Selective Blindness

Security personnel scrambled to obey Donovan’s explosive command. The executive bullpen, usually a model of quiet efficiency, descended into chaos. A frantic IT technician dashed toward the massive digital presentation board mounted on the far wall. His fingers flew across a wireless keyboard, pulling up the security mainframe. The heavy resentment of the Vance Group employees hung thick in the air. Dozens of assistants, junior executives, and department heads gathered around the screen. They cast venomous glares toward the doorway where Chloe stood. In their minds, she was already guilty. They had witnessed her chaotic antics for months. They had seen her march into the CEO’s office. The request to recheck the surveillance footage felt like an insult to their collective intelligence. They were convinced she had stolen the confidential files.

The IT technician bypassed the security firewalls. The digital presentation board flickered to life. A stark, high-definition black-and-white grid of the eleventh floor appeared. Donovan stood at the center of the room. His imposing frame dominated the space. He folded his arms across his broad chest, his jaw set in a rigid line. His dark eyes remained fixed on the glowing screen.

Nadine Croft stood a few paces behind him. A thin sheen of cold sweat broke out across her forehead. Her heart pounded a frantic rhythm against her ribs. She pressed her lips together, forcing her breathing to steady. She stole a cautious glance at Donovan's unforgiving profile. The carefully constructed frame-up was unraveling.

Chloe blinked, her almond eyes wide with confusion. She stepped over the threshold of the office, staring at Donovan's broad back. Her mind raced to make sense of the situation.

*What is his problem? I signed the papers! I was ready to take my two hundred million and run! When did I ever say I was unwilling to submit to the accusations? I am more than willing to be the villain if the price is right!*

Donovan’s broad shoulders stiffened. He heard her distinct, sarcastic voice echoing inside his skull. He refused to turn around. He kept his gaze locked on the screen, determined to uncover the physical evidence.

"Play the footage from the evening of the eleventh. Fast-forward to the hours in question," Donovan ordered. His voice was low, carrying a lethal edge that made the IT technician flinch.

The video sped up. The time-stamp in the corner blurred. The screen showed the heavy double doors of the CEO's office. At exactly seven-thirty in the evening, a figure marched into the frame. The video returned to normal speed. It was Chloe. The footage captured her pushing the doors open and disappearing inside. The time-stamp ticked by. Thirty minutes later, she emerged. She stormed out of the frame, looking visibly annoyed that she had failed to ambush her husband.

A wave of quiet scoffs rippled through the gathered employees. They exchanged knowing, vindicated looks. The evidence was irrefutable. They wondered how Chloe planned to keep up her stubborn act in the face of such undeniable proof.

The IT technician reached for the keyboard to stop the playback.

"Keep it playing," Donovan commanded.

The technician pulled his hand back. The video continued. The corridor remained empty for a long stretch. The employees shifted on their feet, growing impatient. Then, the time-stamp hit eight-forty-five. Another figure stepped into the frame.

The bullpen went dead silent.

On the massive digital board, Nadine Croft approached the double doors. She paused, looked up and down the empty corridor, and keyed in her access code. The doors clicked open. She slipped inside, the heavy wood shutting behind her.

Nadine's pupils contracted. A fresh wave of panic seized her chest. She maintained her pristine posture, but her perfectly manicured fingernails dug into her palms.

The employees stared at the screen in shock. Some blinked, assuming they had imagined the second entry. Others frowned, their brains scrambling to rationalize the presence of the CEO's trusted confidant.

Donovan turned around slowly. The frost on his face could have frozen the entire floor. He swept his terrifying, questioning gaze over the crowd of assistants and executives. These were the same people who had sworn, on their professional lives, that Chloe was the only person to breach the office.

"Only Mrs. Vance entered my office, you say?" Donovan asked. His voice dropped an octave, dripping with lethal sarcasm.

The crowd shrank back under his scrutiny. The senior assistant, a man who had been vocal about Chloe's guilt, swallowed hard. He stepped forward, determined to maintain the narrative.

"Mr. Donovan, I don't see an issue here. Mrs. Vance was the only suspect who went in. Ms. Croft’s presence is a standard operational procedure," the senior assistant stated. He adjusted his glasses, puffing out his chest to defend the team's honor.

The rest of the staff nodded vigorously. Murmurs of agreement swept through the room.

*They are truly blind.*

Donovan scowled. Chloe’s inner voice rang through his mind again, dripping with unfiltered mockery. He did not look at her, but he could perfectly picture her rolling her eyes.

A young man standing near the back of the crowd raised his hand tentatively. He was a newly promoted junior assistant. He had been out running errands when the initial accusations against Chloe were thrown around. He pushed his way to the front, squinting at the frozen frame of Nadine on the digital board.

"Technically, there were two people who came and went. One was Mrs. Vance, and the other was Ms. Croft. The surveillance clearly shows two entries," the young assistant pointed out. His voice was bright, cutting through the heavy tension.

*Oh, thank God! Surprisingly, there is one person in this godforsaken company who isn't blind! Give that kid a raise!*

Chloe’s mental applause crashed into Donovan’s brain. He fought the urge to massage his temples. He had an excellent memory. He recognized the young man and realized he was the only impartial observer in the room.

The rest of the staff turned on the junior assistant like a pack of wolves.

"What are you blabbering about? Ms. Croft has always been entering and leaving the office frequently. That is her job!" a female executive hissed.

"You just arrived on this floor. You might not understand how things work up here. Ms. Croft is Mr. Donovan's confidant!" another manager chimed in.

"Are you actually suggesting that Ms. Croft betrayed the company? That is preposterous!" the senior assistant glared at the new guy.

The aggressive defense grew louder. The staff rallied around Nadine, forming a verbal shield against the mere suggestion of her disloyalty.

*Wow. If they knew the truth, their reactions would surely be entertaining.*

Chloe’s voice was a steady stream of sarcasm in Donovan’s head. She watched the unfolding drama with morbid curiosity. She looked at Nadine. The woman was the picture of corporate perfection. Nadine sported a sleek high ponytail. Her slightly curled hair strands framed an exquisitely flawless face. She wore a tailored professional dress that accentuated her figure. She appeared calm, but Chloe could see the unnatural rigidity in her posture.

*I cannot really blame them, honestly. After all, their attitude toward Ms. Croft and me is modeled after Donovan's past behavior. He trusted his secretary blindly and treated his wife like radioactive waste. The staff is just following the leader!*

A heavy knot of guilt slammed into Donovan’s chest. The mental jab hit a very raw nerve. He realized she was right. His own previous blind faith in Nadine had set the precedent for this toxic environment. His jaw clenched. He turned his cold, scrutinizing glare back to his secretary.

"What do you have to say for yourself, Ms. Croft?" Donovan demanded. His voice sliced through the crowd's chatter, silencing the room instantly.

Nadine stepped forward. She pressed a hand to her chest, her eyes wide with hurt and disbelief. She summoned every ounce of her ten years of experience by his side to mask her rising panic.

"Mr. Donovan, are you suspecting me? Yes, I did go in. But have you forgotten? Every night, I visit your office to prepare the materials for your meetings the following day. It is my routine," Nadine pleaded. Her voice trembled just the right amount to convey profound innocence.

*Oh, what a brilliant excuse! She deliberately chose to do it when he was not in the room. It was much more convenient for her to make her move and plant the evidence. She has been preparing this script for a long time.*

Donovan narrowed his eyes at Nadine, parsing her words while listening to his wife’s mental commentary.

*Wait a minute. Listening to her talk, it means she works late into the night every single day. I never thought Donovan was such an oppressive employer! Exploiting his employees to the bone! After our divorce, I should wrap a copy of the state labor laws in a bow and mail it to him. Maybe slip a union hotline flyer in there too!*

Donovan nearly choked. He fought the sudden urge to roll his eyes. *I pay our employees triple their base salary for overtime hours!* he shouted in his own mind, frustrated that he could not defend his corporate compensation packages out loud. He struggled to maintain his train of thought against Chloe's comedic assault. He needed to focus on the corporate espionage, not labor violations.

Donovan pushed past the mental distraction. He drew himself up to his full height, his voice echoing with unyielding authority. "Anyone who visited my office during that period will be subjected to a rigorous investigation! There will be no exceptions!"

Nadine’s pristine facade cracked. A genuine look of hurt washed over her features. She had not anticipated Donovan treating her with such cold impartiality, especially not when Chloe was the perfect scapegoat. For ten years, she had flawlessly handled his life. She had harbored a silent, burning devotion for him. The staff knew it. Everyone knew she was dedicated to Donovan. That was why they refused to believe she could betray the Vance Group.

Discontent rippled through the ranks of the assistants. They exchanged irritated glances, clearly feeling Donovan was being overly strict and insulting his most loyal employee.

Before anyone could voice a complaint, a loud, obnoxious scoff shattered the heavy tension.

Everyone turned toward the expansive glass entrance of the executive floor.

A group of intimidating men strode through the doors. The Vance Group employees hastily stepped aside, parting like the Red Sea to make room for the newcomers. Leading the pack was Arthur Thorne, a bald, imposing older man who sat on the board of directors. Trailing just behind him was his son, Felix Thorne.

Felix was a young blond man with a designer suit and an air of unearned arrogance. He looked exactly like the frivolous, silver-spoon-fed kid he was. He spent his days idling away at the company, coasting on his father's prominent name.

Felix marched straight to the center of the room. He planted himself firmly in front of Nadine, acting as a human shield. He leveled a furious, aggressive glare at Donovan.

"Donovan, have you lost your damn mind? You were perfectly clear in the last board meeting that you were going to divorce this walking disaster! What are you doing now? There is zero evidence to suggest anyone else took those files! It is a waste of company time to pull up surveillance! What is even more absurd is what I just heard from the hallway. To think you suspect your loyal secretary! Ms. Croft has given her blood, sweat, and tears to this company! You must have lost your mind subjecting her to an insulting investigation!" Felix shouted, his voice echoing off the glass walls.

Arthur Thorne stepped forward, resting a hand on his gold-tipped cane. He feigned a disapproving click of his tongue. "Stop it, Felix. You must not speak to our esteemed CEO in that tone. Mr. Donovan's meticulousness is a virtue. It does not necessarily mean he suspects Ms. Croft. I assume this grand show is simply because Mrs. Vance refused to admit her obvious guilt."

Felix sneered. He spun around and shot Chloe a fierce, hateful glare. "To think, even at a time like this, you are still trying to drag innocent people down into the mud with you! You are a pathetic excuse for a wife! It is simply..."

Donovan did not hesitate. His protective instincts flared with terrifying speed. He stepped forward in a swift, fluid motion, positioning his massive frame directly between Felix and Chloe. He stared down at the younger man, his fists clenching at his sides, ready to verbally decimate the arrogant heir.

*Where on earth did someone steal a sewer cover to let this sorry piece of trash crawl out?*

Chloe’s sharp, mental voice struck Donovan right in the center of his brain, causing his prepared reprimand to die in his throat.

*Felix Thorne, is it? How dare this little nepotism baby stand up to the corporate bigwig! I really want to see what gives a useless silver spoon the audacity to yell at the CEO! Let me check the system!*

Donovan stood frozen in place. He stared down at Felix, but his mind was hijacked by the vulgar, uncouth nature of Chloe's internal monologue. He had never heard her curse or use such vivid insults before.

*Oh, I see! Arthur Thorne holds the highest position on the board of directors next to the chairman. He has always been at odds with Donovan. If it were not for the fact that Felix is utterly useless and Donovan is a certified genius, Arthur would have pushed his own son to take over the company when Edmund retires! No wonder Felix has such a massive inferiority complex whenever he breathes the same air as Donovan!*

A jolt of genuine shock coursed through Donovan's system. Chloe had never shown an ounce of understanding regarding the complex political landscape of the board of directors. She had never known about Arthur's secret ambition to oust him. Yet, in a matter of seconds, she was dissecting decades of corporate rivalries in her mind. Furthermore, she knew Nadine had entered the office. There was something unexplainable happening to his wife.

Before Donovan could process the impossible reality of her knowledge, a mental scream practically deafened him.

*OH MY GOD! NO WAY!*

Donovan flinched visibly. He braced his legs, wondering what horrifying secret she had just uncovered.

Felix puffed out his chest, misinterpreting Donovan's silence as hesitation. He continued to aggressively preach to the room. "Ms. Croft is the backbone of this executive floor! You owe her a public apology for this stunt, Donovan!"

Donovan barely registered a single word spilling from Felix's mouth. His attention was consumed by the chaotic broadcast in his head.

*No wonder Felix is targeting me and fiercely protecting Ms. Croft! He is actually her massive simp! This is hilarious! I did not expect this arrogant brat to be such a pathetic, desperate simp for a secretary!*

Donovan’s dark eyebrows shot up toward his hairline. A simp? Felix Thorne, the arrogant playboy who paraded a new model on his arm every fiscal quarter, was obsessed with Nadine? He stared at Felix, a mixture of disbelief and morbid curiosity warring on his face.

*He greets her every single morning, afternoon, and evening!* Chloe’s voice squealed with laughter. *He sends her weather updates! He reminds her to bring an umbrella when it rains! He tells her to wear thicker clothing when the temperature drops! And guess what? She leaves him on read! She never responds! Despite the ghosting, he has persevered with these daily text messages for two whole years! What sheer determination!*

Donovan stared blankly at Felix. The kid was still ranting about corporate loyalty. Donovan could only think one thing: *If he applied ten percent of that determination to his quarterly reports, his department would not be hemorrhaging money.*

*Wait, there is more!* Chloe's mental voice narrated the tragic romance with escalating glee. *One time, he overheard Ms. Croft make an offhand remark about liking a rare vintage fountain pen. He scoured every antique dealer in Oakhaven for three weeks to find it! He exhausted himself so badly he collapsed with a high fever! When he finally presented the gift to her, all Ms. Croft said was, 'You should drink more hot water.' That was it! 'Drink more hot water'! It was enough to make a grown man cry! Such sincere, tragic devotion!*

Donovan pressed his lips together in a tight, grim line. *He should have shown that much devotion to the upcoming merger,* Donovan thought, feeling a profound sense of exasperation.

*Oh, this next one is gold!* Chloe’s mental laughter threatened to give Donovan a headache. *Once, Felix got drunk and went to her apartment building in the middle of the night. He stood in the courtyard, strumming an acoustic guitar and singing his heart out! He thought he was in a romantic comedy! The neighbors were so disturbed by the noise that they called the cops. He got arrested and taken to the station for causing a public nuisance! And the best part? Nadine did not even answer her phone to bail him out! He had to call his dad's lawyer to get released! Afterward, he texted her an apology, terrified that his arrest might have disrupted her sleep cycle! His thoughtfulness is borderline terrifying!*

Donovan rubbed his chin. The puzzle pieces of Felix's abysmal career were falling into place. So this was the reason the young heir made repeated, careless mistakes at work. His meticulous attention was devoted to stalking the CEO's secretary.

*I cannot believe there is more! The system is overflowing!*

Donovan stood rigid. His eyes widened slightly. *There is more?*

*After falling desperately in love with Ms. Croft, Felix swore off the company of other women. He preserves his purity for her! He acts like a playboy in public, but he goes home alone! However... late at night, in the dark privacy of his bed, he pulls up Nadine's social media photos and... Oh. Oh, my god. Ew! Ew! I should not think about such explicit, anatomical details! Why did the system give me the visuals? I am not interested in watching this nepo baby stroke his massive, rigid dedication to her! Gross!*

A wave of sheer nausea hit Donovan like a physical blow. The mental image Chloe painted was violently unwelcome. A sudden, deep revulsion churned in his stomach. He looked at Felix. The young man was still standing tall, aggressively pointing fingers and preaching righteously about honor and respect in the workplace.

Felix was oblivious to the fact that his deepest, most humiliating, pathetic secrets were being broadcasted into the mind of the man he was currently shouting at.

Donovan felt his facial muscles twitch. He looked at the oblivious Felix with a complex mixture of profound pity, exasperation, and disgust. The anger he felt just moments ago had evaporated, replaced by a surreal desire to wash his eyes with bleach.

"You have a duty to protect your staff, Donovan!" Felix yelled, finishing his grand speech, breathless and red-faced.

Donovan just stared at him. The silence stretched. The entire room waited for the explosive wrath of the CEO. Instead, Donovan looked like a man who had just witnessed a car crash.

*Hahaha! The funniest part of this entire tragic romance is that this is all Arthur's fault!* Chloe’s thoughts took another wild, unexpected turn, echoing loudly through the silent room.

Donovan frowned deeply, his sharp mind struggling to keep up with the abrupt shift in the gossip. His heavy brow furrowed.

He blinked, shaking his head slightly to clear the noise. He tried to remember why they were all standing in the bullpen. He tried to recall the surveillance footage on the screen behind him. He tried to focus on the serious corporate investigation, the stolen files, the upcoming divorce.

He narrowed his eyes at the older board member, his original purpose derailed. His mind was in a state of turmoil. He was unable to resist the powerful, consuming allure of this unfolding, chaotic gossip.

What did this have to do with Arthur?