Our Anniversary, You Chose Her – I Chose Divorce

”Sure,” Chloe readily agreed.

’Who wants to work for free anyway?’

The two of them left the company together and went down to the underground parking garage.

Owen Sterling said, ”I can’t pick up the car I bought for a few more days. You’ll have to drive me today.”

Chloe Reed’s eyes widened slightly. ”What do you mean? You invite me to dinner, and you want me to be your chauffeur too?”

Owen Sterling spread his hands helplessly. ”We could take a taxi?”

Chloe: ”...”

She gave him a deadpan look, then said, ”Get in the car.”

Owen Sterling obediently opened the passenger-side door.

The car soon pulled out of the garage.

Sunny Reed stepped out from behind a large pillar. Phone in hand, she snapped a photo of the scene.

A smirk played on her lips. She sent the photo off, arranging for it to be anonymously forwarded to Walker Grant.

”...”

Chloe deliberately chose a pricey restaurant, planning to make Owen Sterling foot a hefty bill.

Owen Sterling didn’t seem to mind. Watching her order with wild abandon, he gave a resigned smile and said, ”I know you’re trying to eat your salary’s worth, but are you sure you can finish all this?”

Chloe handed the menu to the waiter. ”If I can’t finish, I’ll just get it to-go. Is that a problem?”

”Of course.”

Chloe looked at him. ”Manager, didn’t you say Sunny Reed was resigning? How come she’s still at the company?”

Owen Sterling shook his head. ”I’m not sure. She told me herself the other day. Maybe she changed her mind?”

Chloe lowered her gaze, a flicker of ridicule in her eyes.

’She just loves putting on a show. Who knows what she’s plotting this time.’

”Chloe, is your relationship with Mr. Grant... strained?” Owen Sterling watched her, asking tentatively.

”Why?” She gave him a puzzled look. ”Are you trying to hit on him?”

Owen Sterling: ”...”

He was speechless. After a long pause, he finally managed to say, ”I’m straight.”

”Oh. I guess I got my hopes up for nothing,” Chloe said with a smirk.

Owen Sterling: ”...”

The food arrived, and Chloe picked up her chopsticks and dug right in. There was nothing hesitant or coy about her; she ate with a natural ease that was comfortable to watch.

Owen Sterling’s gaze drifted to her face several times, and he looked like he wanted to say something but kept stopping himself.

Chloe glanced at him. ”Manager, if you have something to say, just spit it out.”

Owen Sterling cleared his throat. ”It’s nothing, really. I’m just curious. Mr. Grant seems to really like you, but it also seems like you two are at odds.”

Chloe said, ”We’re not at odds. We’re just about to get a divorce.”

Owen Sterling looked surprised. ”How did things get to the point of divorce? Still, whatever you decide, I support you.”

Chloe looked at him. ”Really? You don’t think I’m being ungrateful?”

”Of course not,” Owen Sterling said with great seriousness. ”Mr. Grant is a great catch, but if you’re determined to get a divorce, you must have been wronged.”

Chloe was touched. She smiled. ”Thanks for understanding.”

Owen Sterling smiled warmly. ”You’re my employee. Of course I’m on your side.”

But not long after he said that, a voice cut in. ”Sis-in-law! What a coincidence, running into you here!”

Nathaniel Monroe, decked out in a floral shirt, swaggered over, pulled out the chair next to Owen Sterling, and plopped right down.

”And who might you be, my friend?”

Chloe frowned slightly at his arrival, but her tone was pleasant enough. ”This is my department manager, Owen Sterling.”

To her surprise, Nathaniel Monroe slapped his thigh and said with a grave expression, ”Sis-in-law, you’ve got to be careful. The workplace is a messy place these days. Some people look decent enough, but you never know what kind of filthy thoughts they’re hiding underneath.”