Chapter 4 - THE WOMAN IN THE RED COAT
Three days later, Chloe was summoned to Victor's office.
She expected another security discussion.
Instead, Victor handed her a black dress.
She stared.
"What is this?"
"You're coming to dinner."
"I work here."
"I know."
"I'm not going to dinner with you."
"It's a family charity event."
"I still don't understand."
"Someone is watching you."
Chloe frowned.
"So?"
"So they'll expect you to behave like staff."
Victor paused.
"I want them to underestimate you."
She stared at him.
"You want me to pretend I'm invisible?"
"Exactly."
She smiled.
"Finally, a skill I possess."
That evening, Chloe entered the ballroom beside Victor.
Hundreds of guests turned.
Whispers spread.
Who was she?
Why was Victor Russo walking beside her?
Vanessa arrived twenty minutes later.
She wore red.
Everyone noticed.
She approached Victor.
"You brought her."
Victor's expression remained neutral.
"Yes."
Vanessa looked at Chloe.
"Interesting."
Chloe smiled politely.
"Nice to meet you."
"I don't think it is."
Victor's eyes hardened.
"Vanessa."
She stepped back.
The evening continued.
Chloe stayed close to Victor but spoke very little.
Then a man approached.
"Mr. Russo."
Victor turned.
"Mr. Bell."
Bell was an influential investor.
He smiled at Chloe.
"And who is this?"
Victor answered before she could.
"Someone important."
Chloe looked at him.
The words seemed to affect her more than she expected.
Later, while Victor spoke with investors, Chloe stepped onto the terrace.
She needed air.
Vanessa followed.
"You should leave him alone."
Chloe turned.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"You do."
"I work for him."
"You think that's all this is?"
Chloe shook her head.
"I haven't done anything."
Vanessa stepped closer.
"You don't belong here."
Chloe's voice remained calm.
"Maybe."
Vanessa smiled coldly.
"At least you know."
She walked away.
Chloe watched her disappear.
Then she heard a voice behind her.
"Don't listen to her."
Victor.
Chloe turned.
"She hates me."
"She hates anything she can't control."
"Was she important to you?"
Victor was silent.
"Once."
Chloe looked away.
"I don't want to be the reason someone gets hurt."
"You aren't."
"What happened?"
Victor looked toward the city.
"My family wanted me to marry her."
"Why?"
"Business."
"Did you love her?"
"No."
"Did she love you?"
Victor's jaw tightened.
"She believes she does."
Chloe nodded.
Then a strange sound came from inside the ballroom.
A glass breaking.
Victor immediately turned.
His security team moved.
A waiter dropped to the floor.
Chaos erupted.
Victor grabbed Chloe's hand.
"Stay behind me."
A man rushed through the crowd.
Marco intercepted him.
Another guard shouted.
"Weapon!"
Victor pushed Chloe behind a marble column.
Seconds later, the attacker was restrained.
But something was wrong.
The man's target wasn't Victor.
It was Chloe.
Victor realized it instantly.
He looked at her.
"Are you hurt?"
"No."
He touched her face briefly.
"Are you sure?"
She nodded.
His hand remained there for one second too long.
Then he pulled away.
That night, Victor refused to let Chloe return to the staff wing.
"You're sleeping upstairs."
She stared.
"Where?"
"The guest room."
"Why?"
"Because I can secure it."
She looked at him.
"You mean because it's closer to you."
Victor went silent.
Chloe smiled slightly.
"I was joking."
"I wasn't."
The smile disappeared.
He looked at her.
"Neither was I."
Neither slept much that night.
But while Chloe lay awake, she heard footsteps outside her door.
Victor.
He stood there for several seconds.
Then walked away.
He didn't know that someone had been watching him from the end of the corridor.
Vanessa.
And she finally understood.
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Victor wasn't protecting Chloe because she was an employee.
He was protecting her because he was falling in love with her.
