Chapter 186


    Chapter 186 The Elusive Opportunity


    Ellie was visibly prepared as she forcefully pushed Chloe aside. “I told you to thoroughly inspect


    everything beforeing here. Why didn’t you listen?”


    Chloe was bewildered. “I did inspect it…” Although she had carefully checked the contents of the n,


    there was clearly something stuck to the file with glue, which naturally should have been noticed.


    ‘Wait a minute…‘ Chloe suddenly noticed something and took another look at the folder. It was not a


    paperclip, but a sharp- ended safety pin!


    Ellie’s expression turned flustered and concerned. “Mr.


    Joseph, this is due to her carelessness. I have a first aid kit in my office. Let me fetch it and help you


    bandage the wound.”


    Joseph nonchntly wiped the blood off his finger with a tissue as if it was a minor inconvenience and


    turned his gaze to Chloe. “Did it prick you?”


    “No, I recall when Ms. Wendy handed me the folder, it didn’t have this item on it, and I hadn’t used any


    safety pins. However, it’s still my mistake, and I’m sorry.”


    “When you make a mistake, you should acknowledge it immediately instead of trying to make excuses


    and shift the me!” Ellie scolded Chloe.


    After speaking, a trace of undisguised satisfaction appeared on Ellie’s face. She relished the thought of


    reporting this incident to Ms. Wendy upon her return and getting Chloe fired. The marketing department


    would then be hers to rule.


    However, Joseph remained expressionless as he stared at Ellie. “And who are you?”


    Ellie saw this as her chance to make a favorable impression. She approached him, attempting to win


    his favor. “Mr. Joseph, I’m the team lead of Marketing. In lieu of Ms. Wendy’s absence, as she’s about


    to go on maternity leave, I’m in charge and will be handling department responsibilities.”


    “You’re in charge?” Joseph sneered, his prating ck eyes seeing through her ulterior motives.


    “Then why did you bring Chloe here?”


    Ellie’s forced smile froze on her face, and she awkwardly replied, “Ms. Wendy asked me to take care of


    her.”


    “If that’s the case, you can leave. Chloe can stay here alone.”


    “Mr. Joseph, she has only been here for a few months, and shecks the necessary skills. It won’t work


    —”


    “I believe in Chloe.”


    With just one sentence, Ellie’s words choked in her throat. She felt unwilling and resentful as she


    begrudgingly walked out, her ns disrupted.


    Chloe stayed behind to wrap up the discussion about the project and asked, “So, are there any areas


    that need to be changed?”


    “The theme’s meaning is too shallow and not directly rted to finance. We can delve deeper into this


    direction.”


    “All right, anything else?”


    “That’s all.”


    “Okay then. I’ll be leaving now,” Chloe nced at Joseph’s hand and paused. “I’ll go downstairs and


    get you a Band–Aid.”


    Joseph intertwined his fingers in front of his chest and put on a casual, faint smile. “Go ahead,” he said.


    This opportunity had to be given since the dumbo wanted to show concern for


    him.


    Chloe nodded and headed downstairs to the convenience store, where she ran into Ellie. Noticing the


    Band–Aids in Chloe’s hands, Ellie sarcastically remarked, “Don’t think that because Mr. Joseph didn’t


    reprimand you that you can advance thedder. Don’t me me for not warning you, but that


    extraordinary man is not someone you can get close to. It’s best to abandon such notions.”


    Chloe felt uneasy hearing Ellie’s words and responded with a hint of impoliteness, “So you think I can


    get close to him just by giving him Band–Aids? That sounds pretty easy.”


    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    “I’m advising you out of kindness. Don’t overstep your boundaries.”


    “Thanks but you can rest assured. I’m not interested in him.”


    In the past, it might have been worth fighting for, but now, what’s the point of fighting? Even if she


    wanted to escape, she


    could not.


    After paying at the front desk, Chloe turned around with the Band–Aids in hand and left. Her tall and


    slender figure created a beautiful sight amid the bustling building, catching the eyes of 95% of the


    opposite sex, or even higher.


    Ellie stomped her foot in frustration. Ms. Wendy would start her vacation tomorrow, and Chloe’s good


    days were about to


    *


    Chloe delicately applied the Band–Aid to Joseph’s injured finger as her eyebrows furrowed slightly.


    They were so close that he could see the tiny fuzz on her cheeks.


    “Better be careful not to get it wet. Infections can happen,” she advised earnestly.


    Joseph found this somewhat amusing. It was just a minor injury that would heal by tomorrow.


    Noticing his silence, Chloe grew suspicious. “Don’t tell me it’s hurting.”


    “It does. Maybe a kiss from you will make it feel better,” Joseph teased.


    Chloe scratched her ear in astonishment, her eyes widening. ” Are you serious?” Does the epitome of


    masculinity actively seek to degrade himself and invite humiliation?


    Joseph looked at her shocked expression, his smile brimming with yfulness. “Well, why don’t you


    seize this hard–earned opportunity while you can?”


    ‘Hard–earned opportunity, my ass!‘ Chloe could not help but burst intoughter. Yet, as she looked at


    the alluring and maddeningly handsome face before her, a thought crossed her mind. Maybe, just


    maybe, she would not lose out if she gave him a kiss. In fact, she might even gain something. Why


    pass up on a good deal?


    After a brief internal struggle, Chloe set aside what she was holding and slowly approached Joseph.