FAKE DATING WITH BENEFITS MY BILLIONAIRE BOSS (Ophelia Corrigan) novel Chapter 199

CHAPTER 199

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– CHLOE

The kids walked into school arguing over a pencil case neither of them would admit taking. I waited until they disappeared down the hallway before heading back to the car.

“They’re sweet kids, aren’t they, Miss Chloe?” the driver said, smiling at me in the rearview mirror.

I looked at him, in absolutely no mood to talk.

“Did I ask for your opinion?”

His smile vanished.

“No, ma’am. I was just trying to be friendly.”

“Well, don’t. You’re paid to drive, not to make conversation with me.”

He glanced at me in the mirror again, clearly taken aback by my rudeness.

“I’m sorry, miss. It won’t happen again.”

“Good. Then get moving. Or do I need to come up there and do your job for you?”

He looked away and started the car.

What an irritating man.

It amazed me how some people mistook basic politeness for an invitation to get familiar. I could play nice when I needed something, but I saw no reason to waste my time charming a mere driver.

When we reached the mansion, I went straight to the kitchen, where Sylvia was arranging storage containers in a cabinet. The smell of toast still lingered in the air.

“Did the kids get inside okay?” Sylvia asked.

I immediately softened my expression and smiled.

“They did. Can you believe Lily and Jack spent the entire ride fighting over a pencil case?” I said with a little laugh. “Those two are going to drive me crazy.”

Sylvia laughed.

“Oh, that’s normal at their age. They’ll grow out of it.”

“I hope so!” I said, still smiling. “Honestly, though, it’s kind of cute. They’re such sweethearts.”

I took a mug and poured myself some coffee. I didn’t need to ask where Simon and Jamie were. Neither of their cars was in the garage. Still, I let the conversation unfold naturally.

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“It’s so quiet around here.”

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“They left early,” Sylvia said, trying to fit the wrong lid onto a container. “Went over to the factory.”

My hand stopped for a second.

“The factory?”

“Because of all that trouble with the products. The press won’t give Mr. Simon a moment’s peace. I think he wants to talk to the employees himself.”

I took a sip of coffee that was far too hot.

“It must be awful for them.”

“Especially Mrs. Jamie. She tries to act like she’s fine, but you can tell she’s worried about her husband.”

I pretended to be interested in the crumbs on the counter.

“I can imagine.”

The factory. Employees. Questions.

Had they gone there looking for something specific?

“Are you all right, Chloe?” Sylvia asked.

“Just didn’t sleep much. The kids woke me up twice last night.”

“Why don’t you go get some rest? I can finish up here.”

“Can I help with anything first?”

“No, sweetheart. I’ve got to sort out a problem with the laundry delivery.”

The kitchen phone rang, and Sylvia went into the utility area to answer it.

I stood still for a few seconds, listening to her voice fade into the distance.

I hadn’t planned on doing it that morning. I’d bought the device days earlier, back when I still wasn’t sure I’d manage to stay in the house. It was tiny, but planting it in Simon’s bedroom had seemed a little too bold, even for me.

Now, with him and Jamie at the factory, the perfect opportunity had practically fallen into my lap.

I took the side staircase, my heart beating faster than I liked. The upstairs hallway was empty. I stopped outside the master suite and drew a deep breath.

Then I pushed the door open.

The room smelled the way I’d already come to associate with Simon: wood, expensive soap, and something

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fresh that seemed to linger long after he’d left. A folded shirt lay on an armchair, and two books sat on the nightstand. One had been left open, face down.

Jamie had left her mark, too. Hand cream, a pair of earrings, and a forgotten mug near the window. Little things that all said the same thing: she belonged here, too.

I hated it.

I took a wireless microcamera out of my bag, small enough to go unnoticed. The bedside lamp had a narrow opening in its frame where I could hide the device without taking anything apart.

I stepped back to inspect my work. The camera blended into the lamp’s dark interior. Even someone looking closely would have trouble spotting it.

Perfect.

I took out my phone. After a few seconds, the app connected and showed part of the bed, the armchair, and the bathroom door. It didn’t capture every corner of the room, but it covered what I needed.

The image froze for a moment.

“Come on,” I whispered.

The feed came back. The audio was faint, but clear enough to make out voices. I closed the live view and put my phone away.

That was when I heard something in the hallway.

I froze.

Footsteps approached, along with the sound of something rolling across the floor. My stomach dropped.

But the door didn’t open. Someone I assumed was Sylvia pushed a laundry cart past the room and continued toward the far end of the hallway.

I let my breath out slowly.

Before leaving, I smoothed a fold in the comforter I’d accidentally disturbed. I took one last look at the enormous bed, the matching nightstands, and the wedding photograph on the dresser.

Simon was smiling in that picture.

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