FAKE DATING WITH BENEFITS MY BILLIONAIRE BOSS (Ophelia Corrigan) novel Chapter 150

CHAPTER 150

MON

“Mr. Hart, I’m sorry. I didn’t know she’d react like that. I was just…”

“Just what?”

Chloe opened her mouth, but it took her a few seconds to answer.

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“I was trying to…” Her voice faltered. “I was trying to find out if there was still any chance you’d let me stay. I thought if the kids asked you…”

I stared at her.

“You thought if you made the kids cry, I’d change my mind?”

“No. That’s not what I…”

“You used a child’s fear of being abandoned to try to hold on to a job you knew you were losing.”

Her face crumpled.

“Please, Mr. Hart. I didn’t want to hurt anyone. I swear. I just need this job. I don’t have another one. I have nothing.”

“That’s not my problem.”

My voice came out so cold she froze.

“You’re fired. Effective immediately. Go back to the apartment, get your things, and leave.”

“No.”

I frowned.

“What?”

“Please.”

She took a step toward me.

Then another.

Before I understood what she was doing, Chloe dropped to her knees in front of me.

My whole body went rigid.

“What the fuck are you doing?”

“I’m begging you.”

“Get up.”

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She didn’t move.

Her hands clasped together as she lifted her face to mine. Her eyes were already filling with tears.

“Please, Mr. Hart. I’ll talk to Lily. I’ll apologize. I’ll tell her I made a mistake. I’ll say whatever you want, but please… don’t send me away.”

My jaw locked.

“Get up, Chloe.”

“I don’t have a family.” The first tear slid down her cheek. “I have no savings. Nowhere to go. This job was all I had.”

I didn’t answer.

“I’ll do anything,” she continued, her voice growing more desperate. “I’ll work longer hours. I won’t take day off. I’ll take less pay. Whatever you want. Just let me stay.”

She was crying openly now.

I didn’t feel sorry for her.

Not after seeing Lily in that bed.

“You should’ve thought of that before you used a child as leverage.”

Chloe closed her eyes.

“Mr. Hart…”

“Simon!”

Jamie’s voice cut through the hallway.

I turned my head.

She stood a few feet away, looking first at me and then at Chloe, kneeling on the floor.

Her expression changed at once.

Jamie walked toward us.

“Chloe, get up.”

Chloe tried to wipe away her tears quickly.

“Miss Jamie, I…”

“Get up.”

There was something in Jamie’s tone that made Chloe obey.

She rose slowly, swaying a little, and Jamie waited until she was standing.

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“Now listen carefully.”

Toe nodded

“Simon can’t send you away today.”

I looked at Jamie.

“Jamie.”

She raised one hand in my direction without even looking at me.

“One minute.”

I almost laughed.

Almost.

Then she turned her attention back to Chloe.

“Lily is lying in a hospital bed, terrified that everyone she loves is going to leave her. If you disappear tonight, do you know what’s going to happen?”

Chloe stayed silent.

“In Lily’s mind, you’ll be proving her right.”

The little color left in Chloe’s face drained away.

“I didn’t think…”

“That was exactly the problem. You didn’t think.”

Jamie took another step toward her.

“You’re staying through the end of the month.”

Chloe blinked.

So did I.

“What?”

Jamie finally looked at me.

“She stays through the end of the month.”

“Jamie…”

“We’ll talk to her therapist first. Lily will work through this fear in therapy, and when she’s ready to handle Chloe leaving, you can let her go.”

I crossed my arms.

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“How generous. What are you now, Mother Teresa?”

She ignored me

“Until then,” she continued, turning back to Chloe, “you’ll take care of the children exactly as you did before. You won’t talk about leaving. You won’t ask them to plead your case. You won’t drag Lily into any adult conversations. And you’ll start looking for another job tomorrow.”

Chloe drew a deep breath, still crying.

“Yes. I promise I won’t do anything wrong.”

“And I’ll help you find something.”

This time, I frowned.

Chloe looked surprised too.

“You would?”

“Don’t mistake this for forgiveness.” Jamie’s voice stayed firm. “I’m doing this for the children. I don’t want you desperate, resentful, or worrying about where you’ll work next while you’re responsible for them. I want you focused on your job until your last day. Do you understand?”

Chloe nodded.

Jamie waited.

“I asked if you understand.”

“Yes. I understand.”

“Good. Where are Jack and Sam?”

“With Sylvia at Mr. Hart’s apartment.”

“Go get them. Bring them here. They should be with their sister.”

“Of course.”

Chloe quickly wiped her face.

“And, Chloe?”

She stopped.

“When you walk into that room, Lily can’t see that you’ve been crying about this. Today isn’t about you.”

Chloe lowered her eyes.

“I understand.”

She walked past us and disappeared down the hall.

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I waited until she was far enough away before turning to Jamie.

just overruled my firing her?”

“No.” She crossed her arms. “I postponed it.”

“My employee.”

“Someone had to be responsible here.”

Shit.

She was right.

Jamie stepped closer, and some of the steel in her expression softened when her eyes met mine.

“You can’t make her disappear today, Simon. Not after what Lily just told us. She’s too fragile.”

I let out a slow breath.

“I know.”

She started to turn away, but I caught her around the waist and pulled her back.

Jamie bumped into my chest.

“Simon…”