128
630 Words
Chloe quickly finished the dishes and retreated to the bedroom, pulling the covers up. Not long after, she heard the bathroom door open and the steady hum of a hair dryer.
Should I offer to help him? she wondered, staring at the ceiling. What if he rejects me again?
She shook the thought away. Xavier had explicitly told her that "pleasing him" was more practical than her struggling with business books. That meant he was at least giving her an opening. Besides, he hadn't kicked her out of the room tonight.
Taking a deep breath, Chloe sat up. She watched the back of Xavier’s damp head for a moment before sliding over to him. "Let me help you," she offered softly.
Xavier’s hand paused, and he clicked the dryer off.
Taking that as a silent "yes," Chloe took the device from him. Her slender fingers moved carefully through his thick black hair, the warmth of the air mixing with the faint, masculine scent of his shampoo. Seeking to break the silence, she asked, "I noticed you’ve been at the Bishop Group office the last two days. When are you heading back to your own headquarters?"
"Tomorrow," Xavier replied curtly.
"So soon?" Chloe was genuinely surprised. "The board of directors—men like Lester and Barnaby—must have left the company in a total mess. Are you going to have to commute between both companies every day now?"
"It’s handled," Xavier said. "I’ll only go back to your office for major issues from now on."
Chloe was stunned. "It’s only been two days... and you’ve already stabilized everything?"
"Now do you see the gap between natural talent and a hardworking i***t?"
Chloe choked on her words for a second. "...So, the gap is basically the distance between you and me?"
They both grew up eating the same food; how could the difference between two human beings be this vast?
Xavier let out a cold snort. "At least you have some self-awareness."
Chloe wrinkled her nose in protest. "Actually, everyone has their own specific talents. For example, I might not have a 'business brain,' but I’m excellent at competitive shooting, racing, surfing, and horse riding. I have many skills that you might not have mastered."
She felt she was still quite accomplished, after all. A combination of beauty and diverse talents—surely that made her a worthy match for him?
Xavier gave a contemptuous huff. "That just proves your intelligence and your physical energy aren't on the same level."
He was insulting her IQ again! Did he not realize that mastering those sports required a sharp, strategic mind as well?
"I’m also proficient in the arts—piano, chess, calligraphy, and painting," Chloe countered, unwilling to back down.
Xavier dismissed her with a single blow. "All useless. Decorative, but purposeless."
"You're wrong," Chloe argued. "Anything done to a level of mastery can generate wealth."
Xavier followed her logic with a sharp, cynical question. "And how much can they earn?"
The question was so pointed that Chloe’s confidence deflated instantly. "Obviously... it’s not comparable to what you do."
"What you describe is a lack of focus and a waste of potential," Xavier stated.
Chloe went silent. Good grief, this man sounds exactly like my father.
Fortunately, Xavier didn't continue his verbal assault. Chloe clicked off the dryer and set it aside. "All done."
She lay down beside him, turning onto her side to face his handsome profile. In a low, cautious voice, she whispered, "Tomorrow is my first official day with the racing team. Would you... want to come to the track and see it?"
Xavier closed his eyes, his answer immediate and devoid of hesitation. "No time."
Chloe felt a sting of disappointment. "Then... I’ll take Liam Jr. with me."
- Writer
