Linda, you’re so lucky to have a boyfriend who’s not only handsome but rich.”

Blushing, Linda introduced him to everyone. “Let me introduce you. This is my boyfriend, Lucas Moncada.”

Vivian looked surprised. “I’ve heard of this name. Could he be the heir to Moncada International…”

Lucas simply said, “No, it’s just a coincidence.”

After that, his gaze shifted to Chloe. “Chloe, come here!”

Everyone was taken aback.

With her designer bag and high heels, Chloe walked up to Lucas and said. indifferently, “Be a good man and don’t block my path.”

Lucas was fuming. He grabbed Chloe’s arm and headed for the door, quickly turning into an adjacent empty room. Then, the door was shut from the inside.

The crowd was left dumbfounded. A hint of embarrassment crossed Linda’s face.

“Linda, your boyfriend knows Chloe?”

“We all went to high school together, so yes, we know each other. And back in high school, Chloe…” Linda deliberately stopped mid–sentence.

Vivian snorted coldly, “Now I know why Chloe dislikes you so much. She must have had a crush on your boyfriend in high school but couldn’t win him over, so she’s jealous of you.”

Linda defended Chloe with a deliberate tone, “It’s not what you think, and besides, that’s all in the past.”

After Lucas pulled Chloe into the room, he coldly questioned her, “Chloe, I’ve told you countless times not to bully Linda. Are you taking my words lightly?”

Chloe casually found a sofa to sit on. She lowered her head to admire her newly done nails. “She wanted to treat us. Nobody forced her.”

“So you intentionally ordered those expensive dishes, knowing Linda’s financial situation. How are you any different from those petty people who flaunt their wealth to embarrass others?”

Chloe looked up, her eyes clear but visibly tinged with anger. “Yes, I know about her family’s situation, and I know you two are short on money, so I did it on purpose to bully her. As for why, I’m just giving her a taste of her own medicine.”

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Chloe scoffed, “Three years ago, didn’t you know what I was going through? Yet, right when I was at my lowest, you both betrayed me and threw me into hell. Compared to what you did, my little tricks are nothing.”

Lucas‘ face went rigid. “Chloe, you ended up in that mess because of your own actions. You betrayed me first,” he said, glaring.

“What happened during that summer after our freshman year, Chloe? Can you even tell me?”

Chloe’s face went pale in an instant. How could Lucas possibly know?

Seeing Chloe’s ashen face, Lucas was visibly taken aback. Even in her panic, her beauty was striking. “So, who did you give your virginity to?”

Chloe stood up, her eyes turning icy. “Shut up.”

Lucas sneered, “Angry because you’re embarrassed, Chloe? You’re just a vile, deceitful, filthy woman. Why did you marry me? Because you couldn’t go back to the Meadows family. Would you have chosen me if you were still the Meadows family’s precious daughter?”

“Now you say you love me desperately, but it’s only because you’re afraid of losing your last lifeline. You’re afraid of losing the wealth and status you cling

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“But why should I be the fool to take you in? You are a hypocrite and can’t even compare to Linda.” Lucas was fuming.

“Enough, Lucas.”

Chloe’s fingers trembled. She harbored a secret. A secret no one knew. She had convinced herself it was just a nightmare. She thought she had successfully erased it from her memory. She believed no one in the world knew.

But Chloe hadn’t anticipated that Lucas had known all along. So, was this why Lucas‘ attitude towards her had changed so drastically?

She didn’t want to dwell on that incident. In fact, apart from some scars and physical injuries, her memory of it was blank.

Chloe walked straight to the door and left. As she frantically opened the door, she found Linda standing there. Chloe gave her a long, hard look. Without saying a word, she left.

Lucas also came out. “Lucas, what did you say to Chloe? She looked really upset,” Linda asked.

“Nothing much. I just brought up that incident,” Lucas replied.

Linda’s face changed. “You promised you wouldn’t mention it to Chloe.”

“I didn’t want to, but she pushed me too far. Someone had to put her in her place. You’re just too kind, Linda. You’re even concerned about her now.”

Linda frowned, clearly uneasy. Chloe would surely suspect her.

Chloe drove away, her car aimlessly cruising down the highway. During the summer of her freshman year, she had been violated. In truth, she didn’t remember what happened that day. It seemed she had been drugged. When she woke up, she was in a hotel bed, naked. The discomfort in her body made it clear something had happened.

Later, she went to the hospital for an examination, and as she feared, she had lost her virginity. Unfortunately, because of the drugs, the events of that day had all vanished from her memory. She couldn’t remember what had happened before and after she was viol

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She couldn’t quite wrap her head around what had happened. With no physical evidence found at the hospital, reporting the incident felt pointless. No one knew about it. Chloe hadn’t told a soul. Cassie and Linda didn’t know about it. It was as if the whole incident had never occurred. But how could Lucas have

known? It seemed like he had known for some time.

Chloe had a hunch–maybe it was during that summer camp in their sophomore year when Linda had used the secret to drive a wedge between. Chloe and Lucas. That would explain why Lucas had seemed like a completely different person when he came back. But how did Linda find out? There was only one possibility. Linda was behind this.

‘Linda, if it really was you, I won’t let you get away with this.‘ Chloe’s grip on the steering wheel tightened as she drove aimlessly. Somehow, she found herself at Greenpeace Estate. The bedroom lights were on. Chloe drove straight in, parking the car in the yard before getting out.

Connor heard the car park downstairs. Fresh out of the shower, he’s dressed in a set of grey pajamas that somehow made him look even more handsome. He had just reached the stairway when he saw Chloe starting to climb the stairs. Casually slipping his hands into his pockets, he couldn’t resist a sarcastic remark. “I thought you were too proud to ever come looking for me.” Chloe, expressionless, continued her ascent in her high heels, the sound of them clicking crisply against the marble staircase. As she got closer, Connor felt like those heels were stepping directly on his heart, causing it to beat faster. Damn, Chloe and her devastating beauty.

But today, something seemed off. Her face was pale, yet her eyes burned with fierce rage and deep hatred as if she were ready to destroy everything in her path. Paradoxically, this made her seem even more vibrant, like a phoenix. rising from the ashes.

Connor frowned slightly. “I just embarrassed you a bit during the day. You don’t have to look at me like you want to kill me.”

In the next moment, Chloe took another step up, her hand aggressively hooking around Connor’s shoulder. Her other hand pressed against the back

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of his head, and then she kissed him fiercely. Her kiss was urgent, almost desperate. Connor was taken aback. In their three years together, he had always been the one to initiate moments like this. This was the first time she had ever launched herself at him. But his surprise lasted only a second. He immediately wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her back passionately.

Her high heels were kicked off the stairs as they stumbled into the bedroom, still locked in a heated kiss. He gripped her waist tightly, lifting her effortlessly. Chloe’s legs naturally wrapped around his waist. Her skirt had already been pushed up, and his hands were roaming freely. They both lost themselves in the moment. They continued like this, pressed against the door, kissing intensely, until he carried her into the soft embrace of the large bed…

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Connor woke up in the middle of the night, instinctively reaching out to pull Chloe close, only to find the bed next to him empty. Sitting up, he heard the faint sound of an engine starting outside.

He walked over to the balcony and saw Chloe driving away from Greenpeace. Estate. A flicker of irritation crossed his face. It was always the same with her: she’d use him and then leave, never considering his feelings,

Yet, thinking back to her fierce demeanor earlier that evening, he felt like she was venting some deep–seated frustration. He knew something must have been bothering her–something more than just an interview. Could it be because of him? Connor’s expression darkened at the thought.

The next morning, when Chloe arrived at the TV station, the place was buzzing. Everyone was gathered around Linda, who was set to interview the “King of Eldridge.” Word of her extravagant dinner, costing nearly a fortune, had spread like wildfire, even attracting curiosity from other departments. Linda had gone all out for this interview, assembling a team far larger than the usual reporter and cameraman. She even had two assistants by her side.

Given that this was a live interview, the station provided a dedicated crew and launched a new segment called “The Elite,” with Connor as its inaugural guest, underscoring the station’s high expectations.

Though the interview was scheduled for nine, Linda and her team set off at eight.

Just as they were about to leave, the station director arrived, causing a stir throughout the room. Renowned for his busy schedule, the director seldom visited to the actual station. It was evident that he too was here for Linda’s sake. He presented a few words of encouragement. Linda humbly assured, “I promise to successfully carry out the interview.”

The director, a figure of authoritative demeanor nearly past sixty, nodded in approval and gave Tony a firm pat on the shoulder. “You’ve indeed found a treasure for our station. Eldridge TV got in touch yesterday,” he said, “I must say, it felt good to finally have something to brag about.”

Promptly at eight, Linda and her team began their jo ney. Chloe remained at her desk, engrossed in the script she had been given. an couldn’t help but

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to gossip about the recent events with her colleagues close to Chloe’s desk.

“Look at Linda, managing to secure an interview with the King of Eldridge after just two days. Someone’s about to be dethroned from their ‘Interviewing

Warrior‘ title,” she giggled.

“When even the station director comes in person, Linda’s position as the prime–time female host seems indisputable.”

“Next month’s Golden Microphone Host Competition offers only one participation spot from our station. I bet it’s reserved for Linda.”

Chloe merely responded to the whispers with silence.

Eight–twenty on the dot, Linda and her team arrived at the CNR Tower. They stepped off the coach, and were greeted by a man who introduced himself as Teddy, the CEO’s secretary. Teddy personally led them into the CNR Tower. Linda’s young assistants gushed over the grand welcome saying, “The CEO’s secretary himself came to receive us. Linda really does have influence.”

“I wonder if Linda and Mr.Connor are friends. Only high–profile interviews receive such a lavish reception.”

Linda overheard their whispers, maintaining her demeanor that was always humble and gentle, but the smile on her lips deepened ever so slightly.

In truth, even Linda was uncertain, Both she and Chloe had been unable to convince Connor for an interview the previous day. Then why did he have a change of heart and even go out of his way to call the station?

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After hours of mulling it over, she’d finally figured it out–it had to be that whole spiel about mutual benefits that got to him. At the golf course, hist disdain for Chloe was as clear as day. He’d even gone as far as to publicly humiliate her.

‘Even if Connor had agreed to the interview because of the bet he lost to Chloe, he did it under some serious pressure.‘ Linda thought. That was why he didn’t specify who the interviewer should be when he called. Linda showing. up had actually played right into Connor’s hand. No matter how you sliced it, she was coming out on top.

Teddy had everyone set up in the conference room. “Our CEO’s in a meeting right now,” he announced. “He’ll be here for the interview as soon as it’s done. You can get everything ready in the meantime.”

Linda nodded. “No worries, Teddy. We’re all set.”

Ten minutes later, the door to the conference room swung open. Linda quickly got up and walked over. She stood in front of Connor and extended her hand with a polite smile. “Mr. Connor, I’m Linda, your interviewer for today. We met yesterday, and I’m thrilled you agreed to this exclusive interview. It’s truly an honor.”

But Connor didn’t take her hand. Instead, he furrowed his brows slightly, which sent a shiver of unease down Linda’s spine. To avoid any more awkwardness, she pulled her hand back and tried to move things along. “Mr. Connor, we’re ready to begin. Shall we start the interview?”

“Hold up,” Connor said coolly. “The person I agreed to do this interview with wasn’t you, Ms. Linda.”

Linda’s stomach dropped, but she forced herself to stay calm, hoping to salvage the situation. “Yesterday, I mentioned that Riverbrook TV Station is eager to create a win–win situation with Sartori Corporation. Going forward, we’ll do our best to meet any of your requests.”

She clung to a shred of hope that this offer might sway him, but Connor was having none of it. “Ms. Chloe won our game of golf yesterday, and her prize was this interview. You were there and should know this better than anyone.”

Connor’s words were icy, laced with a hint of disdain. “I honor my bets. I agreed to an interview with Ms. Chloe and no one else. If she isn’t here, then there’s no interview today.” With that, Connor turned and left the room.

Linda felt a cold sweat break out, and the whispers started almost immediately. “So it wasn’t Linda who secured Mr. Connor’s interview?” “Did Mr. Connor mean Chloe secured it? It sounds like he lost a bet to her, so that’s why he’s doing the interview.” “In the whole station, Chloe’s the only one who could pull this off. She’s the interview queen.” “But Linda claimed it was her doing. How embarrassing to get called out like that.”

Linda felt like the room was spinning, but she bit her lip, pretending nothing had happened. She turned around with a calm demeanor and said, “I must have misunderstood yesterday. Let’s get Chloe in here.”

The assistant immediately called Tony and relayed everything that had just gone down. Tony was equally shocked and quickly found Chloe.

“Chloe, the interview was rightfully yours. W

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Chloe flashed a smile. “Sir, it doesn’t matter who does the interview.”

“It does matter. Your work is your work. Mr. Connor specifically asked for you. Please, just go.”

Chloe didn’t get up, her smile still light. “Since Linda has already gone, I’ll pass. I believe she can handle it. We’re all working for the station, and I won’t make

a fuss.”

Tony knew Chloe well enough to know she wasn’t easy to deal with. Saying she wouldn’t make a fuss actually meant she would.

Even after mentioning Mr. Connor’s request, she remained unmoved. This meant she needed an apology to smooth things over.

“How about this: I’ll have Linda come back and apologize to you.” Tony gauged Chloe’s reaction carefully.

Chloe stayed silent, which Tony took as a good sign. He immediately called Linda, instructing her to return to the station and ask Chloe to take over.

Linda knew what this “request” meant but had no choice. This was her mistake. She didn’t anticipate Connor being so particular.

Linda quickly returned to the station.

With a hint of frustration, Tony said, “Linda, what’s the deal? Mr. Connor agreed to Chloe’s interview, not yours.”

“Sir, I’m sorry. I had a long conversation with Mr. Connor yesterday morning. He didn’t explicitly refuse, so I thought he had tacitly agreed. It was a misunderstanding on my part.”

Linda’s eyes welled up with tears, making it hard to scold her.

Tony said, “Go apologize to Chloe.”

Biting her lip, she approached Chloe’s desk. “Chloe, I’m sorry. It was all a misunderstanding. I didn’t mean to take your interview slot. Please go to CNR. Everyone’s waiting for you.”

Chloe looked up at Linda, her smile enigmatic. “Linda, can everything be

resolved if it’s just a misunderstanding?”

Back in summer camp, when she and Lucas hooked up she came back saying it was a misunderstanding.

When she got pregnant with Lucas‘ child, she also claimed it was a

misunderstanding.

And now, yet another misunderstanding.

Tears filled Linda’s eyes. Her large, innocent, and vulnerable eyes looked back at Chloe. “What do you want me to do? I’ll do anything you say.”

Chloe had once been fooled by those innocent eyes. She had genuinely cared for Linda, fought for her, and even taken a knife for her, bearing a half–foot–long scar on her shoulder.

The more she had invested in Linda, the more resentful she felt.

But now, Chloe had something else she needed to confirm.

Chloe stood up. “Linda, come with me.”

They entered an empty conference room, with Linda following behind. Chloe firmly closed the door, shutting out the prying eyes outside.

Once inside, Linda immediately knelt down, grabbing Chloe’s hands. “Chloe, please forgive me this once. If we lose this exclusive interview because of me, I won’t be able to stay here.”

The station manager had already boasted about securing Connor’s interview at Eldridge TV. If they ended up not getting the interview with Connor, it wouldn’t just be her dignity at stake but also the manager’s.

Chloe pulled her hand away. “Linda, I need to ask you something, and I want an honest answer.”

Linda looked up at Chloe with those same innocent eyes. “Did you tell Lucas about my incident during our freshman year summer break? Was it you?”

Linda’s gaze flickered away for a moment.

Chloe pieced together all the past incidents and was certain Linda had told Lucas just to stir trouble between her and Lucas.

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However, she couldn’t be completely sure of whether Linda had orchestrated the whole thing.

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Chloe flashed a smile. “Sir, it doesn’t matter who does the interview.”

“It does matter. Your work is your work. Mr. Connor specifically asked for you. Please, just go.”

Chloe didn’t get up, her smile still light. “Since Linda has already gone, I’ll pass. I believe she can handle it. We’re all working for the station, and I won’t make

a fuss.”

Tony knew Chloe well enough to know she wasn’t easy to deal with. Saying she wouldn’t make a fuss actually meant she would.

Even after mentioning Mr. Connor’s request, she remained unmoved. This meant she needed an apology to smooth things over.

“How about this: I’ll have Linda come back and apologize to you.” Tony gauged Chloe’s reaction carefully.

Chloe stayed silent, which Tony took as a good sign. He immediately called Linda, instructing her to return to the station and ask Chloe to take over.

Linda knew what this “request” meant but had no choice. This was her mistake. She didn’t anticipate Connor being so particular.

Linda quickly returned to the station.

With a hint of frustration, Tony said, “Linda, what’s the deal? Mr. Connor agreed to Chloe’s interview, not yours.”

“Sir, I’m sorry. I had a long conversation with Mr. Connor yesterday morning. He didn’t explicitly refuse, so I thought he had tacitly agreed. It was a misunderstanding on my part.”

Linda’s eyes welled up with tears, making it hard to scold her.

Tony said, “Go apologize to Chloe.”

Biting her lip, she approached Chloe’s desk. “Chloe, I’m sorry. It was all a misunderstanding. I didn’t mean to take your interview slot. Please go to CNR. Everyone’s waiting for you.”

Chloe looked up at Linda, her smile enigmatic. “Linda, can everything be

resolved if it’s just a misunderstanding?”

Back in summer camp, when she and Lucas hooked up she came back saying it was a misunderstanding.

When she got pregnant with Lucas‘ child, she also claimed it was a

misunderstanding.

And now, yet another misunderstanding.

Tears filled Linda’s eyes. Her large, innocent, and vulnerable eyes looked back at Chloe. “What do you want me to do? I’ll do anything you say.”

Chloe had once been fooled by those innocent eyes. She had genuinely cared for Linda, fought for her, and even taken a knife for her, bearing a half–foot–long scar on her shoulder.

The more she had invested in Linda, the more resentful she felt.

But now, Chloe had something else she needed to confirm.

Chloe stood up. “Linda, come with me.”

They entered an empty conference room, with Linda following behind. Chloe firmly closed the door, shutting out the prying eyes outside.

Once inside, Linda immediately knelt down, grabbing Chloe’s hands. “Chloe, please forgive me this once. If we lose this exclusive interview because of me, I won’t be able to stay here.”

The station manager had already boasted about securing Connor’s interview at Eldridge TV. If they ended up not getting the interview with Connor, it wouldn’t just be her dignity at stake but also the manager’s.

Chloe pulled her hand away. “Linda, I need to ask you something, and I want an honest answer.”

Linda looked up at Chloe with those same innocent eyes. “Did you tell Lucas about my incident during our freshman year summer break? Was it you?”

Linda’s gaze flickered away for a moment.

Chloe pieced together all the past incidents and was certain Linda had told Lucas just to stir trouble between her and Lucas.

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However, she couldn’t be completely sure of whether Linda had orchestrated the whole thing.

hy didn’t you set the record straight? We almost got the wrong idea.”

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Linda had been expecting Chloe to ask her this question since yesterday. She already had a plan in mind.

Linda didn’t deny it. “Yes… it was me, but it slipped out by accident. I didn’t mean to, Chloe. Please forgive me.”

Chloe wasn’t surprised. She just scoffed. “Linda, stop acting.”

Silent, Linda’s tears began to fall like a summer storm, a sight that could make anyone feel pity.

She dropped to her knees. “Chloe, I don’t expect you to forgive me. Whether you believe me or not, I’ve been living with this guilt for years. If you blame me, then hit me. Maybe it’ll ease my conscience a bit.”

Linda grabbed Chloe’s hand and tried to slap herself with it.

Chloe pulled her hand back, so Linda started slapping herself. Once, twice, and soon, her face bore the mark of five fingers.

Chloe watched her, feeling a wave of irritation.

Chloe grabbed her wrist. “Linda, did you have someone violate me? Was that your doing?”

Linda’s eyes filled with terror. “No, it wasn’t me. I did let it slip to Lucas by. accident, but what happened had nothing to do with me. It really wasn’t me.”

“Then how did you know about it?”

“You were talking in your sleep. You’ve been doing it a lot lately.”

Chloe stared into Linda’s eyes, which seemed utterly sincere, without a hint of guilt.

Chloe’s lips curled into a smirk. “Linda, I’ll get to the bottom of this. I won’t let you off if I find out you were involved.”

Chloe stood up and left the meeting room. As she opened the door, she saw a group of gossipmongers gathered outside.

They saw Linda kneeling inside, her face clearly marked by five fingers.

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Vivian couldn’t stand Chloe’s smug demeanor. “Chloe, this is too much. You actually hit her

Linda hurried over. “No, Chloe didn’t hit me. I did it to myself.”

“How did you slap yourself hard enough to leave a five–finger mark? Chloe, Linda outshone you for this interview, but you had to beat her like this?” Vivian egged Linda on. “Linda, you could sue her for assault.”

Chloe raised an eyebrow, speaking calmly. “I didn’t hit her She was slapping herself as an apology, and I couldn’t stop her.”

“Chloe, who would believe you? You’re just a vindictive woman. Who knows what you did to secure Mr. Connor’s interview? At least Linda played it clean.”

Chloe didn’t care to argue. She took out her phone and snapped a photo of Vivian, then quickly sent it to someone in her contacts.

“Chloe, what are you doing?”

Chloe flashed Vivian a bright smile. “I’m letting Grace see if the girl with lip filler she’s been looking for is you.”

Vivian froze on the spot.

After Chloe finished, she left briskly. She had let Vivian off once, but if Vivian kept acting up, thinking Chloe was easy to bully, there’d be hell to pay.

Through a mix of coaxing and cajoling, Tony finally got Chloe to go to CNR Tower.

Teddy was waiting at the door as usual. “Ms. Chloe, the boss wants to see you. in his office first.”

Chloe followed Teddy through a private elevator to the CNR president’s office.

As the elevator doors opened, she stepped out into what looked more like a bedroom.

Chloe finally understood what was behind the two closed doors she had seen. in the office last time. It turned out to be Connor’s resting area, indistinguishable from a bedroom.

There was Connor, sitting on the sofa in his “bedroom.”

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“Leaving right after sex? How can you be so irresponsible?”

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Connor stood in front of her and was dressed to the nines. His features were so striking that he looked like he had stepped out of a fantasy movie, like a mythical figure coming to life. But the moment he opened his mouth, Chloe was jolted back to reality.

“Come on, you’re not exactly suffering here,” she teased.

Chloe wasn’t the least bit flustered. Instead, she responded with grace and ease. She strutted around the room in her high heels, curiously examining the decor. She noted how the layout was almost a perfect replica of Greenpeace Estate.

Connor got up and walked over to her, wrapping his arms around her slender waist from behind. His lips brushed against her ear, his voice low and suggestive. “Why did you come looking for me last night?”

Truth be told, she had regretted it afterward. She didn’t want to get further. entangled with him, yet she had sought him out the previous night, and it had ended in his bed.

Chloe turned around, cupping his handsome face in her hands, and gave him a quick peck on the lips. “It was for this interview, of course. See, you’ve come to me willingly today, haven’t you?”

Her smile was radiant, like a rose in full bloom under the scorching sun. It was both beautiful and intense.

Connor raised an eyebrow, his tone light but with a hint of seriousness. “If you don’t want to talk about it, that’s fine. But since you’ve stirred the pot again, I won’t let you off so easily this time.”

No sooner had he finished speaking than he showered her with kisses. Soon enough, Chloe found herself pinned to the sofa.

“Stop. I have to interview you soon, and my makeup will be ruined.”

Connor tried to control himself, his voice husky. “Meet me at Greenpeace Estate tonight.”

Chloe seemed to consider it for a moment before agreeing, “Okay.”

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Connor frowned, “You agreed just as quickly last time.*

Chloe laughed, “Don’t worry, I won’t stand you up this time.”

The office was connected to a large conference room. Chloe entered directly from the inside. By the time the others arrived, she was already there. She nodded in greeting to the interview team, who seamlessly began their preparations. In no time, everything was ready.

Linda’s assistant hurried over with a stack of papers. “Chloe, here are the interview questions Linda prepared for the Paradise Resort.”

Chloe didn’t even glance at them. “Keep them. I won’t need her questions.”

The assistant was visibly worried. Linda had taken credit for Chloe’s work the day before, thinking she could replace her, and had prepared a whole set of questions. These interview questions had been meticulously crafted by the team. Chloe was obviously upset with Linda and refused to use her questions.

The interview was being broadcast live. Any mistake could not be undone. Linda was in the wrong, but given the circumstances, wasn’t it best to consider the bigger picture? However, without Chloe’s acceptance of the papers, there was little the assistant could do.

When Connor entered, the interview officially began. The news had been announced early on official channels. So, as soon as the live broadcast started, thousands of viewers poured in, and the numbers kept growing.

“Connor, the billionaire’s son, the King of Eldridge, a man whose reputation precedes him. I’ve heard that many domestic and international media outlets have been clamoring to interview him, but I never imagined his first public appearance would be on our humble Riverbrook TV Station.”

“Riverbrook TV Station is really making a name for itself. Eldridge TV must be green with envy.”

“Who is this interviewer? I love her looks. She has that perfect blend of stunning and sophisticated.”

“She’s the Riverbrook TV Station’s shining star. Don’t you know her? She’s the noon news anchor, Chloe. Her anchoring style is both professional and engaging. I’ve always been a fan, and I’m glad others are finally noticing her.”

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Chapter 49

*Apparently, this anchor won an interview opportunity with Mr. Connor by scoring a hole–in–one against him in golf.”

Connor slowly walked into the interview room. The camera immediately focused on his face. The chat room went silent for a second, then exploded.

“Who is this handsome guy? Tyler, you have one minute to find me everything you can about him.”

“Holy smokes, are people really this good–looking? LOL…”

Chapter 50

Connor took a seat, as Chloe went through the usual introduction routine.

The live stream was already blowing up.

[King of Eldridge! So is he really Connor Sartori?? Oh my God, his looks just hit me right in the heart!]

[Rich, powerful, and handsome. What door did God not open for him?]

[My mom asked why I was holding a fork while watching TV. Turns out, I was feasting my eyes on my crush.]

Chloe began the formal interview. Most of it was about Paradise Resort.

Thanks to her research on the project, she knew it inside out. So, the questions she asked were very professional.

The assistant, who had been on edge, finally relaxed. She looked at the interview script Linda had prepared, which was still in her hand. She was ready to hand it over at any moment but casually tossed it into a nearby trash

can.

Chloe’s questions were way better than Linda’s–professional, in–depth, and sophisticated.

In just twenty minutes, the live stream audience surged to six million.

Finally, it was time for the last segment.

Chloe maintained a professional smile. “Thank you, Mr. Connor, for joining us on Riverbrook TV Station. We currently have six million viewers on our live stream, and they are all very curious about you. Now, we’ll take some questions from three enthusiastic viewers, if that’s alright with you?”

Connor smiled graciously. “Of course.”

Under the watchful eyes of the audience, the backstage team immediately captured screenshots of the questions from the live stream.

“The first question, Mr. Connor, do you have a girlfriend?”

After asking, Chloe felt the question r

be a bit intrusive. To lighten the

mood, she chuckled, “It seems everyon is really interested in your personal

life. If you find the question too personal, we can move on.”

“It’s okay,” Connor responded, looking unfazed.

The screen was actually flooded with similar questions.

“I don’t have a girlfriend,” Connor answered directly.

A subtle smile appeared on Chloe’s lips.

His answer was just as she expected. Over the past three years, she was certain that Connor had only been with her.

That’s a woman’s intuition for you..

But she definitely couldn’t consider herself his girlfriend.

What was she then? A lover?

That didn’t seem right either.

Lovers at least had feelings for each other. They were both just drawn to the warmth of each other’s bodies.

The second question was locked on the screen. “Second question, Mr. Connor, what kind of woman do you like?”

Connor seemed to think for a moment. Then he answered, “A girl who’s terrible at cooking, with a mole near her eye.”

Chloe felt a stir inside. So, Connor already had someone he liked.

Of course, she wouldn’t narcissistically think Connor was talking about her. In three years, she had never cooked for Connor, so he had no idea about her culinary skills.

As for the mole near the eye, she indeed had a tiny mole near her eye, completely hidden under makeup.

Maybe he already had someone he liked, and his initial attraction to her was because, like his beloved, she had a mole near her eye.

The live stream went wild.

[Such a unique preference! My cooking in t

Chapter 50

It’s obvious, isn’t it? It’s not that Mr. Connor likes girls who are terrible at cooking and have a mole near their eye, but the particular girl Mr. Connor likes is terrible at cooking and has a mole near her eye.]

[He’s got someone special already, huh? The girl Mr. Connor likes must be over the moon. Is this a public declaration of love?]

The third question had already appeared on the screen. Actually, the screen was filled with the same question over and over.

Chloe asked, “Mr. Connor, does the person you like also like you back?”