"Of course, it's real. You will only get two hundred thousand dollars a year at most. Do you think the amount is too little for you? I'm sorry, I cannot do more than that," Vernon said. "But worry not. I will handle your tax, so you will get the fixed amount after I deduct your salary to clear your debt to me."

Chloe continued staring at the contract for a while, and a drop of tear wetted the contract. She wiped it immediately.

'',

Vernon frowned when he saw the tear;

'Was it too shocking for her? Just because I gave her two hundred thousand per year? Is it that humiliating for her? That means she will have to be stuck with me for a year at least.'

'Does she not realize that's already a decent amount of money in New York? I mean, it's decent earning for one person, considering she doesn't need to pay for rent. Or she is just way too spoiled by my brother that she can't imagine living with that small amount of money?'

Vernon got even more peeved once he started thinking many negative thoughts. He was already annoyed at Chloe, but now he got even more annoyed by her reaction.

"Listen, Chloe, I don't care if you—"

'',

"Thank you," Chloe suddenly said. Vernon went silent instantly. He thought he heard it wrong. Why would she say thank you for this? It was basically a trap to make her feel poor and humiliated. To make sure that Chloe wouldn't think of mocking him even more.

Vernon straightened his back while standing behind the petite woman, "My decision is final. If you want to leave, you have no other place—"

Chloe turned around before Vernon finished his sentence. She looked up at the devil CEO, who was stunned when he saw her eyes glazing with tears. Chloe opened her arms and wrapped her hands around Vernon's neck, and pulled his shoulder down, so Chloe could give him a warm hug.

"Thank you so much, Vernon…." Chloe murmured as she continued hugging him.

Vernon was stunned. He allowed Chloe to hug him for a while until he realized that Chloe basically controlled him just now.

Vernon pushed Chloe to separate himself. He glared at Chloe with suspicious eyes, "W—Why are you hugging me like that? Do you know your position right now?!"

"Ah? I was just expressing my happiness," Chloe said with a relieved smile. "I thought you would completely strip me out of my right and put an evil contract for me to sign. But this is far better than I expected."



"What?" Vernon couldn't believe his own ears. He expected Chloe to beg for forgiveness since she had obviously mocked him many times.

But he saw Chloe, who had such a pure smile as if the weight had been lifted from her shoulder.

"What are you talking about? Can't you read the contract? There is nothing beneficial for you there."

"Ah, I mean, the contract is very… controversial, especially the obligation to pay my debt ten times the amount. I feel like you're acting like a giant loan shark here, haha…." Chloe chuckled, full of happiness. "But you gave me lenience and allowed me to save two hundred thousand dollars annually. If I can be frugal, I can save as much as a hundred eighty thousand dollars."

"But I will deduct your salary ten times the amount of your debt—"

"Yes, that's true, but as long as I'm careful with my spending, by the end of this year, I can still get that much, even with your ten times debt rule," Chloe replied. "Oh, I can't believe I will get so much. Thank you, Vernon!"

? …

Vernon was so confused that his brain short-circuited for a while.

Did he hear it wrong? Two hundred thousand dollars was 'so much for Chloe?

'Don't kid me! I know you get much more from my brother!' Vernon thought, refusing to believe that Chloe wasn't pretending right now. But seeing the smile on her face made him tongue-tied. He wanted to yell, but at what expense?

What right did he have to yell at her right now? Especially when he was the one who set up the rules for her.

"D—Do you know that you will only get two hundred thousand dollars a year at most? And added with many things you need to use my credit card, you will be down to a hundred fifty, or even a hundred thousand dollars a year."

"I know, isn't that great?" Chloe giggled happily.

"W—W—Wait, don't you think that a hundred thousand dollars are too little?"

"No?" Chloe tilted her head. She didn't understand Vernon's concern and what made him react as if he had seen a ghost or something.

"I can save a lot of money and give Mackie a good life later! This is perfect!" Chloe said. She smiled again at Vernon, who was too shocked to react. He stood there like a statue— a tall and handsome statue at least.

Chloe walked towards Vernon again and tiptoed to hug him, "Thank you so much. I don't know how to thank you enough for your generosity."

Chloe was a little disappointed that she didn't get the one million from Vernon. But she felt that Vernon was just trying to scare her off. It was unreasonable to demand one million for the job that she did. She knew humility, maybe a little too much of humility, because Vincent really dragged her to the ground.

Besides, a million dollars a year for what she did might be too much. She was just an old woman doing a maid job… and another questionable thing…

Two hundred thousand dollars, Chloe already planned about staying for a year or two at least, saving enough and moving to a cheaper state with Mackie.

'Ah, I didn't know that Vernon could be this kind. What's with the ruckus before? Why would Diamond protest about this?' Chloe thought. 'Hopefully, Vernon will let me work for him for two years in the future.'