The next day, there was a 9 A.M. flight back to Skyhaven City.
Jet-setting with the big boss meant luxing it up in business class. Vincent scored the window spot, Chloe snagged the aisle, and Leo posted up in the row just behind them.
After they were seated, a flight attendant immediately approached, "Sir, Ma'am, would you like something to drink?"
Chloe said, "Two bottles of mineral water, please."
Vincent was downright picky about his drinks, usually rolling with only hand-ground joe and that specialty mineral water. With the plane lacking his beloved coffee, he settled for the water instead.
The flight attendant acknowledged the request but didn't leave, her gaze almost glued to Vincent. She continued, "Sir, we do have coffee on the plane. Would you like some?"
Vincent didn't even glance at the flight attendant. He turned to Chloe and said, "I'm taking my wife out to dinner tonight. Book us a spot in advance."
Chloe gave a swift nod, "Got it."
Chloe felt embarrassed for the flight attendant. She smiled, "Could I trouble you for today's newspaper?"
As the CEO's aide, keeping up on current events was part of the gig. With no internet right now meant she had to rely on the good ol' newspaper for updates.
As she went through the news, Chloe found an article about Future Life Corporation in the business section: "CEO in Hot Water—Corruption Allegations Swirl, Handicap After Airport Escape."
Chloe instinctively looked to her right at Vincent, who was resting with his eyes closed. Under his silver-framed glasses, she could see his long eyelashes, which looked like little fans.
"CEO in Hot Water—Corruption Allegations Swirl, Handicap After Airport Escape."
Treading carefully, Chloe tentatively brought up, "Mr. Samuel over at Future Life Corporation... in a hefty mess."
Vincent let out a chill chuckle, "Lucky his loss was just a hand."
His tone was as breezy as a stroll in the park, sending shivers down Chloe's spine, a nervous gulp slipping past her lips.
Whispers in business circles painted a portrait of the young head of the Harrison Group as ruthless, cold-hearted, and indifferent to women.
Back when he was barely out of his teens, Vincent was dismissed as a greenhorn. But with an iron hand, he whipped the Harrison Group back into shape, silencing doubters and catapulting the company to stellar heights.
Since then, many in the business world shivered at the mention of 'Vincent' as if it had become synonymous with 'terror.'
Vincent slowly opened his eyes, his cold gaze fixed on Chloe, "What? Are you scared?"
Chloe felt a bit flustered under his stare. She nodded and then shook her head, "No, I'm not."
"Really?" He didn't buy it, but let it slide, shutting his eyes once more.
Chloe remained silent.
No matter how ruthless the rumors painted him, she couldn't deny that the Vincent she knew would gently smile when mentioning his wife, make time to pick out gifts for her despite his busy schedule, and protect his subordinates.
She was his assistant, not his enemy. Why should she fear him?
Understanding this, Chloe breathed a sigh of relief and closed her eyes to rest.
When the plane hit its smooth cruising altitude, Chloe slipped into a light nap, only to be roused by a chilling whisper, "Do I look like someone you can just waltz up to, or am I some easy score?"
The voice sent a shiver down her spine, prompting Chloe to blink open her eyes and catch the flight attendant clumsily retracting her phone, having attempted to make a move on Vincent.
With his killer combo of looks and dough, Vincent naturally attracted all kinds of advances. His ability to swat them away without a second thought was a rare quality.
Intrigue struck Chloe as she mused over the kind of woman who could keep a guy like Vincent unwaveringly loyal, never even glancing at another.
After a two-and-a-half-hour flight, they arrived in Skyhaven City and headed straight to the company to get busy again.
In addition to handling company matters, Chloe also had to take care of Vincent's personal affairs, such as buying flowers, booking restaurants, and arranging post-dinner entertainment.
This time, Chloe put in extra effort. After all, the CEO's wife's satisfaction with the date directly affected the CEO's mood, which in turn directly impacted her work.
At the end of the workday, Chloe personally handed the flowers to Vincent and watched him get into the car driven by his chauffeur, marking the end of her day's work.
Breathing a sigh of relief, Chloe was ready to flag down a cab home when a message from Elsa popped up.
Elsa: [Hey, we're doing grilled fish tonight. Could you grab some BBQ sauce from the market downstairs on your way back?]
Chloe: [Sure.]
As Vincent's car drove toward Chloe's residence, Donna called again.
Donna's voice held a tinge of frustration, "Vincent, listen up. Ever since you tied the knot and dashed off abroad for work, leaving your new bride in the dust, I've been avoiding Chloe. Bring her back, or I'll blow a fuse."
Among Donna's flurry of words, Vincent caught onto one thing. He probed, "Grandma, what was her name again?"
Donna huffed, "Chloe! Can't you even remember your own wife's name? You're driving me up a wall!"
"Chloe?" Vincent repeated the name, and an image of his assistant's face flashed in his mind.
No wonder Chloe's name seemed familiar when he was selecting a new assistant; it turned out she had the same name as his wife.
He chuckled, "Grandma, I'm on my way to pick her up right now. Once I have her, I'll bring her to see you first."
Donna beamed, "Don't let me down this time. Chloe's a gem. Treat her right, you hear?"
Vincent and his wife had barely exchanged a word since their nuptials, leaving him in the dark about her. Yet, he trusted Donna's read. And now that they were hitched, he made a vow to cherish her.
He nodded, "Okay."
Ending the call, the driver stopped the car outside Chloe's apartment complex, prudently asking, "Mr. Harrison, we're here. Should I go get the young madam, or..."
"My wife, of course. I'll go get her," Vincent replied as he got out of the car, picked up the bouquet of roses, and walked toward the complex.
The complex had a high proportion of renters and lax security, or perhaps his presence was too imposing. The security guard didn't even ask and let him in directly.
Vincent found Building 10, Unit 1, took the elevator to the 15th floor, and arrived at the door of Apartment 1501. He knocked on the door.
After a moment, the door opened, revealing Alan in floral shorts and a bare chest. He asked, "Who are you looking for?"
Alan held the door handle with one hand and a T-shirt with the other. His hair was still wet, indicating he had just showered.
Vincent's eyebrows slightly furrowed, but he asked calmly, "Does Chloe live here?"
Alan stiffly nodded, "Yeah."
Vincent's demeanor chilled, "What's your connection to her?"
Before Alan could reply, a soft voice chimed in from behind, "Alan, who's there?"
Soon, a delicate figure emerged, Elsa clad in cozy home attire, her wet hair indicating a recent rinse.
Vincent thought, 'A man and a woman showering together—anyone can understand what that implies.'
As Elsa peered out and locked eyes with Vincent, her face brightened, "Hey, who are you looking for?"
Vincent coldly stared at the woman in front of him. Although her face was completely unfamiliar, she was his legally registered wife.
Not only was she entangled with another man, but she failed to recognize her own husband.