Chapter 11 - Neighbor

Chloe's P O V

"Mr. Preston, I didn't expect to see you here," I muttered, subconsciously eyeing his tracksuit. He was looking like a model freshly groomed for a fashion show.

"I live next door. I was coming back from the gym and saw the door open, are you moving in now?" he said. His voice was authoritative yet soothing for the ears.

"No, I was just checking the place before moving in," I replied and then it struck me. If he lives next door that means we are neighbors! Am I dreaming? How can I be the neighbor of the richest business tycoon of the year?

"Do you like it?" he asked pulling me back from my threads of confusion.

"I think the place is a bit extravagant for someone like me. I am just a brand ambassador, there's no way I can be your neighbor," I explained my thoughts to him earning a chuckle from him.

"You still have no idea about your position, do you?" he smirked at me with a mysterious light in his eyes. His eyes were enticing as if pulling me towards them. I gave a huge shake to my mind inwardly. You can't be fascinated by a man you met only twice, I scolded my mind.

"Lux Gardenia is currently the biggest brand in the country and the top ten in the world ranking. Being the face of LG means you are the face of the world's top ten models. So think high, within a few weeks you will understand where you belong," he replied after not getting any response from me to his earlier question. He seemed too serious now, totally apart from the smiling man from a few moments ago.

"Thanks for the motivation, Mr. Preston. I will work harder to keep the trust and position your company gave me," I conveyed my appreciation to him.

"You don't need to act too formal with me here. Since you are my new neighbor let me invite you to a welcome dinner at my place tonight," he proposed. Though his invitation was formal I felt a bit hesitant. I hated dinner parties the most, On top of that he was my boss's boss, the big boss. How could I deny his invitation?

"I don't think I should bother you on the weekend though," I said hesitantly.

"It won't be a bother at all. I barely live here, when I do it's mostly because I am too busy to drive home. So if I get a company it would be great. So see you at seven," he said checking his wristwatch and going directly to his apartment door without giving me any chance to decline.

I huffed in frustration. After locking the apartment door, I went directly to my rented apartment, driving my new car. I can't wait to show Laura the car. She loved luxurious cars. On my way, I called a moving company and booked them to move my belongings the next day.

"Whoa! Don't tell me you bought this beauty with your signing money," Laura screamed as soon as I stopped in front of the resident building.

"Nope, it's a company car. Benefits of having a beautiful face," I told her flaunting my face dramatically.

"Please take care of this face so I can enjoy a more luxurious life," she fake pleaded at me and we both burst into laughter.

"This car is too sexy, I swear," she exclaimed as we went upstairs to pack my bags. I called her earlier to help me pack my clothes. That's what I will move today and then tomorrow the moving company will move the rest. Though this rented apartment was fully furnished but I had some expensive decorative items and paintings.

"You will lose your jaw if you see the penthouse apartment. Can you believe I have a jacuzzi on my balcony? I can't wait to lay down there with a glass of wine," I expressed my excitement with her. I had no family here, Dave, Jane, and Laura were my family in this city. But after the betrayal of them, Laura was the only family I had now.

"I wish I could go with you but you know I have a schedule this afternoon. But I will join you tomorrow to enjoy the luxury of your penthouse," she winked at me.

It took us one hour to pack all my clothes and personal products. She helped me bring them down to my car and then left in a hurry. I put the luggage inside the trunk of my new car and closed it. When I was about to open the car door of the driver's seat, a hand stopped me.

"Dave, what are you doing here," the suppressed anger I was carrying for days surfaced when I saw his damn face.

"That's a question I should be asking you. What the hell are you doing?" he shouted at me. He looked disheveled and infuriated. The clean freak Dave who cared for his look the most was now looking like a frustrated unkempt man.

"What do you mean?" I asked him through gritted teeth.

"Do you think I have no idea what you are up to? You want to destroy me and Jane? How could you stoop so low?" he asked me gripping my arms with his both hands. I pushed him hard to make a space between us.

"Don't you dare touch me again? How dare you question me when it was you who tried to ban me from the industry?" I was seething in anger by that point. The nerve of this shameful man.

"Were you that desperate to get back to me that you slept with Mr. Harvey to become the brand ambassador of Lux Gardenia?" he yelled at me drawing the attention of the people around us. I saw several judging eyes glaring at me.

"How dare you speak nonsense. You were shameless enough to sleep with your fiance's best friend the night before your wedding and now you dare to blame me? Do you think I am like that bitch of yours who can sleep with any man to get what she wants?" I spat back at him. If he thought I was the same stupid Chloe who would listen to his nonsense then he was wrong. If you want to throw mud at me then be ready to get dumped in the pit of trash.