Betrayed By The Billionaire

125

Just as she was about to step into the kitchen, Chloe Bishop spun around to face him. "Didn't I just bring you a full dinner a few minutes ago?"

Xavier Grayson didn't offer a verbal explanation. He simply leaned against the doorframe, his deep, dark eyes fixed on her with an unreadable intensity. After a few seconds of this silent standoff, Chloe surrendered. "Fine. What do you want to eat?"

"Whatever," Xavier replied curtly.

Chloe stared at him, speechless. Whatever? Fine then—he was getting a bowl of plain clear-soup noodles.

Stepping into the kitchen, Chloe tied on her apron. As she moved around the stove, she recalled the sensation of Xavier’s hand near her back when she woke up. A ridiculous thought popped into her head: Was he actually planning to pick me up off the floor? She shook her head immediately, dismissing the idea as naive. Given his icy attitude toward her all day, there was no way he was being romantic. He probably just wanted to poke her awake so she could slave away for him in the kitchen.

Clear noodles it is, she decided. No meat for you tonight.

She put a pot of water on the stove and pulled some greens from the refrigerator. But as the water began to simmer, she hesitated. She opened the fridge again and sighed. Better add a little pork after all. If she actually provoked him with a disappointing meal, she was the one who would end up suffering the consequences of his temper later.

Out in the living room, Xavier’s tall frame was draped across the sofa. His long, clean fingers were leafing through the homework assignment that had been pinned under Chloe’s face—the one still damp with a bit of her sleep-induced drool.

As he scanned the pages, his expression soured. So, while she was busy swearing she didn't want a divorce, she was already secretly preparing for life after him?

He let out a cold, internal scoff. With her current level of understanding, her dream of taking over the Bishop Group was a total fantasy. She couldn't even grasp the basic logic of the opening problems. No wonder Charles Bishop had spent years desperately trying to find a suitable successor from outside the family. Compared to the elite standards of the business world, Chloe’s grasp of corporate strategy was practically non-existent. How did she even graduate from university?

A short while later, Chloe emerged from the kitchen carrying a steaming, fragrant bowl of her signature noodles. She placed it carefully in front of Xavier. "Dinner is served."

Xavier tossed the homework assignment aside and spared the bowl a cold, sideways glance. "Is noodles the only thing you know how to cook?"

"Of course not," Chloe lied smoothly, pointing toward the wall clock. "It's late. Eating something light and simple is better for your digestion."

Xavier saw right through her. "Isn't it just because noodles are the fastest thing to make?"

Chloe flashed a charming, red-lipped smile. "I just didn't want to keep you waiting, that's all."

Xavier finally picked up his chopsticks, and Chloe felt a wave of relief—until he suddenly looked up. "Chloe Bishop, are you an i***t?"

"Huh?" Chloe was genuinely stunned. Why was he attacking her out of nowhere?

Xavier pointed toward the damp homework book. "Do you have any idea how many documents require my signature in a single day? With your current level of 'intelligence,' could you even read a basic project proposal? Could you understand a commercial contract? Do you realize how much money the company would lose if you signed even one wrong document?"

Chloe felt the sting of his words because she knew he was right. Since she was a child, her father had lamented her lack of business talent. He had poured endless time and energy into tutoring her, only to eventually shake his head in disappointment. In this specific arena, she truly was no better than an amateur.

"I know I'm behind," Chloe said, her voice dropping as her confidence wavered. "That's why I'm taking these courses."

Xavier looked at the nonsense she had scribbled in the margins of her notebook and let out a long, weary sigh. "Eat. Then bring that book over here. If you're going to be a Grayson, I won't have you looking like a fool who can't read a balance sheet."

Chloe froze. Was the "Demon CEO" actually offering to tutor her? This was a man whose time was worth millions per minute, and he was going to spend it on her "Level 1" homework? Should she accept his help and risk his biting criticism, or keep struggling on her own to maintain her independence?