Chapter 5

Caleb's interrogation strangely overlapped with certain scenes from the past. I often had to attend social gatherings to secure clients back then, and whenever I dragged my fatigued body back to the apartment, Caleb would invariably be waiting for me in the living room. Caleb would scrutinize me and ask with a furrowed brow, "Why are you home so late again? You reek of alcohol! Did any of those old geezers bother you, Giselle?" I was blinded back then .I truly believed that was love and concern. I would even foolishly try to soothe his worries."I'm fine; I did it for the company. I just secured the deal; look at—" Caleb, however, would frequently brush aside the documents I offered, saying with clear irritation, "You should avoid attending those social gatherings whenever you can! I don't require you to rely on that kind of method to secure our deals!" Yet, the very next day, Caleb would be relentlessly pressing me for updates on project after project. It was only now that I finally realized that it had never been love, but a corrosive mixture of profound insecurity and vulgar possessiveness. Caleb simultaneously relied upon my skills to benefit his business and held my contributions in utter disdain, his greatest fear being my escape from his dominion. Caleb saw me as nothing more than his property—a loyal dog expected both to fetch his profits and grovel for his affection. Caleb's roar broke through my reverie. "I demand an answer, Giselle! How far have things gone between you two? Did he lay a hand on you?" I looked at Caleb, whose face was contorted with fury, feeling nothing but a chilling calm within me. I held his furious gaze and stated flatly, "You ought to know that who I dine with and what we talk about are entirely my business and no longer concern you, Caleb." "How is it none of my concern? You're holding on to shares from my company and meeting with my biggest competitor, Giselle! How dare you say that it's none of my concern!" Caleb bellowed. I corrected him, stating coldly, "You ought to remember that those are my shares; I paid for them with actual money and three years of my youth. Hank is a potential business partner of mine now. I'm a free agent, and I'm entitled to choose whomever I wish to work with." Caleb suddenly stepped forward. "You're a free agent? You've got to be kidding me! You'd better listen up, Giselle. As long as I'm around, I won't let you off so easily! You think you can just find another job, huh? I'll make sure everyone knows you're a backstabbing, washed-up slut—" I raised my hand and slapped him hard across the face, the loud report brought his cruel, hateful words to an abrupt halt. Caleb clutched his cheek with a look of utter disbelief, looking as though the thought of me ever hitting him had never crossed his mind. I pointed toward the door, issuing a final command without mercy. "That slap was merely a wake-up call for you, Caleb. You'd better get out of my house at once. Otherwise, I'd be happy to call security and let every one of your employees witness exactly what kind of monster their CEO is." Caleb held his stung cheek and glared at me in stunned silence, then let out a dismissive laugh. "I know what's going on here, Giselle! You're motivated purely by jealousy! You're jealous of my kindness to Winona, and jealous that she gets to be with me officially!" He seemed to have found the perfect excuse, and his tone became increasingly harsh. "You're just unwilling to let go, aren't you? "I'll give you that apartment in the south of the city and also a new car as long as you behave and don't cause me any trouble. I'll even make sure to visit you once a month to keep you company." I felt sick to my stomach as I listened to his condescending remarks. Even to this point, he still believed he could simply pay me off, regarding me as a mere appendage dependent on his benevolence. I cut him short, pointing to the door while saying, "You should put away those disgusting thoughts of yours, Caleb. You can take your apartment, your car, and your self-righteous charity…" I enunciated every syllable slowly and distinctly, continuing, "...and get the hell out of here! You should go as far away as you possibly can and disappear entirely from my life!"