Chapter 46 Sleep for His Sake
After getting out of the car, Donovan took an umbrella and entered the mansion. Chloe had just returned to his bedroom from visiting Samuel. "Haven't you retrieved your stuff yet?" Donovan asked her.
"Not yet. It would be such a hassle to lug the suitcase around if you decide to kick me out again," Chloe replied. Besides, her diary was in that suitcase—it was safer to keep it in the bedroom.
"Here's your umbrella. Go sleep in the bedroom next door tonight," Donovan said while handing her the umbrella. Chloe looked puzzled and a bit hurt.
"Why don't you want it? I had a classmate bring it from abroad, especially for you," Chloe said, looking up at Donovan. "It's miserable getting caught in the rain."
Chloe felt a pang of sadness thinking about the time her father had pneumonia. Donovan said nothing but placed the umbrella on the bed, indicating he no longer wanted it.
Chloe was unaware of what Paisley might have said to Donovan, but his attitude had abruptly changed. "Fine, forget it!" she said sharply. "Ungrateful!"
Her voice had an edge to it, and her words came out harsher than intended.
"Chloe—watch your mouth!" Donovan growled, probably not expecting such a venomous response.
Chloe didn't pay him any attention, grabbed a blanket, and headed for the neighboring room. Sleeping apart was for the best. It would spare her his beastly behavior and let her rise fresh each day.
Chloe didn't come down for dinner that night either.
She had lain in bed for half the day, puzzling over the source of Donovan's inexplicable anger. Though he had always been temperamental with her, that was because of the whole Andrew Price situation, and Chloe understood that.
But today, out of the blue, he returned her umbrella and this inexplicable rage—what was it about?
After much contemplation, Chloe wondered if it could be Paisley stirring up trouble, suggesting that her umbrella was a knock-off. At that thought, Chloe also became angry. ‘Why did he listen to whatever Paisley said? Were her words gospel?’ Chloe pondered.
The next day was the training session for New Eastern Star, and as one of the newly selected members, it was Chloe's first time participating. It so happened that Donovan was teaching the session. His classes were a once-in-a-blue-moon event, roughly once every couple of months. He discussed corporate development and vision—after all, those seated before him were the future management of his company.
Chloe took a seat in the front row, right next to Sofia.
Donovan, in a gray suit, was all business, teaching with clarity and simplicity. Perhaps because he was the CEO, all the young colleagues paid rapt attention, hardly a whisper to be heard.
But just two minutes into his lecture, Chloe slumped over on the desk. She had fallen asleep. And not just anywhere, but in the front row, right under Donovan's watchful eye. She was sleeping deliberately to spite him for how he treated her the night before, which let him lose face in front of his colleagues.
Although there were only about twenty-some people in attendance, handpicked from this year's newly appointed interns. The entire company would soon hear of this.
Sofia nudged Chloe anxiously, murmuring under her breath, "Are you trying to stir up trouble by sleeping through the CEO's lecture?"
No matter how hard Sofia poked, she couldn't wake Chloe—the one feigning sleep.
Donovan gave Chloe a hard stare.
Still, he didn't lose his composure and continued the lesson as planned.
For the duration of the class, his gaze lingered mostly on Chloe. He was curious to see how long she could keep up this charade.
Chloe slept through the entire class. Not an ounce of face was given to him. Well, she was very good at it. She harbored a grudge!
The colleagues behind them got quite a show, whispering amongst themselves, "Mr. Blake can't control Chloe."
Donovan's tone during the class even fluctuated a bit as he suppressed his rising anger.
In the six-year history of New East Group, Chloe was the unprecedented first person to sleep in Donovan's class. Chloe set a new record, one that likely wouldn't be broken anytime soon.
She had challenged the authority of Donovan.
After class, Donovan tapped her desk, and only then did Chloe, groggily, open her eyes.
"Come here," Blake said to Chloe with as much patience as he could muster in front of his colleagues.
After Blake left the room, Sofia couldn't help but concerned Chloe, "Look what you've done, you've upset him now."
Chloe then followed Blake back to his office.
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