2
After leaving the company, I didn’t go straight home. Instead, I walked into a quiet coffee
shop.
Liam Harrison was already there, idly stirring his coffee.
“Mr. Harrison, good to see you,” I greeted softly.
“I’ve resigned from Thorne Corp and am ready to start at your company anytime.”
Hearing my voice, Liam stopped stirring, looked up, and offered a gentle smile.
“Welcome, Chloe Davis, to our team. No rush to start work, though. I hear your relationship with Alex Thorne was… unique. Now that he’s getting married, I imagine you need some time to adjust, right? I’ll give you three days to sort out your personal affairs.
You can officially start after that, okay?”
I subconsciously frowned.
While I knew my relationship with Alex couldn’t be kept entirely secret, I hadn’t realized it was already common knowledge within their circles.
Liam Harrison’s company was the first I’d contacted after leaving Thorne Corp.
More accurately, he contacted me.
After Celeste Hayes returned and Alex announced his engagement, Liam sought me out,
offering an incredibly generous deal.
Honestly, at first, I couldn’t believe it.
“Mr. Harrison, if I may ask, why are you offering me such favorable terms?” I couldn’t help
but ask.
Liam looked calm, taking a slow sip of coffee, and gave me an answer that left me half–believing.
“I know Alex. Anyone who can last five years as his assistant clearly has the skills to run
09:50 Thu, 19 Jun
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an entire department for us.”
*
“And I don’t want ‘unforeseen complications‘ to arise with our business partners once
you’re on board.”
61%
After some thought, I finally accepted Liam’s invitation.
After all, the terms he offered were indeed enticing, and I desperately needed the money
right now.
Just as I nodded in agreement, a familiar cold laugh echoed from behind me.
Alex Thorne walked into the coffee shop, hand–in–hand with Celeste Hayes.
I knew him too well.
Whenever he made that sound, it meant he was angry. Not just angry, but furious.
“Well, well, Mr. Harrison. Long time no see. So, Harrison Industries is willing to pick up my company’s discards?”
“But I should warn you, Mr. Harrison, this one is untrustworthy and a total gold–digger. As
an employee, you’d be wise to be cautious.”
I listened silently to every word Alex said about me.
My fingers, hidden under the table, were digging so deeply into my knees I could almost feel blood oozing.
Honestly, the moment Alex fired me, I didn’t hate him.
After all, what we had was nothing more than a five–year arrangement.
He gave me money, and I slept with him.
But I didn’t understand why he was still so aggressive, even after I’d left Thorne Corp.
I bit my lower lip hard, fighting back the sting in my nose, desperate not to let a single
tear fall.
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60%
“Mr. Thorne, if I truly stole anything from Thorne Corp, you can call the police and have
me arrested. But please, don’t slander me!”
Alex gave me a cold stare and said nothing more.
But Celeste stepped forward, a smile playing on her lips.
“Miss Davis, it was just a joke, why are you getting so emotional? Is the compensation not enough? Are you trying to shake me down for more?”
Saying this, she pulled a wad of cash from her bag and threw it at me.
“I heard your mother’s still in the hospital, needs money for treatment, right? But that doesn’t mean you can throw away your dignity.”
“Consider this your payout!”
