At his reminder, Chloe Preston paused, finally recalling what day it was tomorrow. She had almost forgotten.
"Got it," she replied into her phone before hanging up. She stood, walked across the room, and let herself out.
* * *
anwhile, the atmosphere in the eting room was tense.
Donovan Xavier leaned back in his executive chair, his handso face and expression cold. He exuded an oppressive aura that was almost suffocating. He listened quietly to their proposals, cuffs rolled slightly up to reveal his strong, lean forearms. His long, slender fingers tapped lightly against the rim of his cup.
He seed entirely indifferent, and no one knew if he had heard a single word.
A shareholder observed this, leaned over, and whispered, "Mr. Xavier, are you listening?"
Donovan Xavier lifted his gaze to him. The look was icy and extraordinarily sharp, and the air in the room seed to drop several degrees. The shareholder couldn’t help but shrink back.
Donovan Xavier’s thin lips curled into a slight smile, but his voice was chilling to the bone. "Do you think this proposal is worth my ti? What a load of rubbish."
He looked up, his eyes like frozen ponds as they swept over the crowd. "I gave you days to prepare, and this is the nonsense you co up with to fool . Useless."
With these words, the room instantly fell silent. No one dared to make a sound.
The employee who had designed the proposal stood frozen in place, biting her lip, barely daring to breathe. This was the proposal she had racked her brain over, working day and night without sleep. She’d been losing hair over this, only for him to dismiss it just like that.
He looks so angry. Is he going to fire ?
"Get another," Donovan said, his expression indifferent as he finished the last of his coffee and casually handed the cup to Liam Keane.
"Yes, sir!" Liam Keane took the cup, turned, and opened the door.
Just then, Chloe Preston happened to be walking past. Draped in a man’s suit jacket, she moved with light steps, her face gentle and stunning, exuding an elegant and dignified air.
Liam Keane imdiately greeted her respectfully. "Madam, why are you out here?"
Chloe Preston smiled slightly. "I’m looking for Donovan. Is he still in a eting?"
Liam Keane nodded.
Chloe walked over, stood at the door, and quietly peeked her head in. "Why does he look so fierce? He seems so angry; who provoked him?"
"Mr. Xavier is displeased with the proposal; he was angry just now," Liam Keane explained.
Inside the eting room, Donovan Xavier’s dark eyes were cold and sharp. "Who made this proposal? Don’t bother coming in tomorrow. Pack your things—"
He had just started speaking when Liam Keane rushed in. "Mr. Xavier!"
Startled, Donovan glared at him, his voice laced with anger. "What do you think you’re doing!"
"Mr. Xavier, Madam is here," Liam Keane said weakly.
Donovan Xavier froze. "Chloe?"
"She’s at the door," Liam Keane said.
Without a second thought, Donovan got up and walked out. "Chloe, Chloe," he called.
"I’m here." Chloe took a couple of steps forward, looking up at him.
Upon seeing her, the tension in Donovan Xavier’s brow instantly smoothed over. He gently held her shoulders, a smile touching his eyes. "Why are you awake so soon? Are you tired? Do you want to sit down? Are you hungry? I can have soone get you sothing to eat."
Chloe shook her head. "I’m fine. I didn’t an to disturb your eting."
"It’s all right, it’s finished," Donovan said with a smile.
"Not quite," Liam Keane piped up. "There’s still... another eting."
Donovan Xavier shot him a look so cold it was like daggers.
Liam Keane imdiately snapped his mouth shut.
The surrounding shareholders and employees watched this unfold with expressions of utter disbelief. So Mr. Xavier has a gentle side after all.
Donovan Xavier took her hand, gently stroking it. His voice was low and tender. "It’s getting late. I’ll take you ho."
"Is your work finished?" Chloe asked. "Didn’t you have another eting?"
"It’s done," Donovan said. "That eting isn’t important."
Nothing was more important than his wife.
Chloe glanced at Liam Keane. "Really?"
Catching Donovan’s gaze, Liam shivered slightly and nodded vigorously.
An employee walked over to Liam Keane and cautiously asked, "Assistant Keane, Mr. Xavier just told I didn’t have to co in tomorrow. Am I..."
Liam Keane looked up at his boss. "Mr. Xavier, are you still firing this employee?"
Now in a much better mood, Donovan Xavier walked on, still holding Chloe’s hand. "You handle it," he tossed back over his shoulder.
Liam Keane turned to the employee. "You don’t need to leave. Just focus on your work."
* * *
Outside the company, the rain had stopped, but the wind still howled.
Donovan Xavier helped Chloe into the car before getting in himself.
Suddenly, a phone rang. Donovan took out his phone and glanced at the screen.
The caller ID read: Faye Hughes.
Donovan frowned and hung up.
A few seconds later, the phone rang again.
Expressionless, Donovan Xavier hung up again.
A mont later, the phone rang a third ti.
Chloe adjusted her dress and looked at him. "Why don’t you answer it?"
Donovan Xavier handed her the phone, his brow furrowed. "Chloe, who is this?"
"Faye Hughes?"
"I don’t recognize the na," Donovan said. "I don’t know her."
It was then that Chloe realized he was still suffering from amnesia, having forgotten many people and things.
She said softly, "I believe she’s the sister of one of your old comrades-in-arms."
"Comrade-in-arms?" Donovan asked, looking puzzled.
"Yes," Chloe nodded. "Your friend was killed in action, and you promised you’d take care of his sister for the rest of her life."
As she said this, an unconscious hint of jealousy crept into her tone.
Then she added, "You used to be a narcotics officer. You were stationed in Southel for four years."
"Huh? I did that?" Donovan was even more bewildered.
He really didn’t have a single mory of it.
"Then why did I do that?" Donovan asked, leaning closer after a few seconds of processing.
Chloe crossed her arms. "How would I know? You never told ."
"The phone’s still ringing. You’d better answer it."
Donovan answered, and a woman’s voice imdiately ca through the speaker.
"Donovan, I injured my leg. Can you co see ?"
"No," Donovan replied coldly.
"I feel so awful, Donovan," the voice said, sounding surprised by his response, weak and tinged with tears. "I really want to see you."
"I don’t want to see you," Donovan said.
"I’m scared all by myself," Faye Hughes cried. "Can you please co keep company?"
"I have to be with my wife," Donovan’s tone remained flat. "I don’t have ti."
"Donovan, is it that Chloe Preston?" Faye Hughes sobbed. "Is she the one stopping you from coming?"
"No. I’m the one who’s stuck to her like glue. I can’t bear to be apart from her for a second. You should find so other good Samaritan to keep you company."
With that, he hung up, blocked the number, and deleted the contact, all in one smooth motion.
Chloe watched him do this. "Why did you delete her?"
Donovan’s expression was impassive. "Why keep soone unimportant in my contacts?"
"She’s your comrade-in-arms’ sister."
"I have amnesia. I don’t rember anything, so she’s a stranger to ," Donovan stated.
He leaned closer, his unique masculine scent enveloping her. He stared straight at her. "Chloe Preston, you seem quite eager to push toward her. Why is that? Do you want to go see her?"
His gaze was scorching. Chloe instinctively looked away. "Of course not."
"Why won’t you look at ?" Donovan was so close now. Seeing that she wouldn’t et his eyes, he reached out and gently turned her fair face toward him.
Chloe t his gaze. "I’m not avoiding you."
Donovan’s nose brushed against her rosy cheek. He moved to her ear and whispered hotly, "Did you like how I was in the office? Was I too rough? Are you still sore? Baby..."
The topic changed so abruptly that Chloe stamred, unable to form a coherent reply.
He nibbled on her ear. "Why so quiet? Weren’t you satisfied with my performance? Didn’t I make you feel good?"
Chloe coughed twice and stared out the car window, her face as red as a beet. "Stop talking about it! You bullied so much."
If she weren’t pregnant, he would have been even more ruthless.
"That wasn’t bullying; that was affection," Donovan said, his dark eyes deep and his low voice hoarse and magnetic. "I was giving you pleasure. We’ll continue tonight."
Chloe’s face turned even redder. She pushed him slightly. "Stop talking and just drive!"
Donovan’s lips curled into a smirk. "But I am driving."
Chloe was speechless.
"If you don’t stop being so improper, I’m getting out of the car." As she spoke, she reached for the door handle.
Donovan pulled her back. "Okay, okay, my mistake. I’ll stop teasing you, all right?"
He’s certainly quick to admit when he’s wrong now.
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