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Novel Catalog
Chapter_35
A Predicament
When I stepped off the elevator, Matthew froze for a moment. It was as if the mask he wore slipped for an instant, but then he recovered, quickly turning back to his usual charming self. He exchanged a few words with the woman beside him and sent her off to the elevator without introducing her to me.
I couldn’t help but study the woman. She carried herself with elegance and grace, her poise radiating an air of dignity. Our eyes briefly met, and she smiled at me as the elevator doors closed, her expression almost daring me to ask more.
“Who was that?” I asked, trying to sound casual.
“A client,” Matthew replied, his tone nonchalant. He placed a hand on my shoulder, his smile still in place. “Where’d you go?”
It seemed that, despite everything, he was still curious about my whereabouts. The question made it clear that he knew I had been out. I smiled mischievously, deciding to keep him on his toes. “I won’t tell you.”
Matthew didn’t press further, though, and I couldn’t help but wonder about the woman. Who was she, really? What role did she play in Matthew’s life?
Meanwhile, Johnson didn’t return to the office until the end of the workday. The next morning, he secretly passed me the information I had asked for. His face was a mix of guilt and apprehension.
“Chlo, I… Please don’t make things too difficult for me. I…” Johnson’s voice trailed off, clearly nervous.
I understood exactly what he meant. He feared that I would report his actions, that Matthew would find out about his betrayal.
“That depends on what you do,” I said coldly, not making any promises. “You can go now.”
Just as Johnson started to leave, I called him back. “Wait. Help me find out about the woman who came to see Matthew before he left work yesterday. I want her name and phone number.”
Johnson hesitated for a moment, clearly torn, before he turned and walked away, defeated.
I was racing against time. I needed to uncover the truth, and quickly. Meanwhile, that woman wasn’t sitting idle either. When I ignored her texts, she kept messaging me relentlessly on WhatsApp, as though she was trying to harass me into responding.
I couldn’t shake the feeling that Matthew was starting to suspect something. Perhaps the woman had said something to him, leading him to pay more attention to me. But I was confident that Johnson wouldn’t betray me, at least not yet.
Later that afternoon, Matthew called Johnson and me to his office. He handed us a list of clients and asked me to review them and provide my opinions.
It was clear he was testing me. I examined the clients’ details closely and found no issues with their qualifications. Some of them were huge, reputable companies. But I had a feeling there was more to the story.
Once I finished reviewing the information, I summoned Johnson to my office.
He entered furtively, as if he were sneaking around. I couldn’t help but roll my eyes. “Seriously? Is this necessary? Why are you sneaking in here like that?”
“Chlo, don’t make things difficult for me. There’s surveillance everywhere. If I keep coming here, Matthew will get suspicious sooner or later!” Johnson muttered bitterly.
I bit back my frustration. Matthew was treating me like a criminal, and I hated it. I glared at Johnson and said, “You can tell him I asked you for a client’s information. That’s the truth, after all.”
“No, I won’t say anything. You can trust me, Chlo,” Johnson replied quickly, misunderstanding my words. He reassured me with a nervous smile, his hand anxiously scratching his head.
I didn’t have time for his confusion. “I mean it. Do as I say!” I snapped. I had already figured out that Matthew’s data was nothing more than a smokescreen.
Johnson finally relented and admitted that the so-called “major clients” were all under Matthew’s direct control. No surprise there. I told him exactly what to say to Matthew and dismissed him.
That evening, when I got home, I casually discussed the clients with Matthew, hoping to appear interested and engaged. I even told him that ATL Empire had the most potential, though Johnson had privately warned me that it was the least likely deal to secure.
I pretended to be the same naive Chloe Tanum I always was, the one who enjoyed chasing after challenging opportunities. But deep down, I had a different reason for my focus on ATL Empire.
The next day, a bidding meeting was held for the company. After the selection process, Tanum Corporation was chosen. I volunteered to give it a shot, and Matthew assigned an “assistant” to accompany me.
But I knew exactly what he was up to. The company’s headquarters were located in the heart of the city’s business district, in a massive building owned by a multinational corporation. Johnson’s warning about it being an improbable deal suddenly made sense.
As I stepped inside the towering structure, I understood exactly why he had said that. The odds of sealing this deal were slim to none. But I would still give it everything I had.