BXBX NOVEL 194 Chapter 194
"No, I think I've gained enough clarity to know that she's not a gold digger. But I want to ask you about the abuse she experienced," Vernon said.
Diamond gasped again. She didn't expect this dumbass to start questioning the abuse that Chloe experienced.
Diamond barely scratched the surface of what kind of painful abuse Chloe had from her ex-husband, and she already thought it was excessive how bad Vincent abused her.
But Chloe never wanted to tell the whole story because it was too traumatic to even remember.
Vernon noticed that Diamond's eyes were fully focused when he mentioned the abuse experienced by Chloe.
Vernon knew that Diamond and Chloe were close friends despite only knowing each other for the past few months. Thus, seeing her reaction, Vernon confirmed that Chloe truly got abused by his Big brother.
'She must've told Diamond about it, but why does she refuse to tell me? They only know each other because of me, and I'm not allowed to know?' Vernon thought. He started to get jealous and annoyed by this newfound fact. 'Obviously, I've known her since I was a seven-year-old kid, does she not appreciate that?'
Vernon's gaze visibly darkened, and his expression changed from annoyance to contempt, which was weird for Diamond because they hadn't talked about anything yet.
"Diamond, about the abuse experienced by Chloe... you know something about it, right?"
...
"Yes, Sir. I know a few things," Diamond replied, not covering that she just knew a few things about the abuse.
"Tell me then, tell me everything that you know about it," Vernon ordered.
...
Diamond remembered the warning that Chloe gave to her this noon.
She didn't want anyone to know about it because she deemed it shameful. She went as far as gathering courage, for a meek woman who had been awfully abused, to gather courage meant that she was hiding something so painful.
Thus, Diamond started considering whether Vernon was worthy of knowing the truth.
"Sir, why did you ask me? Why didn't you ask her instead? She lives with you," Diamond asked back.
Vernon wasn't ready to hear such a question. He didn't want to admit that he actually made Chloe cry twice-- or probably more than twice not long ago.
"Why do you need to interrogate me? I'm giving you an order-- as your boss-- that you must tell me everything that you know about Chloe," Vernon raised his voice. He used the same intimidation tactic that he used daily. Since Diamond was his subordinate, he thought he had full control over her.
"Do you not realize that I am the one who paid you to work? I can fire you, and I'm also capable of firing your family from their workplaces.
Diamond was scared, of course. She was facing a man with the surname Gray. She knew how powerful he was, and she was now playing with fire.
Usually, when her boss started to get impatient when she questioned his method of dealing with a business obstacle-- he would threaten her. It was most effective because Vernon had a power that could ruin her and her family's livelihood.
However, Diamond didn't feel fear right now. Her heart was filled with a firm belief that Chloe deserved a man who would love her with a gentle, healing touch to mend her broken heart. Not a-- cruel monster like her ex-husband, or this man in front of Diamond, trying to intimidate and force her to speak.
As if she had gotten the courage from Chloe, she shook her head firmly, refusing to tell her boss about the abuse Chloe experienced, "I cannot tell you about what Chloe had experienced, Sir."
Vernon's veins popped into his temples immediately. He wasn't a gentleman, to begin with, and he held back a lot in front of Chloe because seeing her cry crumbled his soul immediately.
But Chloe wasn't here, so he didn't hesitate to snap at Diamond. He got up from the sofa to show his intimidating figure and pointed at Diamond with his index;
"I am giving you the last chance, Diamond. Tell me what do you know about Chloe, or I won't be nice after this," Vernon threatened.
Diamond clenched her fist, 'Chloe--Homegirl-- please send me your courage. I'm doing this because I know you deserve a good man, not a temperamental asshole like him.'
Vernon's sight blurred for a second. He kicked the coffee table in front of him until it flipped.
The glass of the coffee table shattered on the floor, scaring Diamond even more. This would be the first time her boss exploded in front of her.
"YOU DARE TO OPPOSE ME?! I CAN RUIN YOUR LIFE, DIAMOND!"
"I--I DARE!" Diamond yelled back, betting on her life with this one. They were shouting at each other, and none wanted to back off. "IF YOU WANT TO KNOW ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO CHLOE, THEN YOU MUST ASK HER BY YOURSELF!"
"SHE DOESN'T WANT TO TELL ME! SHE FUCKING SHUT HER MOUTH WHEN I ASKED!" Vernon yelled back out of frustration.
Vernon was tired of yelling, he didn't know how Diamond got the courage to fight him, but he knew that he couldn't get a thing out of Diamond's mouth.
"Urgh, why did she tell you everything, while she didn't tell me a thing? Obviously, I've known her since I was seven-year-old. She should be open to everything to me!" Vernon threw a tantrum like a kid. He was frustrated and angry but also feeling guilty at the same time.
Diamond was catching her breath after extorting so much courage. Her heart was beating wildly. It was surely something that she didn't expect herself to do.
But it felt good to be able to deny her malicious boss for once, thanks for the courage that Chloe sent for her.
"Why don't you fucking tell me, Diamond? I just want to know what happened while I was out for ten years, so I can do something to protect her!"