GOLDEN GIRL

CHAPTER 43

~1 WEEK LATER~

Shay's POV

Bad things happen. People try to forget and move on.

That's what I kept reminding myself when Monday finally came around.

Since it was my first day at work, I decided to make a change. My mother called her team of hairdressers and makeup artists early in the morning, and they gave me a complete makeover. My naturally straight, long hair was trimmed to my shoulders and curled. I told them to go for a darker makeup look—something bold. By the time they were done, I barely recognized myself.

And that was a good thing.

I slipped into a new outfit I had bought the other day—a black pencil skirt paired with a thin-strapped top and a long black blazer.

Driving to the company in my new dark blue Hyundai GV80, I suddenly remembered I was supposed to meet someone before work. Cursing under my breath, I made a U-turn and drove straight to the café where we had planned to meet.

I arrived first, ordered a cup of coffee, and waited.

Ten minutes later, he finally walked in. Dressed in a fitted grey suit, hair perfectly styled—Chase looked effortlessly cool, as always. As he approached my table, he stared at me in surprise.

"Wow," he said with a smirk.

"What?"

"Are you going through some kind of crisis? Why did you change your hair?" he teased.

I narrowed my eyes at him.

"You knew, didn't you?"

His brow furrowed. "Knew what?"

"You knew about Jason's real motive when he asked me out. You called me that day—you were going to tell me, but you didn't. Why?"

Chase shifted awkwardly in his seat, clearing his throat while glancing to the side.

"Normally, the person closest to him would be the last to know. How could I tell you?"

I scoffed, sipping my coffee.

"You did the right thing by not telling me. If you had, I would've thought you were being kind."

He let out a sarcastic chuckle. "I'm not that kind. Even if I'm naïve sometimes."

He looked away, a distant expression crossing his face.

"Are you going to keep working with Jason?" I asked.

"Why?" His tone turned cautious.

"Since you found out before I did, I bet you confronted him. You probably fought too. We both got betrayed by the same person. People don't change that easily. He even told me the real reason he used me—it's all because of my father."

Chase laughed, leaning back in his chair.

"He really told you? Wow, he actually went honest with you, huh."

I glared at him. "You can laugh in this situation?"

"Then should I cry?" he shot back, his expression hardening.

I clenched my jaw to stop myself from snapping at him.

"I also had an ulterior motive in agreeing to an arranged marriage with you," he continued. "I was going to marry you for economic reasons. But we're still good, right?" He smirked.

"Our whole life revolve around economics."

"So?"

"Get rid of him. He may be your business partner, but you own the company. It wouldn't be hard to run it on your own. Unless... you're that dependent on him."