Intrigued by the CEO: Paranoid Obsessions

Logan’s gaze dimmed, his face even paler than when he had the attack. “Your hand…”

“It’s nothing, just a minor injury.”

Logan didn’t say anything.

After a moment, he spoke again. “I should go.”

“Okay.”

“Oh, by the way, if you’re willing, I’d like to hear what they’re talking about,” Logan said, turning back at the door. “I’m curious to know what kind of woman Fiona really is.” There was no warmth in his tone when he said this, only coldness.

Harper looked at him in astonishment, unsure whether to agree or not.

Seeing her hesitation, Logan didn’t say anything further. “I’ll call you again,”

“Okay,” Harper nodded, “I’ll get your phone back.”

Logan nodded and left.

Watching him disappear at the door, Harper blinked, her eyes filled with confusion. She found it strange that Logan would talk about Fiona with such coldness, as if he didn’t love her at all…

Waiting until dusk, she left the room and found the same waiter Logan had spoken to earlier, retrieving the phone. The eavesdropping plan was executed seamlessly. Now all she had to do was listen to what was said.

Back at the apartment, she pushed open the door and found it quiet inside.

“I’m back,” Harper called out, changing into her slippers in the entrance.

Her voice echoed in the quiet air, but there was no response. Wasn’t Blaze supposed to come out and scold her for coming home late ?

Harper paused for a moment, then walked inside. The living room was a mess, furniture overturned, tea sets shattered on the floor, as if it had been ransacked. She frowned. Did Blaze throw another tantrum?

“Ring ring ring…” The landline phone suddenly rang.

Harper put down her backpack and picked up the receiver, “Hello?”

“Miss Shaw, you’re finally home safely,” Dylan breathed a sigh of relief on the other end. “Where did you go? Master sent us everywhere looking for you.”

“Looking for me? I told him I was just out for a drive today.”

“Then why did you turn off your phone? Master couldn’t reach you, and he was really worried,” Dylan asked.

Harper held the receiver with one hand and took out her phone with the other. It was dead.

“I didn’t realize my phone was dead.”

“As long as you’re home safe. Master will get off the plane in about three hours. Remember to call him,” Dylan reminded her.

“Off the plane? Where did he go?”

Dylan quickly explained the situation, “Master had some business back in England, and I’m heading back to the castle to take care of some things.”

“For how many days is he gone?”

“At least a week.”

At least a week… Harper’s eyes brightened, her heart started pounding vigorously. A week, which meant she was free for the whole week? No more being tied to him 24/7? Lady Luck was finally smiling upon her!

Harper couldn’t contain her joy, keeping up a pretense of normalcy, she said, “Got it.”

“Miss Shaw, remember, make sure to call Master proactively. Remember that!” Dylan reiterated.

“Yeah yeah, got it,” Harper replied repeatedly, then hung up the phone.

She happily jumped up, plopping down heavily on the nearby sofa. She was ecstatic. A week, Blaze gone for a week. Fantastic. Freedom, she finally had it, even if just for a week.

Harper leaned back, hands forming a megaphone as she shouted into the quiet living room, “Freedom! Here I come!”

Harper joyfully rolled around on the sofa, when suddenly her gaze fell on a piece of A4 paper on the coffee table.

A note from Blaze before he left.

[Harper, you dare not answer my calls? I have to resort to handwriting. You’re in big trouble when I get back! Remember, I’ll be gone for a week. You better stay put at home. Here are the rules:

First, don’t touch water until your hand heals, stay out of the kitchen. I’ll have Dylan send some maids over.

Second, while I’m away, no eye contact, conversation, or physical interaction with any man, including Dylan. He’s been sent back to the castle.

Third, no frequent outings, focus on your painting at home.

Fourth, keep your phone on! Answer my calls! Only my calls!

If you can’t follow these four rules, then be prepared for me to deal with you!]

Harper looked at the note, the handwriting revealing the intensity of Blaze’s message. She was speechless for a long time. Did he have to be this controlling? Planning everything out even when he’s not around. He even forbid her from going out frequently. Why didn’t he just put a leash around her neck and keep her indoors?

This wasn’t love, it was like treating her as a pet dog.

Harper sighed, feeling a bit annoyed.

Her gaze fell on the bag beside her, and then she remembered she hadn’t yet listened to Fiona’s secret.

Harper grabbed her backpack and phone and headed to the study. She powered up all three screens and suddenly realized that the content she wanted to eavesdrop on was on Logan’s phone, and she had no idea how to connect it to the computer in front of her. Blaze had always set things up for her, and she couldn’t understand it at all, let alone do it herself…

She’d been too caught up in the joy of Blaze’s departure, reveling in her newfound freedom. But without Blaze, she couldn’t hear what Logan’s phone has eavesdropped on…

Harper stood there deflated, thinking she’d have to wait until Blaze got off the plane to call him and ask. But Blaze was so suspicious; he’d probably interrogate her again… That paranoid guy… She found her feelings toward Blaze were truly complicated.

Just as she was thinking this, her phone vibrated, displaying an unfamiliar number. “Hello?”

“It’s me,” Logan’s gentle voice sounded in her ear. “That phone you have is my usual one, and I have a few calls to make. Could you bring it out for me? I’m at the main elevator of building A.”

“Oh, okay,” Harper said as she opened her backpack, taking out Logan’s phone. Her eyes scanned the three screens, and a thought struck her…

“Logan, do you know anything about computer programs?”

…

Ten minutes later, the doorbell rang.

Logan stood outside, dressed casually. Compared to when he was sick during the day, his complexion was much better now.

“Please come in.”

Logan stepped in, his gaze falling on the shoe rack beside him. There sat a pair of men’s slippers, obviously matching the ones Harper was wearing. His gaze dimmed.

Following his gaze, Harper thought he wanted to change his shoes and said, “You don’t need to change shoes, just come on in.”

“Is it really okay for me to come in like this?” Logan asked. This was the place where Harper and Blaze lived together… His hand by his side clenched into a fist.

“You’re just here to help me with the computer, why not?” Harper said calmly.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

Logan nodded and walked in, feeling gloomy. She said, just here to help with the computer… Did she see him as some kind of computer repairman? Inviting him into the house she shared with another man, she didn’t seem uncomfortable at all… Had he become completely insignificant to her?

Harper invited Logan into the study and pointed at the computer. “It’s right here. I don’t know how to connect the content from your phone to this computer. I remember Blaze did it pretty quickly, but I don’t remember how.”

“I’ll give it a try.”

“Alright, take your time. I’ll go get you a glass of water,” Harper said, turning to leave.

Logan stood there, gazing around the study…

White desk and chairs, walls painted in a pastoral color, a stack of papers on the desk, and a closed laptop, pens of all kinds in the holder… She created her comics in this kind of environment. Creating her favorite comics next to another man…

Harper returned with a glass of water, asking eagerly, “How’s it going? Did you figure it out?”

“No problem.” He couldn’t fix a virus program, but connecting a computer was doable.

Logan plugged in the flash drive and tapped away on the keyboard.

“It’s done.”

“Really?” Harper exclaimed, leaning in. “Play it for me.”

The recording started with Logan asking the waitress for help, their conversation unfolding.

Harper glanced at the time.

“Are you in a hurry?” Logan noticed her gesture.

“No, I just need to make a call to Blaze,” Harper blurted out, thinking if she didn’t call him first, that paranoid guy would definitely get agitated…

Logan’s expression darkened. “So, you’re really close with him…”