billion book
Chapter 39
Everyone thought Chloe was just making a last-ditch effort to avoid embarrassment. It was obvious she was at her limit.
Getting the ball in the hole in four strokes on a golf course was considered pro-level. Three strokes was called a birdie and was already impressive. Two strokes, known as an eagle, was the mark of top athletes. A hole-in-one? That was rarer than winning the lottery—practically impossible.
Chloe stood at the tee, lifted her golf club high, and swung with all her might. The ball soared through the air, tracing a high arc straight towards the green.
Everyone rushed to the green. Devon was the first to get there. When he saw no ball on the green, he searched in disbelief before it dawned on him to check the hole. Sure enough, he found Chloe’s golf ball nestled inside.
Devon froze for a half-second, then excitedly raised the ball, shouting, “A hole-in-one! Ms. Chloe got a hole-in-one!” He looked even happier than if he’d made the shot himself.
Everyone was stunned. This seemingly delicate Ms. Chloe had scored a hole-in-one. For professional players, it was something that might've happened once in 20,000 shots. It required absolute skill and a hefty dose of luck.
The expressions on the faces of the guys watching Chloe shifted from amusement to admiration. News of Chloe’s hole-in-one spread quickly across the entire course. More and more people came to see her since a hole-in-one was a rare sight. Many even wanted a photo with Chloe.
According to tradition, scoring a hole-in-one meant giving generous tips to the caddies and staff. Chloe seemed well-prepared and had a bunch of envelopes in her sports backpack. She instructed the caddies to distribute them. Everyone was amazed.
“Ms. Chloe came prepared.”
“It looks like her three-stroke play was just her tricks.”
“Mr. Connor, you’ve got to admit, Ms. Chloe really had you figured out.”
“But where did Ms. Chloe learn? Could it really be her skill that got her that hole-in-one?”
Why would she have the envelopes ready in advance if she wasn’t fully confident?
Chloe casually responded to the surrounding crowd, then looked at Connor. “Mr. Connor, you should keep your promise now, right?”
Connor replied coolly, “I only said we’d talk if you won. I never agreed to give you an interview if you did.” Content from NôvelDr(a)ma.Org.
Chloe’s face stiffened. She was reminded of those intimate moments when he would promise it was the last time, but then, while holding her in the shower, he’d cheekily claim he never said that. As these thoughts flickered through her mind, her cheeks involuntarily flushed. Those around her thought she was flushed with anger and began to speak up in her defense.
“Mr. Connor, that’s not very gentlemanly, picking on a young lady like that.”
“A bet’s a bet, man. It’s just an interview.”
“Exactly, we know you're better than this, Mr. Connor.”
Watching the crowd rally around Chloe as if they were her knights in shining armor, Connor felt a surge of irritation. He said coldly, “I despise manipulative people the most.” He gave a warning look to his childhood friends and buddies around Chloe. “If any of you want to play her knight in shining armor, I’m gonna cut ties.”
The crowd watched Connor with a mix of surprise and fear. Though known as the King of Eldridge, Connor was usually faultless toward his friends—like gathering them for this significant project to share the benefits. The fact that he would say such things over a woman was unexpected.