Chapter Eleven
1037 Words
It was like any other day at work. Logan always demanded more from her than expected, except this time was different. Lunch break was already 30 minutes away when Logan stepped out of his office. His eyes wandered from Amy to her.
"Miss Martini"
Chloe raised her head to look at him
"Yes, Boss"
"Have lunch with me," A command but still a shocking one. Chloe saw from the side glance Amy was opening her mouth to squeal but covered it with her hands.
"Now?" a dumb question she thought as soon as she asked him.
"Yes now, or does lunch not indicate afternoon?"
Although her work still piled up, Chloe knew she could finish it by the time they returned from the cafeteria.
Chloe stood up and took her purse from the desk and her blazers hanging on her chair. She followed him into the elevator.
"The Cafeteria is 3rd floor," Chloe said when she saw him pressing the down floor.
Logan looked at her and straight up.
"I know; that's not where we are going, and I don't eat cafeteria food."
She asked no questions and allowed him to lead the way.
Logan opened the car door for her before entering the driver's seat.
They stayed silent until he arrived at a famous Italian restaurant; he got out and opened the door like a gentleman.
Chloe was alarmed by this small gesture.
She followed him but
Logan didn't bother going to the receptionist's desk. The lady simply smiled and nodded when she saw him.
The restaurant had dimly lightened with rose fragrance. Although each seat felt like its booth, it wasn't clustered but relatively spacious.
Instead, it had stairs which was the VIP section. Chloe had wondered if this was a date.
There were only four tables in the VIP section, each with two seats. But Chloe had seen an older man with two chairs in front of him. So Logan politely pulled a seat for her before sitting down himself.
"Good day, Mr. Elliot," Logan said as he extended his hand for a handshake.
"Mr. Ford," Elliot called, returning the handshake.
"This is my assistant, Miss Chloe Martini."
"Since when do women work now?" Elliot said with a laugh.
Logan raised his two index fingers to signify the waiter.
"Mr. Elliot, I suggest we eat before discussing the benefit of this business deal."
"We should, although it would have been better if lovely Miss Chloe had cooked for us rather than going to this fancy restaurant."
Chloe took the opened bottle of wine and poured it for herself. She took a large gulp. She needed something to keep her mouth busy before she said something offensive to the elderly man in front of her.
"I am paying for the lunch, Mr. Elliot."
Logan had ordered for each of them, the food arrived on time, and they slowly ate, except for Elliot.
"Are you married, Miss Chloe?"
"No, Sir"
"Such a shame" Chloe took her glass to sip the wine but noticed it was finished. Logan took the wine bottle and poured more for her. She nodded.
"You see what's happening in this generation. Women feel they have the right to do everything, yet they mess it up. That is why you need a strong man to control you. Lead you on the right path, so you don't also mess it up."
Elliot pointed the fork at her.
"All assets will go to the Ford company. We will buy the winery from you and have the right to change the winery's name."
Logan had diverted the topic.
"This winery was my life, and I am not sure I am ready to let it go."
"If you don't sell it to me, it will go bankrupt. Would you rather have a winery and be broke for the rest of your life or live rich?"
The older man paused to think of his decision.
Logan's phone rings, interrupting the man from his thought.
"Excuse me," Logan said as he took his phone outside.
The older man looked at Chloe.
"What do you think I should do?" then he scoffed after asking, not allowing Chloe to answer.
"What do I know asking a woman for advice?"
"Katharine Graham was the first woman to lead a Fortune 500 company, the Washington Post company in 1972, and Lucille Ball was the first woman to have ownership over a major television. Maggie L. walked had been the first woman to establish a bank in the United States in 1903. Janet Yellen was the first woman to chair Federal Reserve in 2014; she helped boost the economy throughout her tenure."
Chloe said. She takes a breather.
"Those women paved for other women even though there were men like you bring them down constantly. If you weren't constantly making your sexist joke and comment, maybe you might have to listen to what a woman has to say."
Elliot looked up to see Logan had been standing there. Logan placed his phone in his trouser pocket and sat beside Chloe.
"Is that how the women in your company behave?"
"Frankly, I hope so."
Elliot looked bewildered.
"I can't sell my company to such a company like that."
"Mr. Elliot, I have been patient with you and stroking your ego, thinking you have a choice. I can buy many other wineries if you choose not to sell. I will give you within the next three days else I will find somewhere else to buy it. Your company is not worth a dollar compared to my company because you lack what my company has."
Logan looked at her, signaling her to move. Chloe takes her bag and follows him out.
"I thought you hated women?" Chloe asked while they were in front of his car
He looked at her and opened the door for her.
"I don't fancy them. However, that does not mean their rights should be excluded when everyone has equal rights."
Chloe gazed into his eyes and felt a chill down his spine. She entered the car.
Logan was proud of her when he heard her speak eloquently, and with no disrespect for Elliot, even with all his statements made throughout the meal.
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