A Handsome Distraction

*Initially, Arthur could not let go of his ambition to seize power, leading him to send Felix to probe Ms. Croft, hoping to lure her away. Unexpectedly, he ended up losing his son in the process. If he knows his son turned into a simp, I bet he will lose his mind! Hahaha! He is supporting his son right now probably because he thinks his son is just trying to win her support for their faction. Not only did he lose his son, but he is also unintentionally helping his enemy!*

Once more, Chloe's bright, animated inner voice transmitted directly into Donovan's head, cutting through the tense silence of the corporate bullpen.

Donovan narrowed his dark eyes, shifting his deep, penetrating gaze away from the red-faced Felix and fixing it squarely on the older board member standing just behind him. Arthur stood tall and proud, his posture rigid with the arrogant certainty of a veteran executive who believed he had finally cornered the young CEO. When Arthur noticed Donovan staring at him, he did not shrink back. Instead, the older man puffed up his chest, rolling his shoulders back beneath his expensive tailored suit. Arthur exuded an air of absolute triumph. He firmly believed that Donovan had mismanaged this crisis. In Arthur's mind, there was absolutely no way Donovan could exit this escalating confrontation gracefully without taking Nadine's side and punishing his own wife. Arthur thought his son had just delivered a masterful lecture on workplace honor. He silently gloated, assuming that this public defense would finally secure Nadine Croft's loyalty to their faction.

Felix fiercely pressed his attack, unwilling to let the silence linger. He stepped closer to Donovan, his voice echoing loudly off the glass walls of the surrounding offices.

"Hey! Donovan, are you trying to humiliate Ms. Croft for this woman?" Felix gestured aggressively toward Chloe, his face twisted in a mask of righteous anger. "Do not forget the facts here! Chloe is the absolutely only one who has met with Mr. Pierce from the rival company! We have undeniable proof of her treason! We have the timestamped photos and the surveillance videos of them sitting together in the cafe! You cannot just sweep this under the rug to protect your wife!"

Having accidentally overindulged in the chaotic, mind-bending gossip regarding Felix's pathetic nighttime habits and Arthur's clueless political maneuvering, Donovan quickly cleared his throat. He needed to regain control of this spiraling situation. He could not afford to be distracted by the bizarre secrets echoing in his skull, no matter how fascinating they were. Shifting his demeanor to one of dead, chilling seriousness, he turned his penetrating, dark gaze back toward Chloe.

The last time he had interrogated Chloe about the stolen files, she had become so incredibly hysterical that she failed to provide a single coherent response. She had yelled, cried, and demanded a divorce, leaving Donovan with nothing but a headache. At this moment, however, Donovan felt a strange sense of calm. Even if Chloe remained uncooperative and threw another tantrum, he knew he could at least uncover the truth through her unfiltered inner thoughts. He had a direct line to her subconscious. All he had to do was press the right buttons and listen.

"Why did you meet with the rival executive?" Donovan asked directly, his voice a low, commanding baritone that demanded immediate compliance.

Chloe blinked rapidly, her shoulders tensing. She felt the heavy atmosphere in the room shift. The situation was getting complicated, twisting into something far more dangerous than a simple misunderstanding. She honestly did not expect Donovan to be genuinely intent on investigating this corporate espionage matter until the very end, especially not with the board members watching his every move like vultures. From her personal perspective, Donovan was indeed commendable in terms of his character. He was diligently committed to treating everyone fairly, refusing to play favorites even when his own reputation was on the line. He was a good CEO. He was a rational man.

However, none of that mattered to Chloe. That was not what she wanted. She desired a divorce, a clean break, and a massive settlement to start a new life away from this suffocating corporate drama.

She opened her mouth, fully intending to spout a dismissive remark or demand her freedom once again. But just as the defiant words formed on her tongue, she suddenly met Donovan's gaze. The fluorescent lights of the office cast sharp shadows across his face, highlighting his flawless bone structure. His facial features were like a perfectly proportioned marble sculpture. His sharp jawline, his high cheekbones, and those deep, unfathomable eyes made his appearance rival that of any major Hollywood celebrity. When he focused his entire, undivided attention directly on her, the sheer weight of his presence was utterly captivating. For a fleeting moment, she was completely stunned, her breath catching in her throat.

*Even without the two hundred million divorce settlement, this man's face is a deadly weapon. It is incredibly deceptive.* Chloe thought, her mind going blank. *At least it fooled me for a second.*

At that instant, Donovan's handsome face was filled with pure solemnity. His entire being exuded an air of cold, untouchable seriousness that left absolutely no room for frivolity, lies, or evasion. The penetrating gaze seemed to slice right through Chloe's chest, seeing straight into her heart. It startled her, causing her pulse to race and her chest to tremble. The intense, magnetic pull of his attention stumped her defensive instincts. Her brain short-circuited under the pressure of his stare.

"It was a job arranged by my agent." Chloe blurted out the absolute truth before she could stop herself.

Silence fell over the room for a split second.

The moment the honest words left her lips, Chloe regretted her slip-up so intensely that she felt a physical urge to slam her own head against the nearest glass wall. *Was I seriously hooked by a handsome man? What is wrong with me? Why did I have to speak up honestly like that? I just handed them a thread to pull! This honest answer is only going to spawn a million more complications!*

Before anyone else in the room could fully process her confession, Felix seized the golden opportunity. He scoffed loudly, crossing his arms over his chest with a look of supreme disdain.

"That is a pretty clumsy explanation. Has your agent lost her mind, finding work for you from our direct competition? Do you think we are stupid enough to buy that?" Felix sneered, taking a step toward Chloe to intimidate her.

Vance Group owned a massive entertainment conglomerate, under which there was a specialized boutique studio dedicated explicitly to serving Chloe's modeling and acting career. Obviously, an agent hired and paid by Vance Group could not possibly accept contract work from rival corporate entities unless it was done deliberately to sabotage the company. It was a massive conflict of interest.

Felix did not give Chloe another chance to speak or defend her statement. He pulled his expensive smartphone from his tailored pocket and immediately dialed Chloe's agent, Brenda Lowell. He tapped the speakerphone icon, making sure the ringing tone echoed loudly for all the gathered executives to hear.

The call connected after the second ring. Brenda answered promptly, her voice filtering clearly through the phone's speaker.

"What? I did not make such arrangements! Mrs. Vance, you cannot falsely accuse me like this!" Brenda cried out, her voice instantly trembling with feigned absolute shock and deep distress. She played her villainous part to perfection, sounding like a terrified, innocent employee being crushed under the heel of a wealthy tyrant. "I am just an insignificant figure in this huge company. I really cannot bear such a massive blame! Please, do not drag me into your mess to save yourself!"

The performance was masterful. Surely, a lowly talent agent would never dare to falsely accuse the powerful CEO's wife of lying, which was exactly the narrative Nadine wanted everyone in the room to believe. The power dynamic made Brenda look like the ultimate victim of Chloe's desperate lies.

Hearing this perfect execution of the plan, Nadine lowered her head slightly and smirked triumphantly. The corners of her lips curled up in a wicked smile, fully aware that she was winning. She noticed that not a single executive in the room had picked up on how overly rehearsed and stiff Brenda sounded.

Smugly, Felix pocketed his phone and glared at Chloe. "Next time, I advise you to concoct better lies. Do not make up a story that can be so easily exposed by a single phone call."

Then, Felix locked eyes with Chloe and silently mouthed two clear words at her. *You fool.*

At that point, standing in the center of the hostile room, Chloe was genuinely a bit upset. Her brow furrowed, and she crossed her arms defensively. Initially, she thought this entire mess was just an ordinary, low-level setup. She assumed a minor figure like Brenda was merely implicated by accident or forced into a corner. To her massive surprise, the scheme was far larger and more deeply rooted than she had anticipated. Even her own agent, someone supposed to protect her interests, had been bribed to participate in this elaborate framing.

Donovan stood motionless, his expression unreadable. He had also thought about that logical leap. He was currently formulating a plan to send his private security team to investigate Brenda's bank accounts, but before he could give the order, he heard Chloe's inner thoughts ring out clearly in his mind.

*I want to see exactly how much money they paid that traitor to set me up. Let me check the system.*

For a moment, Donovan was speechless. His stoic mask cracked just a fraction. *Could she just see whatever classified information she wants to see? What exactly is this 'system' she keeps consulting?*

*What? Is my innocence only worth a meager two thousand dollar monetary gift? This cannot be! This absolutely cannot be true! I must have missed an additional zero somewhere! Let me look closer.*

Donovan was utterly baffled by Chloe's frantic thoughts. His sharp, analytical mind filled with glaring question marks. Corporate espionage involving federal contracts and stolen proprietary files usually involved bribes in the hundreds of thousands, if not millions. Was it really just two thousand dollars? That was an insultingly low amount for such a high-stakes crime. It made zero logical sense.

Chloe's brief, exasperated sobbing traveled directly into his mind. *I cannot believe it really is just two thousand dollars. I am so cheap! Huh? Wait a minute, what is this file? Oh. Oh, my god. So that is how it was...*

*What? What is it?* Donovan thought, his internal voice screaming with sudden impatience. His hands curled into tight fists at his sides.

After waiting for what seemed like an eternity, the silence in his head stretching his nerves to their absolute limit, all he heard was Chloe sighing deeply in profound exasperation.

Originally, Donovan maintained a cool, collected, and highly professional demeanor, but now Chloe's erratic thoughts were pushing him to the very brink of genuine irritation. *Tell me what it is! Do not just stop there! Otherwise, how can I prove your innocence and find the real mole?*

Fortunately, Chloe unintentionally helped him out, her inner voice resuming its chaotic broadcast.

*No wonder she did not demand more money for committing a felony. It turns out Brenda Lowell is actually Nadine Croft's cousin-in-law! They are essentially family, so of course they were secretly working together. So, Ms. Croft had already planted a loyal spy right by my side a long time ago? They even pretended not to know each other at company events before this. Impressive! Very, very impressive! I have to give the villainess her due credit!*

Donovan ground his teeth, grumbling in his own mind. *Why in the world are you praising the woman who is actively trying to destroy you?*

Despite his frustration with Chloe's weird priorities, the revelation hit Donovan like a physical blow to the chest. He was deeply unsettled. He was genuinely shocked to learn this ugly truth. To think that Nadine—his most trusted secretary, the woman who managed his schedule, handled his confidential documents, and organized his entire professional life—had been making all these vicious, calculated arrangements behind his back since the very beginning! She had orchestrated a betrayal right under his nose, weaving a web of spies within his own household and company. A cold, dangerous fury began to pool in his gut.

At that moment, the human resources director nervously stepped forward, cautiously asking Donovan if it was alright to end the speakerphone call with Brenda. After all, the agent had made her tearful denial, and the uncomfortable silence was stretching on.

Donovan did not look at the HR director. Instead, he stepped toward the phone sitting on the conference table. The temperature in the room seemed to drop ten degrees as the tone of Donovan's voice shifted into a chilling, authoritative menace.

"Ms. Lowell, since the statements between you and my wife are conflicting, I will arrange for a meticulous, exhaustive investigation," Donovan declared directly into the microphone, his voice cutting like a serrated knife. "If there is not any immediate physical evidence found on you, I will have my private security team meticulously scrutinize your entire network of connections. We will look at every bank account, every phone record, and every extended family member you possess."

In an instant, every single executive and board member present was taken aback. They all stared at Donovan in stunned silence. They genuinely did not expect the CEO to be that stubborn, nor did they expect him to unleash such a terrifying threat against a seemingly insignificant talent agent.

Chloe was equally shocked, her eyes widening. *Damn! How could Donovan stumble upon the hidden family truth so accurately by sheer accident? He is a genius!*

Meanwhile, hidden behind the wall of executives, Nadine's triumphant smirk instantly vanished. A wave of raw panic washed over her face. She clamped her mouth shut to stop her teeth from chattering. Through the speakerphone, everyone could hear Brenda's sharp, terrified inhalation of breath.

"What are you implying by targeting her family?" Felix shouted, immediately jumping back into the fray to fight for his unrequited love, completely blind to the trap closing around them.

Maintaining his cold, deadly demeanor, Donovan stood tall. "When statements are not matching up, even the police do not rely on a single perspective when investigating a major case. I am intimately familiar with Chloe's simple network of connections. It is highly unlikely she had any prior association with the rival company's vice president. However, I am not so sure about her agent's loyalties."

"Mr. Donovan, how could I possibly be involved with a rival company?" Brenda's voice crackled through the speaker, now laced with genuine, vibrating anxiety. "I am just a small talent agent!"

Indeed, Brenda had no direct relationship with the rival company. However, the meticulous investigation Donovan just promised would inevitably reveal her hidden familial relationship with Nadine. The rest of the company was completely unaware of that connection. Once exposed, it would instantly hint at an intentional, malicious concealment. Moreover, because it was deeply entangled with the current frame-up, it would be utterly impossible for Nadine to explain away without looking guilty.

"Just wait for the official notification from legal." Donovan said in a cold, final tone.

After finishing his brutal sentence, he did not give the terrified agent a single chance to argue, cry, or beg. He simply reached out and hung up the phone, cutting off Brenda's panicked voice.

The very next moment, Donovan turned his head and swept a cold, deadly gaze over the crowd, his eyes locking directly onto a suddenly panicking Nadine.

Nadine, already in a state of internal chaos from the phone call, was violently taken aback by the sheer weight of his stare. She physically flinched, taking a hasty step back and bumping into a leather desk chair. Her perfect, professional facade was cracking under the pressure.

Acting as the ultimate loyal lapdog, Felix immediately stepped forward, throwing his arms out to physically shield Nadine from Donovan's piercing gaze. His face was red with exertion, his anger blatantly evident.

"It seems you are hell-bent on protecting this useless woman today!" Felix roared, pointing at Chloe. "I am starting to suspect that you are planning to let Ms. Croft take the blame for your wife's crimes! However, it is a massive pity that your logic is flawed! Ms. Croft has never had zero contact with any people from rival companies! During those crucial two days when the files were leaked, she was heavily supervised! She was either right here at the office working overtime, or safely at her home!"

Behind Felix's broad back, Nadine took a deep, shuddering breath. She forced herself to remain composed. She dug her perfectly manicured nails into her palms to stop the trembling. She stepped out from behind Felix, her heart filled with a twisted, dramatic sorrow as she looked up at Donovan. She firmly met his dark eyes, refusing to look away.

"If you do not believe me, I am willing to undergo any investigation to prove my innocence, Mr. Donovan!" Nadine boldly stated, her voice ringing with a powerful, unwavering firmness that shocked the room.

Following standard corporate espionage investigation procedures, it would be strictly necessary for the technical department to track Nadine's recent physical whereabouts and meticulously examine all the personal electronic devices in her possession, including her phone, tablet, and laptop.

From what Felix had just loudly declared, Donovan was fairly certain that Nadine had never physically met anyone from the rival company to hand off the flash drive. The surveillance would confirm that. However, if Nadine dared to speak with such unyielding boldness, offering up her devices so freely, it meant she was absolutely confident she had not left a single piece of incriminating digital evidence behind.

*Could it be that she really did not leave any trace on her electronic devices?* Donovan was deep in thought, his thick brows furrowing together. He analyzed the angles, trying to find the flaw in the secretary's defense.

*I was wondering why she was so wildly confident.* Chloe's voice suddenly traveled into Donovan's mind again, carrying a tone of reluctant admiration. *So this is her master plan!*

Donovan perked up immediately, his posture straightening. *It seems I do not need to wonder about it anymore. My personal informant is back online.*

*Her arrangement is absolutely flawless.* Chloe thought, breaking down the conspiracy in real-time. *The incriminating email containing the stolen files was sent on the morning of the twelfth. But even if the tech team were to completely tear apart her computer, utilizing the highest grade technology to recover all deleted records and scrub the hard drive, they would find absolutely nothing.*

A sudden sense of sharp tension gripped Donovan's chest. *How could this be possible? The files were leaked from this department. The digital footprint has to exist somewhere.*

*It is because she brilliantly sent the email using Felix's computer!* Chloe's inner voice practically shouted the revelation. *Felix trusts her implicitly and blindly. He never suspected her when she lingered in his private office. The idiot even uses her birthday as his master password! Thus, even if she was suspected, nothing could be found on her personal devices. Even if the rival company betrays her and points the finger back here, the only person that the technical investigation would point to would be Felix. She set him up to take the full fall if the conspiracy is exposed!*

Donovan's expression shifted drastically. A wave of pure disgust washed over him. He aimed his unkind, razor-sharp gaze away from Nadine and locked it onto Felix. The young heir was still standing there, puffing out his chest, completely oblivious to the fact that the woman he was so fiercely defending had just served him up on a silver platter to take the fall for a federal crime. The sheer cruelty of Nadine's calculation was staggering.

*However, she left one fatal trace behind.* Chloe mused, her thoughts slowing down. *Perhaps it is because she is simply too overconfident in her own unshakeable position within the company. Due to sheer overconfidence, she forgot to cover up...*

Instantly, Donovan focused every ounce of his mental energy, leaning forward slightly. He was incredibly eager to discover what the fatal trace might be. He needed the final piece of the puzzle to crush this conspiracy right here, right now.

But just as she was about to reveal it, Chloe abruptly stopped her train of thought.

*Forget it.* Chloe sighed heavily in her mind. *I cannot reveal the secrets I know, anyway. How would I explain knowing all this? In the end, with her halo, Ms. Croft probably will not be affected by this at all. At most, Brenda may get into a little trouble and get fired. I just want this tedious mess to end as soon as possible. I am keeping the final secret to myself. I need a nap.*

Donovan stood frozen. The sudden silence in his head was deafening. He was brutally frustrated by the sudden mental cliffhanger. He had the weapon raised, ready to strike, and she had just snatched the ammunition away.

The look in Donovan's eyes subtly shifted as he scoffed inwardly, his irritation masking his previous shock. *It is a mess, all right. And you are not going to take a nap until this is resolved.*

"Summon the technical department," Donovan ordered coldly, his voice echoing with absolute authority, shattering the tension in the room. He pointed a long, accusing finger toward the IT floor. "And have them thoroughly check Ms. Croft's electronic devices immediately."