Liar Liar Billionaires

8. A date?

FOUR DAYS LATER…

Deep in thought, Chloe wondered if she would ever get that one lead she was looking for. Time was moving fast, and having nothing to do but chores upon chores was starting to get on her nerves.

True, it was part of her work, so she had to be very patient and vigilant to get what she was there for. But, she didn't have all the time in the world. Wasting days in a huge house, working her butt off when she had issues of her own to deal with, was immensely annoying.

Her hand clenching the edge of the tiled surface, Chloe let out a swear word.

Then, her train of thought drove in another direction.

Recalling Gabriel's and most importantly, Amir's words about Nathaniel liking her, she wondered if she wanted to use that channel to get what she wanted.

Toying with real emotions could become dangerous. For her especially.

She sighed because nothing was clear to her. Maybe if she had already gotten a little dirt on the NAG brothers, she could be feeling differently.

“There you are,” Lucille's voice cut her thoughts short.

Her legs skimming the surface of the water body, Chloe looked up at her, and her mouth had to fall open in shock.

Lucille’s obvious weight loss was crazy. Crazy in the sense that it had been just four days since Chloe last saw her. And that day, Luccile was definitely looking okay.

So, Chloe just had to ask concernedly, even though she still didn't like her, “Lucille.” Her eyes roamed the woman’s protruding collarbone. “Are you fine?”

“Yeah, obviously.” Even her eye sockets seemed to be gradually swallowing her eyeballs.

“You don't seem fine, Lucille.” Chloe insisted as she got up from the edge of the pool and stood at eye level with her.

“I…” A small pool of tears had already formed in Lucille’s eyes, and it seemed for a moment that she was about to say something. But a second after, she had a scowl on her face. “It is none of your business if I am fine or not.”

“I know we don't like each other, but I am willing to help you the way I can with whatever.”

Lucille let out a shaky breath, her hands fisted as though she was trying desperately not to let a secret out. But, like earlier, that look of sadness and pain disappeared and got replaced with a sneer. “Mind your business. I came to tell you that Gabriel needs your help with some stuff in the library.”

“Okay.” Chloe was still worried. But she decided not to bother herself much about it as she watched Lucille leave. After drying her feet and putting on her shoes, she rushed into the building.

She was already a few inches from the library when she saw Nathaniel come out of his room, dressed casually in a tee-shirt that clung to his chest and a pair of wide-legged trousers.

Immediately, without thinking, she threw herself into a dark space that happened to be close by.

Chloe watched quietly as he suspiciously surveyed his surroundings.

'He must have sensed my movement,’ she thought as her teeth gritted.

She was acting like she did him wrong, and the best she could do was hide from him.

Now, that was just weird.

What was more weird was the way her heart pounded as he walked past with his head buried in his phone.

As she left her hiding, Chloe had to ask no one in particular if something was wrong with her because even after his scent had left, her chest was still racing as though he had confessed his love to her.

Frowning, Chloe managed to calm herself, and as she did, she analysed her earlier reaction. So many thoughts flew through her mind as she continued her journey to the library, and eventually, those thoughts felt silly to her.

So, Chloe did what she does best. She ignored the silly, dramatic reaction in her chest.

~~~

"Why don't you girls have dinner with us this evening?" Gabriel said to break the crazy silence that ensued after their meal had been set on the table.

"Uh? Really?” Lucille asked a bit too excitedly, and Chloe scoffed lightly.

At the woman’s moment, her drastic leanness was not a concern anymore.

“That sounds good,” Nathaniel, who had just entered, replied and sat. “Is Madam Lugi still around? She can also join us.”

“She already left,” Lucille replied as she helped herself to a seat.

“Chloe?”

“Uh?” Her mind had travelled to the time she stupidly hidden from Nathaniel.

“Have your seat.”

She nodded and made for the chair opposite Gabriel. That way, she was not close to where Nathaniel was. However, she was certainly prone to glares from both Amir and Lucille.

Minutes later, they were halfway through their meal, which was fried rice.

“So how was your day, Chloe?” Nathaniel asked, his cutlery clinking as they kissed his almost empty plate.

“Cool, cool.” Chloe gnashed her teeth mentally. What sort of response was that?

“That sounds interesting.” She could not manage to look him in the eye . “Cool. Cool.” She heard him repeat in a low voice. Then, he continued, “Gabriel, isn't it Donald's birthday party tomorrow?”

“Yes. And you know he is expecting you. And I mean, especially you.”

“It's like he is obsessed with me or something. I think I should go with someone. Or what do you think?”

“Hmm,” Gabriel put his fork down. “It is not a bad idea. Parties these days tend to be boring if you’re by yourself.”

“Chloe?”

“Yeah?” She managed a straight face as she stared into his blue eyes.

“Would you love to go with me?”

“Huh?”

“It will be like a date.”

“A date?” She had no idea why she was acting so slow, it was not as though she previously embarrassed herself in front of him or something. And even if Nathaniel's liking of her was what was making her act silly, she needed to get her act together because she didn't like him in that manner in the first place.

"I'll go if she doesn't want to."

"Nobody asked you, Lucille," Amir spoke for the first time.

"Uh… sure. But I don't…"

"Don't worry, I'll take care of whatever you need,” Nathaniel insisted with careful gentleness.

"It will be fun, Chloe," Gabriel said, a huge smirk on his face that said- I told you he likes you.

“Oh, okay. Let's do it.”

At that point, one thing became clear. She had one more mission. To guard her heart against the man with the gorgeous blue eyes, the man who liked her.