Chapter 2: Agreement
“Shit!” Shawn scolded. He sped up immediately to rush to hospital. When they arrived, guilty occupied Shawn’s mind because he thought that he failed to come back in time to protect Chloe from suffering. Though he took flight back right away when he heard from the news, it was too late.
Five hours passed, Chloe woke up. She found herself in hospital where the smell of disinfectant was around every space. Feeling insecure, she wanted to get out of bed. But when she made it, dizziness attacked her and drew her back to bed. Something was burning inside her head and torturing her.
“You have a fever. Better settle in bed,” said Shawn expressionless. He took a cup of sweet pudding from the desk beside bed and gave to her. On the desk were placed several other dishes.
Chloe did felt hungry, and she reached her hand to receive the pudding. But she was too weak to hold a cup of hot pudding, which leaked and scalded her, leaving her with burns in her hand.
Something serious seemed to hide in Shawn’s eyes. He took the pudding, and fed Chloe spoon by spoon. Chloe blushed with embarrassment. She finished eating though not at ease.
“Feel better?” Shawn asked.
“Yes, much better. Thank you.” Chloe answered.
“Sign this agreement.” Shawn said, handing a document to Chloe, still expressionless.
Chloe was confused. She took the document and skipped it. It listed many terms mainly about Chloe’s obligation if PRADO (Shawn’s group) bought CCW (Chloe’s family business), including Chloe should marry Shawn. They already engaged, what was this agreement for? So she asked, “Does our engagement not count anymore? Or you don’t believe me?”
Shawn just answered, “work habbit.”
Good answer, Chloe thought, and had nothing to say. She knew that their supposed marriage was only for interest, but it did not stop her from dreaming that maybe there would be some links beyond interests emerge from their relationship. She did not want to admit but the reality was very different. Interest only, and nothing else.
Richard’s disgusting look suddenly came to her mind, and made her feel sick. Alright. Given that she was incapable of running a company, she thought, it was not bad to give the company away to Shawn than to Richard. She finally made up her mind and signed the document. She threw the document back to Shawn, turned her back and fell asleep.
Shawn did not say a word but gently touched the document. A mixture of emotions spread his face. He fixed his eyes on Chloe from behind, still said nothing, and sighed that no one could hear.
Tap tap tap.
Hearing the knocking sound, Shawn frowned. He opened the door and saw his assistant Leo ding at the door.
“Shawn, the acquisition of CCW has all been finished,” whispered Leo, passing Shawn a file.
Shawn turned pages randomly, seemingly not to even read a word. He said, “Transfer CCW to Chloe secretly, and announce that PRADO has bought CCW. Also, now you start to prepare wedding, it should be held in three months.”
“Shawn, shall we let Chloe……no, Lady Chloe know?” Leo asked after hesitated for seconds.
“No need for that. Listen, you must conduct the transfer secretly.” Shawn’s face darkened. He seemed to be reminded of something, and his look now was rather stern and ice-cold.
“But……”
“Alright, our talk is over.”
Shawn motioned Leo to leave with a wave of his hand, and Leo could just sigh and go.
Shawn went back to the bed side. He felt a little worried as he saw the injured hand of Chloe. He knew how Chloe cared her hand.
Fever reduced after dripping. But Chloe was still in sleep. She got thinner compared to before, after all, dealing with the mess tortured not only her body but also her mind.
Shawn was still watching Chloe beside bed, with his eyes
filled with love and gentleness, when Elio came.
“Aha, it turns out that our indifferent Shawn will have feelings sometime.” Elio bantered Shawn.
“Stop joking. Where is the medicine I want?” Shawn ignored Elio’s banter, and launched straight into subject.
“Here.” Elio took out a small bottle, and passed it to Shawn. Soon when Elio noticed the red burning skin of
Chloe’s hand, he realized who the medicine was for. He said, “I supposed a severe injury. It turned out to be a small burn. Treasured medicine for small case.”
Shawn rolled his eyes, and continued to ignore him, and then applied the medicine to Chloe’s hand with all his gentleness.
“Does it deserve?” asked Elio, who was watching Shawn’s movement.
“As long as it is for Chloe, everything deserves.”
While Shawn was saying, Chloe woke up, her eyelash trembled.
Chloe opened her eyes, and saw Shawn was applying ointment to her hand cautiously and gently. He expression seemed to be showing love.
But at next second, Chloe noticed that Shawn back to indifferent look. The love he showed just now was like Chloe’s delusion.
Chloe laughed at herself, how could this guy treat her with love? He was feelingless.
“You wake up?” Shawn’s voice just kept as usual. He had a glimpse of her, and said, “when you recover, go to work for PRADO. You have unique taste on design, and don’t waste it.”
Chloe’s body shook slightly after hearing Shawn’s words and seeing his look. She wanted to say something, but in the end, she did not.
“Ok, I will.” Chloe tried her best to reply Shawn with a smile, though her tone was rather bitter.
“Alright. Recover first.” Shawn said, then he answered a phone call and walked away.
Looking after him, Chloe felt powerless and close her eyes.
A week after, Chloe recovered and was discharged from hospital. Shawn appointed a few employees to run CCW. CCW did not change its name, and its loyal employee remained their positions. CCW generally was the same as before, in spite of it was subsidiary company of PRADO nominally.
Chloe had little interests in these business matters. She knew Shawn could arrange everything well.
“Tomorrow you can work at PRADO. I have already sent your resume to HR department.” Shawn said when driving from hospital after picking Chloe.
“Got it.” said Chloe, who turned away and looked vacantly out of the window.
“And, from now on, you will live in Cloud House. You luggage has been placed there.”
Chloe suddenly straightened her back.
“Why?” she cried out of unexpectedness and discontent, with her eyes turning red. Everything in her home made her remind her parents. She still could not accept that her parents had left her.
“Because you are my wife. And it is written on our agreement.” Shawn said in a low voice, with poker-face in an unnoticed way.
Chloe froze.
Agreement, what a damn agreement!
“Ok, as you wish.”
Chloe closed her eyes.