354 Chapter 354

"And don't worry about Mackie, just tell me the exact time, so I can go there and pick her up," Vernon said.

"Um... thank you, Vernon..."

"Okay, take care, and wait for me and Mackie at home."

Beep.

When the call ended, Chloe's phone screen returned to Vincent's contact number. She was met with the choice to call Vincent again, and at this point, nobody would stop her.

"I know that calling Vincent is the most logical, but...." Chloe closed the contact and put the phone on her bosom again. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

Strangely, she didn't feel an ounce of fear because of what Vernon had said before.

-

Discard any stupid idea of yours, and trust me.

-

"Ah, he's so reckless," Chloe commented. "But somehow, his recklessness makes me feel safe. So, maybe I will follow his way of recklessness for now. After all, I promised that I will always be there for him, through thick and thin."

Chloe knew that she was making a stupid decision by siding with Vernon.

'But I want to be happy. I want to feel safe as well,' Chloe said in her heart. 'I want to be with someone who can make me brave enough to stand on my own feet.'

'And I found that with Vernon....'

**

After Vernon hung up the call, he breathed relief and threw himself on the sofa. He was scared that Chloe might do something unthinkable, such as...

"No, I don't want to think about it," Vernon shook his head. "The imagery might be too much of a nightmare for me."

Knock. Knock.

Vernon was about to close his eyes when he heard knocking on the door. He knew who was knocking, so he simply said, "Come in!"

Click.

Diamond opened the door impatiently. She stood at the door, crossing her arms and tapping the floor with her heel.

She glared at her Boss, "I demand an explanation, Boss. What did you do to her?"

Vernon knew that he had to eventually explain this, "I didn't do anything. I told her that I know her meeting with Maria, and I naturally told her what I would do to protect her from Vincent."

"She was horrified with the idea of me fighting against Vincent, and was too shocked to react properly, that's why she looked so out of it."

"But worry not, I've called her just now. I want to ensure that she didn't do anything stupid at home," Vernon said. He gritted his teeth as he got annoyed at himself. "Diamond, is it wrong for me to tell her about it? I want her to know that I will protect her, even if that means I have to go against my Big brother."

Diamond paused for a moment and then walked towards her Boss. She stood right in front of Vernon and replied, "I will reply not as your subordinate, Mr. Phoenix Gray, but as your friend."

"You're not wrong this time," Diamond said. "I understand that she will be shaken by your statement, but she has to know this. The sooner the better."

"But Boss, you need to convince her even more after this. Tell her that everything would be alright, since you're well prepared, right?"

"Of course! I am well prepared!" Vernon yelled. "I am not afraid of him. I just... need more time. We're moving faster than before because I'm worried about Chloe, but we still need time."

"Yes, I know, Boss...." Diamond nodded. Though, she was actually impressed with her Boss. Despite saying he needed time, he had everything planned out and executed very well.

'Let's just hope there will be no distraction, or any set back in the future. I want happiness for my best friend...' Diamond thought.

"Well, for now, you need to sell or destroy her current car and buy her a new one, I want a new one to be ready in three days of work at most," Vernon commanded. "I also want your report about Gregory Maxwell. What was the result of the internal meeting within his company?"

"Ah, the shareholders of Mr. Maxwell's company rejoiced when they got the news from Mr. Maxwell. All of them agreed with the contract. Most of them have high hopes for you because you're Vincent's little brother."

"So they thought I could be as good as him or mend the relationship between Gregory Maxwell and my Big brother?" Vernon asked as he seemed to have a good grasp on this already.

"Correct, Sir," Diamond confirmed.

Vernon scoffed, "Heh, thinking about it already makes me disgusted. I don't want to be the second Vincent. I don't want to be a filthy abuser."

"But it can't be helped. People will still associate me with Vincent until I make a name for myself and overthrow him."

Vernon glanced at Diamond and gave her another order, "Keep Mr. Maxwell's project in track, we're going to focus on that once, since my small project with Vincent has just finished."

"Understood, Sir. I shall put that in my memo," Diamond slightly bowed respectfully, but before she left, Vernon called her again.

"Oh, one more, Diamond...."

"Yes?"

"Thank you... for helping me," Vernon said. He was ashamed to say it, but he thought Diamond deserved his gratitude.

He wouldn't be able to manage so many big projects without a competent secretary.

Diamond smiled in response, "I did this for money, Sir. I also did this for my best friend, Chloe."

"I know," Vernon nodded, then Diamond left him alone.

He sat idle for a while, resting his mind as so many things happened in one day.

To say that he was tired was an understatement. He was exhausted physically and mentally.

'Ah, I really can't wait to go home and have dinner with Chloe and Mackie...' Vernon thought. 'Oh right, I have to pick Mackie up.'

Thus, Vernon texted Chloe about when he should pick Mackie up at her school, and he got a reply in less than a minute.