-
'Oh come on. I gave you my black card. That should be enough to shut you up, right? That black card doesn't have a limit. So you can use it to buy anything you want.'
'You're a woman, I know that you just want money. So just shut up and let me have fun outside. It's not a big deal, and it won't change a thing between us,' Vincent said while he brought another woman into their bedroom.
-
Chloe didn't want to experience that kind of situation anymore, to be looked down on because she used a man's money...
'I'll wait until I get my first salary by January, and then I will give this black card back to Vernon and use that salary to start living frugally,' Chloe fretted. 'After all, I don't want to be charged 10x every time I have to use it.'
Chloe shuddered when she imagined twenty-thousand dollars down the drain because of that 10x charge policy implemented by Vernon.
'Damn it, now that I think about it, twenty thousand dollars is way too much! I should've saved a lot, then I can buy something for Mackie after I get my first salary!' Chloe quickly darted her eyes at Vernon and said;
"V--Vernon, I think I'll only need to borrow seven-hundred bucks. That should be enough to buy a new iPad for her--"
SLAM!
Chloe jolted when Vernon suddenly slammed the desk out of annoyance.
"V--Vernon?"
"I don't understand why you kept talking about this? Didn't I tell you just now, that you can use my black card for anything you want!" Vernon yelled. "I don't care what you buy. Heck, you can buy a literal private jet and I won't bat an eye! Stop making it sound like I'm a stingy poor bastard!"
...
'Did he forget his own words? I will have to pay 10x of the amount I used in his credit card for any purchase outside of grocery...' Chloe still remembered the agreement she made with Vernon when she was hired as his maid.
Chloe lowered her head as she didn't really know what to say to Vernon, and Vernon was caught off guard because he was acting out of emotion.
He was slightly annoyed at first, but the more Chloe raised the issue about being frugal and not spending too much on his black card, the angrier he got.
'Crap...' Vernon regretted his action instantly and tried to backpedal. He lowered his voice and tried to soften it as he didn't want to scare Chloe, knowing his history, Vernon often intimidated someone without even realizing.
"W--What I mean is... I don't care how much you spend. I gave that card to you. I know that all women are materialistic and only love their men because of their money. So I won't question a thing about what you buy, okay?"
Chloe's heartbeat skipped for a second. She lifted her head again and saw Vernon trying to smile at her. Though, it looked like he was smirking rather than smiling...
Chloe's face visibly paled, and Vernon got even more worried. He felt like he was walking on an eggshell right now. No matter what he said, it would turn out to be wrong.
"Chloe?" Vernon called her and waited for a response. "Is everything alright?"
Chloe paused for a long while and nodded, "Everything is alright...."
'Okay, that's definitely NOT alright. But I don't know what I said wrong!' Vernon thought.
"Um... I'll have to prepare for your lunch. Please excuse me," Chloe got up from the sofa and grabbed the lunch bag.
"Wait--!"
Chloe halted her step and turned her body to face Vernon, whose face looked so troubled, "Yes?"
Vernon wanted to ask what he did or said wrong. Because the face that Chloe made when she was sad lingered in Vernon's mind.
But he knew he wouldn't get any clear answer from Chloe if he simply confronted her.
Thus he asked;
"Did you make two portions of lunch for me today?"
Chloe nodded in response.
"Then prepare it on different plates and you should sit here to have lunch with me!" Vernon instructed.
"That extra portion...."
"Isn't that obvious? Of course that's your lunch!"
"But I'm not hungry...."
"I don't care! You have to eat with me!" Vernon insisted, and Chloe had no way to refuse.
Thus, she nodded reluctantly and left the CEO's office.
Vernon sighed in relief once Chloe left his office. He wanted to confront Chloe about her trauma. He asked her everything so there wouldn't be any more misunderstanding between them.
"But if I did, Chloe would just hide everything and become so defensive."
...
"I really need someone who can give me advice on this," Vernon murmured. "Well, that's supposed to be Shailene's job. But that bitch seriously thinks that my Big sis Chloe is a pedophile and a manipulator."
"I should probably find a new psychologist. But..."
-
'I know you WILL return to me, I know that you picked me as your psychologist for this case because you're not someone who can open up easily, especially to strangers,' Shailene said back then.
-
Vernon hated to admit it, but it was difficult for him to open up. If he had to find a replacement for Shailene, it would take him a long time to adjust and get comfortable with that new psychologist.
"Ugh, I feel like I'm stuck in a dead end. What could I do to make Chloe open up to me more?"
**
-
I know that all women are materialistic and only love their men because of their money.
-
That sentence lingered in Chloe's mind while preparing Vernon's lunch.
She put Vernon's lunch in the microwave and closed the lid.
Chloe saw her reflection on the microwave's lid and paused while staring at herself.
Her heart was heavy. Vernon's words really hit her conscience until she was speechless.
Vernon's words offended... and saddened her at the same time.
'That is the same words said by Vincent back then....'
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