Vernon threw his phone on the sofa after the call. He never thought he would call that condescending, passive-aggressive bitch again because she was the past. He hated looking at the past because only one woman filled his heart whenever he remembered all women he met or dated.


    "Damn, all these works just for me to understand her better. She should''ve thanked me instead," Vernonined.


    He was annoyed, of course. He wasn''t a perfect man who would easily change his real personality after a small revtion.


    He was still the same impatient man who wouldn''t think twice about sting others whenever he felt like it.


    Thus, Chloe trying to avoid the topic and retreating like a terrified rat only annoyed him even more.


    ''But I still want to know— and I want to protect her as well…'' Vernon thought.


    He took a deep breath and got up from the sofa. He remembered having a small meeting to discuss a project offering from a newpany he had contacted. He also had to tell Diamond about the dinner date with Shailene.


    He pped his cheeks lightly to toughen himself, "Okay, time to focus, Vernon. She might have a problem, but you still need to earn money for her— I—I mean, for yourself."


    Vernon clicked his tongue annoyedly because he identally said the wrong thing, but he decided not to ponder it for too long and walked to the door.


    **


    Chloe left Vernon''s office with a pale face. She didn''t expect herself to be so weak— that she almost spilled everything about the eating disorder and bulimia she suffered to Vernon.


    ''I don''t want him to break off his rtionship with Vincent. That bastard is a horrible husband to me, but he is still a good Big brother for Vernon…'' Chloe thought, trying to justify her action of avoiding the confrontation with Vernon.


    "GURL!" Diamond got up from her chair and snatched Chloe''s arm as soon as Chloe closed the door behind her.


    Diamond checked on her worriedly since Chloe walked in with a smile on her face and walked out with a pale face and anxiety in her eyes.


    "What happened? I thought everything went well between you and Mr. Phoenix Gray just now," Diamond asked. "Did he yell at you again? Darn it, I guess I have to roll up my sleeve."


    "NO!" Chloe stopped Diamond before she stormed in and challenged Vernon.


    "Then what makes you this nervous?"


    "W—Well… the fault is not in him, it''s in me," Chloe replied. "He treated me well all of a sudden, and then confronted me about my eating disorder."


    "Ah—" Diamond caught the problem instantly. Chloe was a very timid and reserved woman, especially after she was abused. Of course, she would retreat when confronted, especially by a not-so-gentle man like Vernon.


    That shouldn''t be enough reason to look so panicked, "Gurl, I know you have something in your mind, the reason why you don''t want to tell him about it."


    "I do, but…."


    Chloe hesitated to tell Diamond that Vernon''s presence and appearance terrified her.


    Vernon yelled at her, called her an idiot, and always used her of stuff she didn''t do or even think.


    All of those reminded her of what Vincent did when they were still living together.


    Vernon was the one who crushed Chloe''s trust in him with all the things he did, making a mark that he was not the same cute little Vernon that she babysat back then.


    "I—It''s my fault, Diamond," Chloe imed out of the blue. "I just don''t want him to know, no matter what…."


    Diamond wanted to tell her homegirl that she should be in therapy because it was obvious that the trauma she suffered had affected her in many ways.


    But before she could say anything, the CEO''s office door was suddenly opened, and Vernon came out of the office looking dapper yet intimidating.


    Diamond and Chloe got up simultaneously, but they walked on different paths.


    Diamond walked towards Vernon, wanting to give the file that her boss needed for a meeting in an hour. In contrast, Chloe walked away from Vernon, hiding behind a potted nt meekly.


    She felt guilty for avoiding him, but she felt ashamed to have been epting his good treatment just now.


    Vernon nced at Chloe, and his heart was pinched when he saw her trying to avoid him.


    ''If I talk to her now, would she even get scared? Ugh, I don''t even know what I did wrong just now," Vernon thought.


    Thus, he decided to ignore her… for now.


    "Sir, this is all the data necessary for this meeting, do you want me to apany you as well?" Diamond offered, as a formality. But she kept ncing at Chloe, trying to signal Vernon to refuse her offer because she needed to console her bestie.


    Vernon ignored her signal and said, "Yes, I need you to apany me for the meeting. I haven''t studied the offer, you will help there."


    …


    Diamond sighed as she picked up her iPad on the desk, "Yes, Sir."


    "Oh, before that, I want you to make a reservation," Vernon ordered.


    "Reservation?"


    "Hmm," Vernon said. He nced at Chloe again and felt proud of himself because he was doing a lot for Chloe. "Book a table for two in my usual restaurant, it''s ate noon date— around 4."


    <o>,m Diamond was holding her breath at this point, not wanting to assume something that might lead to worse misunderstanding, "I—Is it a formal reservation, Sir?"</o>


    "No, informal, it''s just a light meal with someone I knew a few years back."


    "A—A man? You''re having an informal meeting with your MALE friend, right, Sir?" Diamond asked again, hoping she was just making a crazy assumption in her head.


    "A woman," Vernon said lightly. He didn''t even hesitate with his reply. "It''s an old acquaintance of mine in university, I want to meet her because she can teach me how to understand a woman."