Chloe sat limply on the toilet seat for a while. She felt hopeless, too hopeless, that she started thinking if she could ever escape from that bastard Vincent Gray.
He blocked her way out. She had no job, no way to pay for her daughter's tuition, and no money, even if she filed a lawsuit for child neglect. Technically, what Vincent said was true. He would give her all the money, as long as she was willing to meet him again. The court would probably advise marriage counseling instead.
Because Vincent never hurt her physically, the court would think of this as a regular couple fight.
But Chloe also felt that meeting Vincent would only lead to her demise, she didn't know what he would do, but she refused to meet that shithead again.
Thus, she was already out of options… except that one…
Chloe wiped the tears before leaving the bedroom in case Mackie suddenly woke up.
Chloe opened her bag and took the business card handed to her before she stomped out of the CEO's office.
—
Vernon Phoenix Gray
917 - 111 - xxxx
—
There was no occupation, address, et cetera. It was just a simple card that showed the name and number.
Honestly, Chloe hesitated to call this man. He was no different than Vincent. They were both the same perverts in a different bodies. They also shared the same view of women, thinking they were nothing but a tool to vent their demons.
"Those Gray brothers really know how to play with a desperate woman like me…." Chloe mumbled and preferred if she didn't need to call anyone right now.
But she really needed money right now, no matter what. This was for the sake of Mackie's study and wellbeing.
Chloe closed her eyes to brace herself before calling the demon who offered her the contract to sell her body. She glanced at Mackie, who was sleeping on the bed, and reassured herself, "I will do whatever it takes. This is for my daughter, even if that means I have to… sell my body to the devil."
Chloe entered Vernon's number and called. She called her three times until Vernon finally picked up the call.
—
"Good evening, Sister-in-law," Vernon greeted with his magnetic voice. Judging by his playful tone, he seemed to be well aware of something. "I suppose you're calling me because of that job offer, right?"
"Y—Yeah," Chloe replied. She tried to sound more polite, knowing that she licked her own spit in less than a day and called him out of desperation.
"I… I will accept the offer," Chloe replied. She fidgeted as her body burned out of shame from head to toe. "I will… I will do anything as long as I get the money…."
"Hmm, I mean, I've always wanted to know the sensation of fucking my own sister-in-law," Vernon replied.
"Then can I—"
"—But I got a call from my Big brother about three hours ago. Now the case is different."
Chloe's scalp went numb. She already guessed that Vincent would've called his little brother first. They might not have the best relationship, but they were still brothers. So it was pretty obvious whose side Vernon would take.
"He called me, saying that he wants me not to accept you had you come to my office. He wants you to make sure that you're not going to get in my office," Vernon informed. He sounded convincing enough that Chloe believed it instantly. "I'm not sure if I want to play with you now, Sister-in-law. I don't want to get to his bad side. He is the one who owns Gray's businesses, not me."
"P—Please, Vernon, I really need your help! Please just ignore Vincent's words and let me work in your office instead!" Chloe said on the phone. "Vincent has stopped two companies from hiring me, preventing me from getting any job for Mackenzie!"
"Damn, he would abuse his power to stop anyone from hiring you?" Vernon gawked, playing alone with Chloe, who was desperate for the job she turned down a few hours ago. "What a vile man. I didn't know that my brother would use his power to bully you!."
"That's why…." Chloe leaned on the wall, trying to stay calm as she felt her chance was getting slimmer. "Please take me in. I really need the job…."
"If I hire you, that means I will be facing my brother's wrath," Vernon said. "But, let's see if you're worthy of all the troubles. Come to my office tomorrow morning. I will have to test you first."
"T—Test? What kind—"
"Have a good sleep, Sister-in-law."
Beep.
"Damn it!" Chloe cursed as she felt her knees getting weaker. She sat on the floor, folding her legs and burying her face in her thighs. She was scared of what Vernon would do to her tomorrow.
She wished that Vernon was not the monster like his Big brother. But at the same time, her gut feeling told her that Vernon was no different than Vincent. He might be even worse than that unfeeling bastard.
Chloe was so done dealing with the Gray family. But she had no way out now. Nobody would help her except Vernon Phoenix Gray.
Chloe crawled to the bed and laid beside Mackenzie who was sleeping soundly.
She kissed her daughter's cheek and reminded herself, "This is for my daughter. Everything is for her, even if I have to—"
Chloe had no gut to say that she would become a prostitute to the young Gray, especially in front of her daughter. So she closed her eyes and wished that everything was just a nightmare.
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Vernon hung up the call after he said what he needed to say. He chuckled in mirth as he could clearly hear the desperation in Chloe's voice.
"Of course, she would. Since I blocked all her way out," Vernon said as he drank his whiskey. He had no remorse for what he did, "After all, I've always wanted to know the taste of a shy and modest woman like her."
Vernon was the one who did everything, including threatening those executives to reject Chloe's job application. He might not be as powerful as Vincent— at least not now.
But he was powerful enough to pull some strings, of course.
Vernon called another number, and after a few beeps, the call was connected.
—
"Hello, Vernon?"
"Ah, big brother," Vernon said. "I called just to tell you that I've rejected my sister-in-law's request."
"Really? Did she finally called you out of desperation?" Vincent asked.
"Yes,"
"And you refused to give her a job, right?"
"I don't want to offend you, big brother," Vernon replied.
"Good, I need that bitch to give up with her stupid escape. She doesn't know what kind of idiotic thing she's doing right now," Vincent said. "Anyway, thanks for your help, Vernon. I hope we can work to sort out our family problem soon."
"Sure, sure, big brother. Don't worry about it," Vernon said. "I never have any grudge against you. So we should be able to work together sooner or later."
"Mhm, sure, talk to you later."
Vincent hung up the call after that. Vernon threw his phone onto the bed near him.
He sat on the long sofa and spread his legs. He drank until the last drop of his Dalmore 62 and then put the bottle on his side. He looked at the picture of a beautiful woman in her thirty and her daughter in his phone gallery. His face turned gradually turned reddish, he wasn't sure if it was the effect of drinking the whole bottle of whiskey, but he felt pretty lightheaded right now, "You have a beautiful family. Too bad I'm going to be involved in your life."
—
"See you later, Mommy!" Mackie waved her hand as she pranced towards the school gate.
"Study well, Mackie," Chloe said. She waved her hand and smiled, but the smile slowly faltered after Mackie entered her school gate. The woe in her heart grew as she continued thinking of the worst scenario when she met Vernon just an hour from now.
Vernon was a bastard, and she was convinced that Vernon would not let her off easy. Not after she yelled at him and refused to comply at his office yesterday.
**
Chloe stood in front of the door leading to the main lobby of Vernon's office. She saw Diamond— Vernon's secretary was already standing inside, waiting for her to enter.
She hesitated for a second but shook her head after that.
Damn it, pull it together, Chloe Carlson! This is for your daughter!' Chloe chanted in her heart as she approached Diamond.
Diamond smiled at Chloe and said in a formal tone, "Mrs. Gray, please come with me. Mr. Phoenix Gray is waiting for you in his office."
'Vernon is waiting for me? Oh no…'
Chloe swallowed her saliva, but she nodded and followed Diamond to the executive elevator. They stood in silence while the elevator went up.
Chloe was a little uncomfortable with the silence, especially knowing that Diamond and her would work together in the future. Thus, she tried to start a conversation, "S—So, how long have you been working with Vernon?"
"Two years," Diamond replied curtly.
"… Then, how many women Vernon ever dated in those two years—"
"Too many to count, Miss," Diamond replied, not wanting to hide the cold, harsh truth to a special victim of her Boss. "I personally managed the contacts of all women he had ever been with. The longest-lasting relationship he had ever been with was with the hottest new actress in Hollywood, which lasted for two months."
"Two months?"
"Yes, Mr. Phoenix Gray is a man who is easily bored," Diamond said. "Though, his good looks, paired with his successful venture and… other physical advantages make him popular amongst the Hollywood circle."
Chloe was somewhat relieved upon hearing that one. He knew that Vernon was a powerful man, just like Vincent, and he was just as fickle as his big brother.
'If he can only last for two months with the hottest new actress in Hollywood, he will probably only tolerate me in a week at most, and I will get dumped,' Chloe thought. 'That's good. I will just take my payment and leave it with Mackie. I'll never get entangled with this bastard or his brother anymore.'
Meanwhile, Diamond sympathized with Chloe. She was the one who knew about Mr. Phoenix Gray's true intention, but she had no right nor obligation to tell Chloe about it.
She wanted to save her ass from Vernon's rage as well.
Ding!
The elevator reached the highest floor, and Diamond led Chloe to the office. She knocked on the door and opened it slowly, "Mr. Phoenix Gray, Mrs. Chloe Gray is here."
"Let her in," Vernon replied.
Diamond opened the office door, allowing Chloe to enter the CEO's office.
Chloe took a deep breath and clenched her fist for a second to muster her courage before stepping in.
The moment she stepped in, Diamond closed the door behind, locking Chloe with the demon CEO.
"Welcome back, sister-in-law," Vernon greeted. Chloe darted her eyes at the figure of a man standing in front of the wide glass pane, staring at the view of the city below.
Chloe stared at the CEO's broad shoulder in silence for a while until Vernon turned his head to the left and looked over his shoulder, "Shall we begin with your interview?"
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