Chapter 2The Boss I Left Behind

When I returned to the office, two of my young subordinates were chattering excitedly about the new boss.

"He is way too gorgeous! If you didn't know better, you'd think he was an A-list actor! If we knew the new boss was this hot, we wouldn't have fought the corporate buyout at all!"

"I heard he's only 28. He built a successful startup and then took over his family’s empire. He is literally a billionaire romance novel brought to life! Oh my god, I have to post about this!"

"Stop drooling, it's embarrassing…"

"Even Claire, our strict, uptight Finance Director, was so starstruck she literally blocked the door! Why can't I drool? Hey, why did you kick me—"

I walked toward my desk, my face expressionless.

"No gossiping on company time."

The two girls instantly went dead silent, practically burying their heads in their desks.

The sharp click-clack of high heels approached from down the hall.

Chloe Harper walked in. As always, her makeup was flawless, her designer skirt suit perfectly tailored.

She slammed a stack of receipts down on one of the junior accountants' desks.

"Why were the Marketing Department's expense reports rejected?"

The recent grad shrank back, stammering out an explanation: "Ch-Chloe, these don't comply with the new expense policy. Anything exceeding the budget by 50% needs the General Manager's signature—"

Chloe interrupted her impatiently. "We in Marketing are out there on the front lines busting our asses for this company, and you guys just sit comfortably in the office all day trying to figure out how to drag us down, is that it?"

I looked up and spoke in a cold, even tone:

"Chloe, the new financial reimbursement policy was issued weeks ago, and we held a dedicated training session for it. If you don't understand it, go back and review the handbook. If you have a problem with it, take it to upper management. Do you think raising your voice in my department makes you right?"

Chloe turned to look at me, blinked, and put on an exaggerated look of sudden realization.

"Claire, you're not… using your position to settle a personal vendetta, are you?"

I pushed up my glasses, meeting her gaze dead-on.

"What personal vendetta could we possibly have?"

She let out a light, airy laugh.

"I guess I'll just have to let Mark come down and tell you himself. After all, you two used to be married."