Chapter 15
Chloe whipped her head around, her eyes still glued to the man's tall, commanding figure. Wherever he went, it was like a storm cloud followed, his powerful and icy presence intimidating everyone in his path. People watched him with a mix of respect, admiration, and even fear. He had that kind of bone-chilling aura.
It couldn’t be him. Property belongs to Nôvel(D)r/ama.Org.
Her "Trophy Boy" was nothing like this. He was as hot as a midsummer sun, wild, reckless, and a bit of a rogue. Every time they met, he was the one initiating the flirtation, playing hard to get when she got close and going all out to win her over when she seemed ready to walk away. He had mastered the art of pleasure like a pro.
Chloe often poked his chest, scolding him, "You're like an incubus, you know?"
He'd always cheekily pinch her chin and say, "Then, are you my succubus?"
How could her libertine be the otherworldly King of Eldridge standing before her? Chloe convinced herself it couldn't be. But a nagging unease wouldn't leave her alone.
As the gift-giving segment wound down, guests began to take their seats. Chloe was already seated. Her gaze swept the room but found no trace of Connor. She sat quietly, pulling out her phone and scrolling through her contacts until she landed on "Trophy Boy."
She stared blankly at the number, feeling a strange sensation like she was being watched. Suddenly, she looked up and locked eyes with a cold gaze from the second floor of the banquet hall.
It was him!
Despite the distance, she couldn't be sure if he was looking at her. Her heart skipped a beat. On a whim, she dialed the number.
The man on the second floor stood still, unwavering. Thank goodness, Chloe thought, it’s not him. She glanced down, ready to hang up, but the call connected. Instinctively, she looked up again. The man on the second floor still stood tall, holding a phone to his ear.
Chloe's heart pounded like a drum, faster and faster. She slowly lifted the phone to her ear. Finally, a familiar, deep, and cold voice came through, "Speak."
Chloe didn't say a word. She just stared at the man on the second floor, who was staring right back at her. After a few seconds, she hung up. Sure enough, Connor slowly pocketed his phone.
Chloe felt her heart squeeze, making it hard to breathe. How could this be? Why was this happening? Connor was actually her Trophy Boy, the one she'd been with for three years.
Chloe couldn't calm her racing thoughts. She suddenly remembered the first time they met. The night Lucas took Linda abroad. Her childhood friend Cassie had dragged her to Diamond Club. She remembered drinking a lot, with Cassie ordering a slew of male models. By some coincidence, she ended up sleeping with one of them.
The next morning, she was full of regret until she saw his nearly angelic face. Then, she had other ideas. If Lucas could have his fun abroad, why should she stay lonely? Their marriage wasn't as perfect as people thought, after all.
So, Chloe immediately wrote the guy a check for one hundred thousand dollars. "How about I take care of you from now on?" She had told him.
Their encounters after that were never at the Diamond Club again. In fact, she had only been there once. She gave him an address for their rendezvous: Greenpeace Estate.