Chapter 9

Scott heard every single word of the call with perfect clarity. He shifted his body, pillowed his head on Chloe's lap, and let his hands roam dishonestly all over her.

Chloe lowered her eyes and shot him a glance. Men really did all love the thrill of this sneaking-around business.

"You're back already?" Chloe asked, her voice steady as she carefully tested the waters with Austin.

"No. That new coffee machine I ordered for you a couple of days ago arrived. The installer just came by, but nobody was home," Austin said.

"Oh, I went to the gym this morning." Chloe asked at an unhurried pace, "If I head back now, is it too late?"

"The installer's already gone. I gave him your number—you two can schedule another time." A rustling noise came from Austin's end; he sounded very rushed. "I have to get to a meeting. That's all for now, honey. I love you. Bye."

"I love you too." Chloe responded with a smile. "Go get busy. I'll take care of this."

The moment she hung up after dealing with Austin, Scott immediately pressed her back down into the bed.

He pinched her chin between his fingers and examined her face carefully, as if studying a puzzle. "Don't tell me all that deep devotion you showed him before was an act."

Chloe didn't answer. She simply met him with silence.

Scott took the silence as confirmation and couldn't help laughing. "I really should present you with an Oscar."

"The trophy has to be solid twenty-four-karat gold," Chloe said.

Her dry humor delighted Scott. He patted her cheek lightly. "You little money-grubber. You really did play the lovestruck fool pretty damn convincingly."

Chloe said nothing.

Scott's smile faded. "Let me guess. Even if Austin hadn't cheated, you still would have divorced him. Am I right?"

"You're meddling in things that are none of your concern," Chloe said.

"A friendly reminder: before the wedding, he had most of his assets notarized and transferred away. The community property from your marriage—"

"About four million. Split evenly, I get two," Chloe took the words right out of his mouth. "That's more than enough."

Scott was genuinely surprised by how forthcoming she was. "You married him for the money?"

Chloe didn't answer. In Scott's eyes, that was as good as an admission.

Scott nearly laughed out loud. "Don't you think you set your sights a little low? Why didn't you find someone with more—"

"Men in better circumstances than him wouldn't have wanted me." Chloe took over the sentence before he could finish it.

"You tried?" Scott asked.

Chloe didn't answer.

Scott's fingers brushed across her lips. "Baby, you are truly something else."

Austin had always believed Chloe was hopelessly devoted to him, that she worshipped him beyond measure, that she couldn't possibly live without him.

If he ever learned that he had merely been one option among several for her, there was no telling what kind of face he would make.

"Trust me. With what you have going for you, you could absolutely land someone in a much better position." Scott's interest in her grew deeper and deeper.

He leaned in close and pressed a feather-light kiss to her lips. "How about it—why not consider me?"

Chloe raised a hand to his face, her fingertips gliding lightly along its contours. "Consider it how? Divorce him and marry you?"

Scott pretended to think it over for a few seconds, then smiled. "I don't need any official status. Just give me a chance to prove myself."

"I'm going to work." Chloe drew her hand back and pushed him away, and the distance between them opened up once more.

Scott knew his limits. He didn't press in again, only offered a thoughtful reminder. "The clothes are on the sofa."

Chloe stopped in front of the sofa and saw a complete set of clean clothes folded neatly on top of it—everything from underwear to outerwear.

No price tags.

"They're all brand new." Before any strange feeling could even rise in her heart, Scott had already guessed her concern. "The sizes might be a little off. You'll have to make do."

Chloe murmured in acknowledgment, picked up the clothes, and walked toward the bathroom.

Just as Scott had said, the clothes really didn't fit quite right.

The dress was somewhat loose but still passable. The underwear, though, was clearly a great deal too big.

Scott had torn her own underwear to pieces last night, so for now she could only make do with this. It beat wearing nothing underneath.

The bathroom was even fully stocked with disposable toiletries—and an array of skincare products, no less.

Scott, that seasoned veteran of the battlefield of love, had truly thought of and prepared for everything.

Chloe's mind drifted back to that earlier conversation.

Her counter-question to Scott about "divorcing Austin and marrying him" hadn't been a genuine intention—only a retort that had slipped out on reflex.

And Scott's response had been just as artful. No title needed—only a chance to perform.

At first hearing, it sounded like a moving declaration of love, even touched with a hint of humility.

Think it over carefully and the meaning became plain: he was reminding her—don't expect me to take responsibility for you.

To be able to deliver such a heartless message in such a deeply affectionate posture—no wonder so many people out there were infatuated with him.

Chloe's greatest virtue as a person was her self-awareness.

She knew perfectly well she could never handle a man like Scott, and she had never once imagined any real long-term future with him.

Since Scott clearly thought the same way, they could be considered to have reached a consensus.

Keeping this affair exactly as it stood was perfectly fine.

Work wasn't too busy for Chloe that day. She got off at five-thirty sharp, and with time still early, she planned to pick up a few things at the mall next to her office building before heading home.

Head down, eyes on her phone, she walked out of the elevator, and after only a few steps she accidentally bumped straight into someone.

"Sorr—"

"Chloe." A familiar male voice cut off her apology mid-word.

At the sound of that voice, Chloe's fingers went stiff.

She raised her head and met the gaze of the man opposite her dead-on. He was staring straight at her.

Chloe knew this kind of look from him all too well. A whole host of unpleasant old memories instantly welled up in her mind like a flood.

Fortunately, she managed to stay composed. "Did you need something from me?"

"I came to New York to talk some business. I happened to be nearby, so I thought I'd come see you." Randy Gordon glanced at his watch. "Have dinner with me?"

"No need. My husband is waiting for me at home," Chloe said.

Randy smiled. "Is that so? I stopped by his law firm yesterday. I heard from his colleagues that he's away on a business trip."

Chloe's grip tightened around her phone.

She understood everything now. Randy had calculated precisely that Austin was away from New York before coming to find her.

"I've reserved a table at a very nice restaurant." Randy reached out and wrapped an arm around Chloe's shoulders. "Come along. My treat."

At six-thirty, Chloe and Randy were seated together in the restaurant he had reserved.

Randy had booked a semi-open booth. It wasn't especially private.

Every single dish he ordered was prepared to Chloe's taste.

When the ordering was done, Randy poured Chloe a glass of water.

Chloe murmured a quiet "thanks."

Randy smiled. "Still being so polite with me."

Chloe didn't pick up the thread.

Randy raised another topic. "Are things still good between you and your husband?"

"Very good," Chloe said.

"You two have been married almost four years now, right? When do you plan to have children?"

"No hurry. I want to focus on my career first."

"You love him so much—I would have thought you'd be willing to set work aside for a while to have his children."

Chloe didn't want to continue this subject. "Is the business you came to New York for going smoothly?"

"Hard to say yet. I just met with the other party yesterday. Still waiting on their reply."

"Oh. Then I wish you the best of luck."

Randy laughed again. "Chloe, do you really have to treat me like such a stranger?"

Chloe didn't answer. She simply lifted her glass in silence.

Randy put away his smile, looked at her, and spoke slowly. "Is he good to you?"

"He's very good to me," Chloe said.

"Is that so?" Randy said.

Before Chloe could answer, he went on. "A friend of mine happened to see Austin in San Francisco, personally accompanying another woman to an appointment at a gynecology clinic."

Clatter.

The glass in Chloe's hand dropped onto the table, water splashing all over her.

The corner of Randy's mouth ticked upward. He rose from his seat, walked around the table to her side, and attentively helped wipe her down and tidy her up.

He stared straight into her eyes. "Married to him—are you truly happy?"

Chloe said nothing and reached out to push him away.

Randy only bore down harder, both hands pressing on her shoulders. "Divorce Austin immediately and come back with me. Don't force me to handle this matter myself, because when that happens—"

He never finished the sentence. From the corner of his eye, he caught sight of a figure.

The moment he saw who it was, he immediately released Chloe.

"Mr. Reed, what a coincidence. You're dining here as well?"

Hearing that familiar surname, Chloe instinctively raised her head.

Scott?

He stood not far away wearing a dark polo shirt, a pair of rimless glasses perched on the bridge of his nose.

The lenses hid the look in his eyes, but from that entertained smile playing at the corner of his mouth, Chloe could guess he was in full spectator mode, enjoying the show.

But how on earth did Randy know Scott?