Chapter 108
The low murmur of voices drifted down the corridor, blending with the faint hiss of the espresso machine.
Damian barely noticed it at first since he’d thought it was just another ordinary morning at StoneTech, the kind filled with the usual chatter, the quick steps of interns, the faint tap of heels on marble floors.
Until he heard her name.
Damian slowed his pace instinctively. Who were they talking about? Who was Chloe seducing? It wasn’t what he thought it was, right? He thought as he tried to listen properly.
“Please,” another voice chimed in, this one lighter, smug. “You’ve seen them together. Always close. Always whispering about designs. They practically lives in that office these days p>
A scoff followed. “She’s not whispering about designs, she’s whispering sweet nothings p>
Laughter rippled through the break room.
Damian stopped just outside the door, the words cutting through him sharper than he’d expected.
This was clearly about him and Chloe and the worse part was that they were spoiling Chloe’s name. That was unacceptable.
“She’s clever though,” one of them continued. “She knows if she’s sleeping with a director and someone well respected as Damian Cross, it won’t take long before she’s equally made a director.” Thıs content belongs to.net
That statement did it. That was the height of it. It was one thing to think they were romantically involved but it was another different thing to think Chloe was using him.
He stepped into the doorway without a sound, hands tucked neatly into his pockets, the easy calm of his expression doing nothing to soften the sharpness in his eyes.
Seeing him, the three women froze. One still held her paper cup midair, another’s smile faltered instantly.
“Mr. Cross!” one of them squeaked, paling visibly.
What was he doing here?
“Ladies,” he said evenly, his voice smooth like a glass that was ready to break. “I didn’t realize the company now encouraged open gossip sessions. Perhaps, I should join you p>
“No, sir, we weren’t p>
He tilted his head slightly, interrupting her. “Weren’t what? Talking about a fellow employee in a way that disrespects her integrity? Because that’s exactly what I just heard p>
They exchanged nervous glances. One tried to smile. “It’s just small talk, sir. It’s nothing meant seriously p>
“Small talk?” Damian stepped closer, the air around him seeming to drop a few degrees. “Let me make something clear. Chloe Smith doesn’t need to flirt her way to the top. She’s been in this company for years longer than most of you. She’s been here since the days of Atelier and she’s earned her place through talent, not tactics. If she were that way, maybe she’d be the CFO by now, what do you think?” he asked but no one dared to answer him, at least not while they could feel the cold air around him.
“Right now, she’s also leading one of the most ambitious projects none of you can attempt,” he went on, his voice low and steady. “While you’re here wasting time dissecting a woman’s character, she’s designing the collection that’s going to put StoneTech’s name on the global map p>
The women stood frozen, the flush of shame coloring their cheeks. They should’ve run off in shame but neither of them did.
Then finally, one dared to speak. “Sir, we didn’t mean anything harmful… it’s just that the company policy says p>
Damian’s gaze snapped to her. “I’m aware of the policy p>
He had forgotten all about that policy. How could he have forgotten something of that importance? Damian thought although, he made sure to hide his expression.
The woman who’d spoken up said again, her voice trembling. “I know. I just meant it’d be bad for both of you if people thought p>
He cut her off again, quieter this time but infinitely more dangerous.
“You don’t need to think for me. Or for Chloe. I don’t remember being friends with you and neither are you a friend of Chloe’s p>
And then, just as suddenly, he exhaled, straightened his cuffs, and said with finality, “If you have enough time to gossip, I’ll assume your department is ahead of schedule. Otherwise, I wonder what reports you’d have to present to your superiors by noon p>
With that, he turned and left, leaving three mortified women staring after him, hearts pounding.
Instead of returning to the office he shared with Chloe, he headed for his personal office instead. By the time Damian reached his office, the one he’d abandoned when the collaboration began, he realized his hands were still balled into fists.
He shut the door harder than necessary, the sound echoing off the walls.
He shouldn’t have let it get to him. They were just words, just petty office gossip. It would just burn hot for a week and then disappeared.
But the way they said her name… the smirks in their voices… it made something inside him twist.
Because Chloe wasn’t like that. She wasn’t like them.
She’d been nothing but focused since this collaboration started. Stubborn, outspoken, brilliant to the point of infuriating but clean. Professional. Honest. She didn’t scheme or manipulate; she simply worked with all her heart.
Damian sat behind his desk, staring at the morning light filtering across the floor. He’d spent years keeping emotions out of his work, keeping distance between himself and everyone around him and yet, with Chloe, that line blurred every single day.
He rubbed the bridge of his nose. He shouldn’t have defended her like that. It wasn’t even his place. It would just keep spreading the rumor and he’d hate to be the reason she’d be talked about.
God, she didn’t deserve this.
A faint knock on the door pulled him out of his thoughts, but when he realized no one was there, he exhaled slowly and leaned back. He needed space. He needed silence. He needed to think.
What should he do now? Continue to pursue her or let her be? It was going to be worth a whole day thinking about it.
A few feet away, Chloe had just finished her third sketch revision of the morning, waiting for Damian to bring the coffee, when her teammate, Sienna, walked in.
“Hey,” Sienna began carefully, closing the door behind her. “You might want to hear this before someone else says it p>
Chloe turned in her chair, arching a brow. “That sounds dramatic. What’s going on p>
Sienna hesitated. “There’s… a rumor going around the company or maybe just our department. About you. And Mr. Cross p>
Chloe blinked. “About me and Damian?” Her lips parted and then, to Sienna’s surprise, a laugh burst out of her. “You’re kidding, right p>
Sienna shook her head, dead serious. “Wish I was. But I’m not. They think you and Damian are romantically involved with each other p>
“Oh my God.” Chloe leaned back, one hand over her mouth as she laughed again. “That’s ridiculous. We’ve barely had time to breathe, let alone—” she waved vaguely in the air, “—whatever they’re imagining p>
’Although it wouldn’t be bad if it were true.’ She said in her head.
“I know,” Sienna said, though she didn’t smile. “But people are talking. They think you both are always together, ’whispering p>
Chloe’s laughter softened, shaking her head at the absurdity of the situation. “We are both working on a major project, for heaven’s sake p>
Sienna sighed. “Doesn’t matter. You know how people are. They twist things. And you know the company’s policy p>
The company’s policy echoed in Chloe’s head and that was when all her amusement faded.
The policy.
The rule she’d read and dismissed years ago, thinking it would never matter to her.
No romantic involvement between employees within the same department. Termination or reassignment would follow immediately.
Her chest tightened when she thought about it.
Sienna noticed. “You didn’t forget about that, did you p>
Chloe forced a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “No, I didn’t forget. I just… didn’t think it would ever be relevant p>
“Then you should probably make sure it isn’t,” Sienna said quietly. “If these rumors keep spreading, it won’t matter whether they’re true or not. HR will step in. And we both know how much you’ve worked to get here p>
Chloe’s hands curled slightly on the desk. She stared at the designs glowing on her tablet that held the collection that could finally mark her name in StoneTech history and she couldn’t help feeling a strange chill move through her chest.
“Yeah,” she murmured. “I know p>
Sienna lingered a moment, watching her. “I’m sorry. I just thought you should hear it from me p>
“Thanks,” Chloe said, softer now.
When Sienna left, the silence that followed was deafening.
How could she have forgotten such important policy? Wasn’t it a part of the reasons she hadn’t approached Raymond when she fancied him? Then how possible was it that she’d forgotten all about it with Damian?
What was she going to do? Choosing between her career and Damian would be hard but then, she’d have no choice.
Her mind drifted to him. Has he heard? What was his take?