Monday.
Chloe hadn't been at the office long after she received a mass email from the corporation's Human Resources Department.
"After comprehensive deliberations by all departments, HR has decided to officially extend offers of full employment to the following interns."
Chloe's heart raced in anticipation, and when she saw her own name on the list of those who'd made the cut, she was both elated and surprised.
Another intern from Pearl Peak Institute of Technology in the Finance Department, Ellie Roberts, who had been widely favored, hadn't passed.
Previously, James Turner had mentioned that the Finance Department was only hiring one intern this year, and now, against all odds, that spot had gone to Chloe.
James Turner's gaze upon Chloe had taken on a curious quality.
This year, the finance department had two interns, and Ellie was one of them. A graduate student from Pearl Peak Institute of Technology, she had a close working relationship with the finance director, James Turner, and her professional knowledge was solid. If Chloe hadn't been taking leave so often, she might have been able to compete with Ellie, but since Chloe kept taking time off and Donovan didn't agree to keep her on at New East International Group the last time, she had assumed she wouldn't be the one getting a permanent position. But suddenly, she was. Chloe felt incredibly lucky.
Judging by James Turner's behavior, Chloe thought he would have submitted Ellie's name for the permanent position to the HR department.
Chloe wondered, 'Maybe Donovan had pulled some strings, which is why even James Turner seemed surprised.'
'Did Donovan tell the HR about their marriage of convenience?' Chloe pondered.
After work, Sofia and Chloe had plans to celebrate their official employment over dinner. Sofia had also received a promotion and was working in the public relations department.
As the two of them stepped into the elevator, they noticed Donovan was already inside, casually leaning against the wall with one hand in his pocket. He didn't even glance at Chloe, exuding an aura of confidence and an indifference to those around him. Several company executives were with Donovan, discussing the year's advertising campaigns.
Sofia and Chloe didn't dare breathe too loudly and automatically moved to the back of the elevator.
"Since you're permanent now, have you applied for a dorm room?" Sofia whispered to Chloe.
Despite trying to be discreet, their voices carried in the confined space of the elevator, but fortunately, the executives were engrossed in their conversation, so Sofia's question didn't stand out too much.
"Not yet," Chloe replied.
"You should apply soon, or there won't be any rooms left," Sofia advised, looking over at Chloe.
"I'll get on it," Chloe responded, stealing a glance at Donovan.
The reason Chloe hadn't applied for a dorm room was that she was concerned about her weekly visits to see Samuel. If she left every Saturday and returned on Sunday, her roommate would surely ask questions. She feared that, over time, her secret might be exposed. She wanted to ask Donovan what he thought but then figured that her intern's affairs probably didn't matter to him, so she never brought it up. She was not short on money, so she was thinking of continuing to live in the apartment she was renting, which was more convenient for her, whether she was visiting her mother or going back to Pearl Peak City.
However, on Wednesday, Chloe received the dormitory paperwork from HR asking her to fill out her personal information.
Chloe was perplexed. Just as she was about to ask James Turner what was going on, she received a WhatsApp message from Donovan that read, "Get it?"
Donovan assumed Chloe could decipher his cryptic message. After much pondering, Chloe finally pieced together what he meant. It dawned on her that Donovan must have instructed the HR department at New East International Group to keep her on board. According to James Turner, if someone were to be retained, it would certainly be Ellie. The only reason they held onto Chloe was probably Donovan's fear that she would be harder to control if she left the company. Moreover, Donovan's decision to apply for a dorm room for Chloe was because he didn't want her to move in with her boyfriend.
A dorm room housed four people. If Chloe's boyfriend were to come stay, Donovan would undoubtedly find out, marking yet another way he controlled Chloe. Donovan's strategic planning was undeniable – such a CEO skillfully managing even an intern's affairs with absolute clarity.
Chloe replied, "Understood."