Her Fake Lover

Chapter 29

Annaliese was still watching the photos on Chloe's cellphone screen that Chloe kept scrolling, and Chloe, whose mind was too focused on what she was seeing, didn't pay much attention to Annaliese. That day Lea apparently had uploaded photos of herself with Darren, then also photos of Emmeline with Corbin, as well as photos of the four of them. These were photos taken after dinner with Corbin. Chloe had recognized the photos, having seen them before when Lea sent them to Emmeline.

"This is a photo of Miss Lea with ..." said Annaliese floating. She was remembering something, before squealing weakly, "oh my gosh! This is the man whose coat was soaked with my coffee yesterday. He was insisting on talking to Miss Emmeline when I came in, and I accidentally tripped and spilled all my coffee on his coat. Oh, so he's Miss Lea's boyfriend?! Oh, my God. There are so many things that I don't know." Chloe, glanced uncertainly at Annaliese at the information, but her focus was on the photos, making her quickly look back at her phone.

The captions of the photos were clear and descriptive enough to enable Annaliese to understand well the status of the people in the photo. But she tried to bring her eyes closer and took a better look at the caption of Emmeline and Corbin's photo. Annaliese stopped Chloe's hand, "Is it true what I read?" Annaliese read it again, before then gaping and shrieking in surprise, "My brother, Corbin, is Miss Emmeline's boyfriend! They are a couple!"

"Shh!" Chloe quickly covered Annaliese's mouth. She glanced around. A footstep was heard. Chloe immediately turned around. A reporter was seen standing in an awkward position, as if she was just about to leave but was caught by Chloe first. "What are you doing here?" Chloe asked him fiercely.

"Um—I—I just got here. I was meant to interview your model, for that amazing show just now."

"Annaliese is tired. She wants to rest. Shhh! Go!" Chloe waved her hand without looking at the person. The reporter nodded obediently. He walked away at a fast pace. Chloe, turned to Annaliese, and glared at her. "I feel more and more like I need to keep your mouth shut, Annaliese. Can't you control yourself?"

"S-s-sorry, Miss Chloe. I'm just shocked by all this," Anna apologized. "Ah—how is this possible, Miss? How is that possible? What exactly happened?" Annaliese's gaze returned to life with curiosity.

Chloe took a deep breath. She crossed her arms, glanced thoughtfully at Annaliese, then her fingers tapped her other arm. She seemed hesitant to give an explanation.

"Ah, why are you silent? All right. Let me think now," said Annaliese. She took a deep breath. Then closed her eyes. "Yesterday the man seemed to insist on talking to Miss Emmeline, even though Miss Emmeline seemed reluctant to him. He followed Miss Emmeline's footsteps. Miss Emmeline didn't answer me when I asked her at that time. And he turns out to be Miss Lea's boyfriend?" Anna paused for a moment. "And Corbin? When did he start to like and date Miss Emmeline? He only met Miss Emmeline when I asked him to come to France to sort out ... solve my ... problems? Huh!" Annaliese seemed to be finding an Aha moment. Chloe was taken aback by Annaliese's jolt at her last word. "Miss Chloe! Corbin and Miss Emmeline were so united—and so are you!—to refuse to tell me what deal was made to settle the wrong I did in Paris yesterday. And—and I know, Corbin wasn't the one who, all of a sudden, suddenly getting close to a girl and going on a date. Corbin isn't like that. Except," Annaliese rolled her eyes, "unless something special happened. Is this some kind of deal, Miss? Am I right? They couldn't be all of a sudden dating, right?"

Chloe held her breath for a moment, before exhaling it with a resigned expression. It seemed because she could no longer hide that fact from Annaliese. "Your analysis is so accurate. I didn't expect you to be smart too," she said.

"Ah? What? So I was right? Oh, my God!" Annaliese's excitement grew even more. "Oh my gosh. Pinch me, miss! Pinch me! I wonder if I'm not dreaming."

Chloe who was not concentrating completely complied with the request.

"Aw," Annaliese shrieked weakly.

"Oh, sorry," said Chloe.

"So then this is true, and not a dream. But Miss Chloe—"

"Shh!" Chloe raised her hand and asked Annaliese to be quiet. "Don't give me a headache. Shut up. Save your other questions on the matter. I haven't seen the news about your appearance at the fashion show earlier."

Chloe, continued searching for news on her cell phone, and said after that, "All the news is positive. I have to report this to Miss Karfis first. And ... " Chloe closed her eyes heavily with a sigh, "I'll also tell her about Lea's posts. I'm sure she hasn't opened it yet because she's been busy with a lot of activities. Now she's still in conversation with Mrs. Valerie. And meanwhile, you ... ” Chloe looked Annaliese up and down, "ah, I'll have someone take you home first. You rest at home. I'll catch up with you soon. I'll call the doctor when I get home."

Annaliese couldn't protest much, even though she wanted to. In fact, she felt like she couldn't calm down at all, and her energy overflowed as if she was ready to run or climb a hill with that overflowing energy, all of which was really only because she was filled with enthusiasm and great curiosity about Emmeline and Corbin.

A driver came to her, then helped carry her to leave the place.

Chloe, looked at the direction Annaliese had left with a sigh. Annaliese's business was temporarily taken care of. Now she had to move on to the next problem. Chloe straightened her back. Taking a deep breath, then stepping firmly, looking for Emmeline to tell her that a new problem was now in sight.

Chloe, found herself having to go round and round looking for Emmeline because she couldn't find her. The call went unanswered several times, and after a while, as she was looking around the wide open space outside the building, someone called out to her.

"Chloe!"

Chloe turned around. "Oh, Emmy!" Chloe exclaimed in relief.

She and Emmy both walked closer. They stopped after facing each other closely.

"I found my phone full of calls from you. What's wrong, Chloe?"

"There is a problem."

Emmeline raised her eyebrows reflexively. "What is the problem?"

Chloe sighed sadly as she closed her eyes tightly. She opened her phone again, then thrust it with her arms raised straight at Emmeline, and the cell phone was facing Emmeline. "Look!"

"Oh?" Emmeline gaped in surprise. She quickly grabbed the phone. "What is this?" she said.

***