Chapter 5

{Robert POV}

Cleo was crying, looking utterly pitiful.

"Mr. Hamilton, I know Ms. York doesn't like me. That's fine. I can let it go. As long as she's happy. But she treated me like that. I can't do my job anymore…"

She rambled on, sobbing through her words, painting Diana as unreasonable and petty while making herself look gracious and understanding.

I only caught one thing.

Diana was back.

I knew it.

She couldn't stay away from the company. She couldn't stay away from me.

She could say whatever she wanted. It was just a woman throwing a tantrum. In the end, she couldn't let me go.

As long as she came to apologize, I'd forgive her.

I made up my mind. I turned to Cleo.

"She has a point. Every project needs to move forward. You can't make everyone drop their work. Just coordinate schedules when you need help."

Cleo's crying slowed. She bit her lip and answered softly, her eyes still red.

"Yes, Mr. Hamilton. I understand."

Her voice was small, wounded. I felt sorry for her.

My heart softened. I waved her over.

"Come here."

Cleo walked around my desk and stood in front of me.

I pulled her onto my lap.

Then I took a beautifully wrapped long box out of my drawer.

"This is for you. Don't be upset."

Cleo opened it curiously.

A dazzling diamond necklace sparkled under the light.

Her eyes lit up. She threw her arms around my neck and kissed me.

"Thank you, Mr. Hamilton!"

{Diana POV}

Five minutes later, almost every employee at Apex Global Enterprises had seen Cleo's social media post.

I was in my office printing documents when I saw it too.

The caption read: [The CEO says girls should be strong. Even when you're hurt, don't cry. Yes, sir, my dear CEO!]

The photo showed the diamond necklace around her neck.

I recognized it immediately.

That necklace. I'd commissioned it two months ago from a designer using my own sketches.

It was mine.

Robert gave it away so generously.

He really did spoil his little mistress.

I sneered. A cold layer of ice settled over my eyes.

After a moment, I pushed down the sharp pain in my chest, grabbed a contract, and headed to Robert's office.

On the way, I was met with countless pitying looks.

When I got off the elevator, Tom rushed over to meet me.

"Ms. York, are you here to see Mr. Hamilton?"

"Yes."

My tone was flat. I kept walking.

Tom hurried to block my path.

"Ms. York, Mr. Hamilton is busy right now. Let me let him know you're here first."

Before he finished speaking, I heard sounds from inside the office. Unmistakable sounds.

I smiled coldly.

"He certainly is… busy."

So shameless. Even in the office.

Tom looked conflicted. He also looked sorry for me.

"Ms. York, maybe you could come back later?"

Walking in now would only be humiliating.

I nodded and glanced down at him.

"Tom, your pants are torn in the back."

"Really?"

Tom panicked. He believed me. He covered his backside and rushed to his own office.

I walked straight to the CEO's office.

I didn't burst in. I knocked politely.

There was a sudden scramble of movement inside.

I smiled coldly and pushed the door open.

Robert sat behind his desk. Cleo stood beside him.

Both were fully dressed. As if nothing had happened.

But the flush on Cleo's face gave her away. And the lingering tension in the room.

My cold gaze swept over them both before landing on Cleo's neck.

"Nice necklace."

Cleo smiled shyly. "Mr. Hamilton gave it to—"

Robert cut her off, afraid she'd say something irreversible. He looked at me.

"What are you doing here?"

I glanced at him coolly. "Bad timing? Did I interrupt you two again?"

Robert's face darkened. "Don't talk nonsense. This is an office. What do you think I'd be doing?"

I laughed. "Giving a young woman jewelry, apparently."

Robert was momentarily speechless.

"You haven't been to the office in a while. The first thing you do is humiliate someone. Shouldn't I smooth things over?"

Once again, he made it my fault.

I raised an eyebrow, my smile sharp. "Robert, I'm the marketing director and the vice president of this company. Don't I have the authority to discipline employees? Or do I need you to smooth things over with a million-dollar necklace every time? If that's the case, Apex Global Enterprises should've gone bankrupt ages ago."

Robert had no response.

Cleo, however, was quick. She immediately took off the necklace and held it out to me with both hands.

"Ms. York, please don't be upset. Mr. Hamilton wasn't giving it to me. He bought it for you. He just asked me to try it on to see how it looked. He wanted to make you happy. Please don't be angry at Mr. Hamilton. I'll give the necklace back to you."

Her words accomplished two things. She looked wronged. And Robert looked displeased—he never took back gifts.

Cleo's gesture got him off the hook while making him feel even more protective of her.

He looked at me with displeasure. "Happy now?"

I smiled. "Mr. Hamilton, why are you upset? If you gave it to her, own it. Don't use me as an excuse. Or I'll really start worrying about the company going bankrupt."

I didn't take the necklace. I placed two documents on the desk.

"There are two urgent documents that need your signature. I didn't mean to interrupt."

I held out a pen. "Mr. Hamilton. Please sign."