Chapter 7

Chloe followed Scott into the dining room and saw at a glance that the table was covered with beautifully prepared dishes.

After a full day's work, her appetite flared to life at once.

"That hungry?" Scott noticed Chloe staring fixedly at the table. He rarely saw her wear an expression so undisguised, so close to naked eagerness.

But it made her look far more vivid and alive—younger than her usual prim, proper demeanor, even a little cute.

Scott pulled out a chair for her and settled a hand on her shoulder to guide her down. "Eat."

"Thanks." Chloe thanked him out of pure habit, made no show of false modesty, casually tied her hair up, picked up a fork, and started eating.

Scott left the room for a short while. When he came back again, he was properly dressed.

A black T-shirt and a pair of gray sweatpants. His hair, not yet fully dry, fell softly over his forehead, sanding away some of his usual sharpness.

Chloe's gaze rested on him for a moment, openly traveling up and down his body.

The clothes were cut loose, but beneath the black tee she could still faintly make out the contours of his chest and abdominal muscles.

She had only just seen that body earlier. Her fingers still remembered the feel of the firm, packed muscle when she'd stroked down his spine, remembered the taut lines of him when he exerted himself.

Scott truly did have the capital to indulge himself in whatever he pleased. He had money, a face attractive enough to draw anyone in, and a body beyond reproach. As for his skills in bed—those weren't bad either.

"Full already and your mind's wandered elsewhere?" Scott sat down across from her, a suggestive smile hooking the corner of his mouth.

Chloe realized she had been staring at him far too long. She immediately pulled her gaze back and lowered her head to keep eating.

"Does your company not feed its employees?" Scott asked.

"Today was unusually busy," Chloe said.

"What exactly is it you do for work, again?"

They had never been close to begin with, so Scott genuinely had no idea what she did.

Austin might have mentioned it at some point, but Scott hadn't taken it to heart. Back then he'd always considered Chloe bland and uninteresting, so naturally he'd never bothered to learn anything about her.

"I work in event planning," Chloe said.

"What kind of events?"

"Exhibitions and trade shows."

"If I remember right, you studied architectural design in college?"

"There aren't many opportunities in that field anymore. I couldn't find a related job."

Scott laughed. "These days, how many people actually work in the field they majored in?"

"You too?" Chloe asked.

"Your husband and I were college classmates. You don't remember?"

Chloe shook her head. It wasn't that she'd forgotten—she'd simply never known.

When she first met Austin, he was already in grad school, and Scott had completed his own graduate studies overseas, so this particular piece of their shared past had always been unknown territory to her.

"History," Scott said.

The fork in Chloe's hand paused. "What?"

"What's the matter?" Scott asked.

Chloe was genuinely a little surprised. His current work was investment, which had absolutely nothing to do with history. "I never would have guessed."

The corner of Scott's mouth lifted. "And I never would have guessed you're this bold in private."

"Although," he said, his tone shifting, open appreciation shining in his eyes, "I happen to like it."

After several encounters, Chloe had roughly figured out why Scott was interested in her. He saw a contrast in her.

Men were often like that, drawn to novelty and contrast. It wasn't strange at all.

Physically, she and Scott were reasonably compatible, and the experience had been good.

If Scott wanted to continue this kind of relationship, she wasn't opposed to considering it.

Still, some things were better spelled out clearly in advance.

After a moment of thought, Chloe asked straight out, "How many more times do you want to sleep with me?"

She asked directly, in the plainest possible words, her gaze meeting his openly, without a trace of shyness or coyness—as calm as if they were discussing a work project.

Perhaps it was precisely that calmness that made her all the more attractive.

Scott's gaze climbed slowly from her chest to her neck and finally locked with hers. "Last time wasn't satisfying enough for you?"

"Very satisfying," Chloe said. "Your performance was excellent. I had a good experience."

Scott was left speechless. Chloe had a real talent for saying the most unexpected things in the flattest possible tone.

He had always considered himself a worldly man who had seen everything life had to offer, but this particular type of woman—this was truly a first for him.

Before Scott could even get a word out in answer, Chloe continued speaking. "If you want this relationship to continue, we need to establish some rules first."

Scott made a "go ahead, I'm listening" gesture.

"Whenever other people are around, please keep your distance from me, exactly like before," Chloe said, her tone level. "Adultery during marriage affects the division of assets in the divorce."

Austin may have betrayed her first, but if he discovered she had done the same thing, he would absolutely seize on it and exploit it to the fullest to contest the property split.

Nothing about this matter could go wrong.

After hearing Chloe out, Scott narrowed his eyes and stared at her for a long moment, then finally shook his head with a laugh. "I always thought Austin himself was the only thing in this world you cared about."

After all, that was exactly the version of herself she had presented all these years.

She had married Austin the very moment she graduated from college. By his side, she had always gazed at him with adoring eyes, obeyed his every word, and cared for him down to the smallest detail.

He'd assumed she was the sort of woman whose head was filled with nothing but love.

Chloe didn't let him steer her off course. She calmly repeated herself. "If you can't do that, then tonight will be the last time we ever meet."

Scott gave a low laugh and looked straight at her. "I'm afraid that's not something you get to decide all by yourself."

He picked up the water glass beside him and swirled it gently. "I could let everyone know we've slept together right now, this minute. Doesn't that worry you at all?"

Chloe picked up her spoon and took a sip of soup, her movements utterly unhurried, showing not the slightest sign of the panic or fluster the threat was meant to provoke.

Scott raised an eyebrow, the amusement in his eyes growing thicker.

"If you're not worried, then what do I have to worry about?" Chloe's voice stayed just as steady as she laid out her cold analysis. "If this matter gets out, the fallout for you and Austin will be far greater."

"Is that so?" Scott was unimpressed. "Strange—I'd have thought the damage to your reputation would be the most severe."

Chloe raised her eyes to look at him. "The moment people find out about us, Austin will forever be seen as the weak, impotent, betrayed husband. And you will forever carry the infamy of betraying your friend—morally bankrupt."

"As for me, at worst people will say I behaved disgracefully and that I'll have trouble remarrying."

For a woman with nothing left to lose, no matter how she ran the numbers, a scandal like this would always strike the two men far harder than her—especially on the level of their precious careers.

Chloe's mind was perfectly clear. Scott's threats were nothing more than a desire to watch her fall apart, maybe even beg for mercy, so he could savor the thrill of controlling the whole board.

Unfortunately for him, she wasn't some naive little girl in her early twenties who had never seen how the world worked. She was not going to fall for it.

Hearing her lay it all out, a flicker of excited light actually flashed through Scott's eyes.

"Fine. We'll play it your way," Scott said. "From now on, you and I carry this affair through to the very end."

Chloe didn't respond immediately. Her eyelids lowered slightly, as if she were mulling something over.

"Is there another problem?" Scott asked.

"There is." Chloe had never trusted verbal promises—especially not ones made by a seasoned player like Scott.

"Let's hear it," Scott said.

"If your carelessness ends up affecting my share of the assets in the divorce, you'll need to pay me a corresponding penalty as compensation," Chloe said.

Hearing this, Scott couldn't help laughing out loud.

There was a trace of derision in his laughter, but his eyes grew brighter and brighter. "So, you're planning to sign a contract with me?"

"No." Chloe shook her head. "Contracts are full of loopholes. And you don't look like a man with any spirit of contract anyway."

"Before we officially begin this relationship, you need to place a deposit with me," she stated calmly. "Once I've successfully divorced and received my share of the property, the deposit will be refunded to you in full."

Scott raised his hands and gave her two soft claps, an amused smile curling his lips. "Brilliant."

"If you hadn't acted so meek and submissive in front of Austin—if you'd let him see this side of you sooner—maybe he wouldn't have dared to cheat." Scott's gaze dropped to her lips. "When you show this hard, forceful side, it's honestly quite exciting."

"You could consider—" Chloe began.

Before she could finish, her whole body suddenly left the ground.

Like a gust of wind, Scott swept around the dining table, hoisted her onto his shoulder in one clean motion, and strode toward the living room.

The moment Chloe realized what was happening, she thrashed with all her strength and nearly slid right off his shoulder.

Scott landed a slap on her backside.

Chloe swung right back and returned him a slap across the face.

Immediately afterward, she heard a heavy, ragged breathing beside her ear.

Sensing something was wrong, Chloe stared at him in utter disbelief.

This man had actually gotten excited from being slapped.