Chapter 38 His Casual Like
Clashing with the higher-ups is something Chloe sometimes can't avoid.
Chloe knew she had to work even harder and keep her head down to avoid giving James Turner any leverage against her. Each night, however, there was one important ritual she maintained—messaging Samuel on WhatsApp.
Ever since she moved out of the Blake family home, sending pictures of her travels was part of her daily routine, showcasing the sights of the southern cities where her business trips took her.
"When are you coming back?" Samuel would ask, to which she would respond, "Samuel, the accounts here are quite complex, so it looks like I'll be staying a while longer."
"I miss you!" Samuel's message would bring tears to Chloe's eyes. These were words her parents used to say to her. Now, no one but Samuel said them to her. Despite having friends and classmates, Chloe realized none could match the power of family ties.
Chloe replied, "I miss you too, Samuel."
Samuel, removing his reading glasses and clutching his phone, made his way to the living room, where Donovan was casually flipping through a business magazine.
"When are you letting Chloe come back? It's been over ten days," Samuel asked.
"What did she tell you?" Donovan looked up from the magazine.
"She sent me pictures of the southern city and said she's tied up with work, that the accounts are too complex, and she'll be back later. Can't you speak to her leader, Donovan? I know work is important, but I'm not getting any younger. Every day without her is one less day I get to see her."
The plea had a note of desperation, appealing to Donovan's sense of urgency. Chloe hadn't sent a single WhatsApp message to Donovan in all these ten days. Their last conversation was from a time that now seemed distant, yet she was always bright and cheerful with Samuel.
Donovan felt a sting of neglect by the contrast. Yet, he knew Chloe's dutiful messaging to Samuel was not something they had discussed before. Could it be her sense of filial piety, or maybe—it was her final card to regain a place in the Blake family? She was aware that Samuel was Donovan's weakness. Win him over, and Donovan might soften up. Perhaps Chloe was feeling pressured, knowing her situation was precarious.
Despite her actions, Donovan hadn't considered asking her to return. Their marriage was a contractual arrangement, but being seen as a stand-in was something he couldn't stomach. The thought of her being physically intimate with him but emotionally with someone else made him livid.
Yet, when he remembered the umbrella Chloe had given him, his anger would fade. It was a genuine gesture, a sincere gift bought from abroad. It was hard for Donovan to keep his heart hardened against her.
Donovan could change her current situation with just a simple word.
He flipped through Chloe's social media posts. She didn't share much, usually just reposts and some links related to her upcoming CPA exams. However, yesterday morning, she posted something new: Another day full of energy has begun! Along with the post was a photo of her breakfast—a chicken sandwich and a box of milk.
Donovan liked the post. Subsequently, a wave of people followed suit and liked Chloe's post, including James Turner and many of their colleagues. In no time, Chloe's post on WhatsApp garnered 108 likes. Chloe was surprised.
For a moment, everyone was puzzled by Donovan's behavior. It didn't seem like they had broken up. It was more like they had a quarrel that had now been resolved, and they were back on good terms. This left their colleagues sweating bullets with anxiety.
The next day, something even more astonishing happened.
As Chloe walked into the office, James Turner went out of his way to greet her and said, "Chloe, ready for work? Every year, our New Star program has a few reserved spots to fill in for those who don't perform well in training. I've put your name forward."
"Hmm," Chloe responded, a tad apprehensive.
It wasn't long before Sofia sent Chloe a WhatsApp message: [Chloe, that article of mine that got pulled has been reconsidered, and what's more, the director has reinstated my New Star status.]
Chloe quickly realized that this was all Donovan's doing. His casual like on her post had shifted the corporate winds.
Chloe couldn't help but shiver internally, wondering if Donovan had considered the implications when he liked her post.
'So what did Donovan's like really mean? Was it a move to rescue Chloe from distress, or was it just an accidental slip?' Chloe pondered.
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