Bitter & Sweet
The Part 76

Apparently, Chloe's close relationship with Harold attracted the attention of almost every member of the McLean family.

In fact, come to think of it, it is not too surprising, considering Harold who is a sole heir to a giant business, then close contact with Chloe who is just an ordinary person.

Chloe then explains to Maddison what she has to do with Harold, so Chloe can get along with him.

And Maddison, listening to Chloe's explanation, seemed to understand.

"In that case, it would not be wrong if we trusted you. Son of Gunther alone, do not hesitate to befriend you," chirped Maddison, nodding his head.

"What's so great about Gunther's, when compared to McLean's?" matteo asked, looking curious.

Maddison glanced at Chloe with a smile. "Just like ... Matteo doesn't understand the family business."

Maddison's words to Chloe, who was mocking Matteo, only made Matteo look upset, until he said in a high voice.

"Mommy!"

"Pffit...!" Maddison laughed restrainedly, then explained his potency to Matteo, saying,

"Gunther's business wing, as big as McLean's. In fact, Gunther's might be even bigger....

... Because Harold, although still very young, but dare to explore business in a new field."

Maddison looked towards Chloe, then said,

"Have you heard that Harold is planning to make Gunther's master of the retail business? ... Harold's the one who took the decision to acquire Sunny Corp."

"Hm ... Harold didn't say anything about it to me, Madam," Chloe said, to be honest.

"Look over there!" maddison said, pointing to Harold's parents, who appeared to be talking to the President of JT Corp.

"JT Corp is now quite wary, because of the presence of the figure of Harold who has the ambition to monopolize the business.." continued Maddison, while smiling himself.

According to Chloe, Maddison couldn't possibly have lied to her.

So, even though Chloe is proud of Harold, Chloe also thought about how the fate of JT Corp, if Harold managed to shake the business in that field.

Chances are, Chloe could only work for a while at JT Corp, if the company was displaced due to the movement of Gunther Corp.

"It sucks!" chirped Matteo suddenly, and looked annoyed. "I'm the only one who doesn't understand what you're talking about."

Maddison smiled broadly, then seemed to embrace Matteo affectionately, saying,

"Honey...! No need to be disappointed ... You are great in your field. Of course you can't compare things that aren't the same."

Not long after, David and Harold were seen coming over, then immediately greeted each other with Maddison, with a big smile.

"Hi, aunty!"

"Hi, Madame!"

"Australia! ... Harald Gunther ... Is it okay if I talk informally?"

"Of course, Madam!" harold replied, smiling. "I don't mind."

"Okay!" sahut Maddison, the mangosteen understood, then looked like a jerk, and continued saying, Manggut-beard understood, then seemed like a jerk,

"Hm ... Forgive me ... But I forgot that Matteo asked his Grandpa to play his piano."

"Oh! ... Please Madam!" harold's voice, precedes the words of the others.

"Mom!" said Matteo who looks reluctant.

"Mattel...! You certainly don't want to upset your Grandpa, do you?!" sahut Maddison, looks pushy.

Although he seemed unwilling, and put on a sullen face, Matteo still followed Maddison's steps, away from it.

"Matteo is talented in music?" Harold looked astonished.

"Yes" David answered, raising both eyebrows. "Didn't you know? Matteo is a famous composer."

"So, huh?!" harold said, then nodded his head.

"Do you still enjoy listening to classical music on a black plate?" ask Chloe to Harold.

"Yes ... My collection is now more and more," replied Harold, who seemed eager to convey his favorite.

"There's nothing wrong if you try to listen to some songs composed by Matteo" Chloe said, advising Harold.

"Okay!" harold said, sounding without burden. "I'll look for him later."

"It seems, you two are indeed in close contact, until you can know each other's likes" said David.

"Ugh?" Chloe's confused.

"Said Harold, you love reading comics for young children, and are totally interested in romance novels." David seemed to want to explain his point to Chloe.

"So he said, don't be surprised if you don't understand romantic things" David continued, smiling mockingly, and almost laughing.

Chloe swerved, then shook her head. "What are you and Harold talking about?"

Raising her eyes, Chloe looked at Harold and said in a high voice. "Harld...!"

Harold then smiled strangely, as if he felt misbehaved, as David leaked out their conversation earlier. "I'm sorry...."

"But I think it's time for you to find a partner. Our other friends, on average, have families," Harold continued, looking to convince Chloe.

Chloe shook her head. "Do you have a lover?"

"Ughhh! ... Oh! ... Not yet.." replied Harold, stumbling and blushing in shame.

"See! ... You're the same!" chloe said, smiling with satisfaction.

***

After a while has passed, Chloe who is engrossed in casual conversation with Harold and David, then approached by Nathan.

"Hi, Chloe!" greet Nathan, then look towards David and Harold alternately. "Australia! ... Mister Harold Gunther!"

"Hi, Sir!" Chloe, Harold, and David, simultaneously return Nathan's greeting.

"I'm sorry, if it might just bother you. But, ... can I borrow Chloe for a second?" nathan said, looking at David and Harold.

"Oh! ... Please, Sir!" harold said, while David seemed to nod in agreement.

"Cloe!" Nathan looked back at Chloe. "Can you come with me?"

Chloe nodded. "Yes, Sir!"

Without lingering any longer, Chloe immediately followed Nathan's steps leading her away, from the other invited guests.

Nathan invites Chloe to sit on a bench, and Nathan sits face to face with Chloe.

"How are you?" nathan asked, even though it just sounded like he was having a good time. Chloe responded by saying, Chloe,

"I'm fine, sir!"

"Hm ... I've heard all about you and your work under Matthew. And I feel guilty. Maybe I shouldn't have made you a personal assistant to him....

"The sir! ... You don't have to think about it...." Chloe felt guilty as she heard Nathan's tone of voice speak, and saw Nathan's expression.

"You and your family, very kind to me. But, I want to try new experiences" continued Chloe, trying to give understanding to Nathan.

"Matthew is too stubborn...." Like a troubled man, Nathan seemed to take a deep breath, then exhale slowly.

"Although I'm his daddy, but he still respects his Grandpa more."

When Nathan finished his sentence, suddenly Matthew's voice said,

"Daddy talk about something bad about me behind my back?"

Suddenly, the tone of voice rising from Matthew, immediately attracted the attention of Chloe and Nathan, to look towards the arrival of the voice simultaneously.

From the look on his face, Matthew looks so upset, that he appears to be hardening his jaw, while looking at Chloe and Nathan with his eyebrows furrowing deeply.

Meanwhile, Judy, who was struggling in one of Matthew's arms, looked like a confused person, and just fell silent looking at Chloe and Nathan alternately.

I don't know what's going on in there, Chloe doesn't pay much attention to her surroundings.

To be sure, for a while later, before Nathan responded to Matthew's anger, there were already many people gathered.

Matteo, Maddison, David, and Harold, appear to be approaching the place where Chloe and Nathan are having a slight confrontation with Matthew, who is accompanied by Judy.

The situation became more awkward, because all who were there just fell silent, and looked at each other.

Finally, Harold broke the silence by saying,

"I'm sorry ... But I want to invite Chloe to go with me. My parents want to see him."

Chloe then looks at the mark Harold made with the movement of his eyes, as if he was gesturing to Chloe that something was up, and Chloe should get away from it immediately.

So, even though everyone there looked confused, Chloe agreed with Harold's invitation.

"I'm sorry ... Excuse me!" chloe said, looking one by one at the members of the McLean family, and Judy.

Nathan and Maddison, as well as David, are seen nodding in agreement, while the rest appear to be silent and not responding to anything.

Without lingering, Harold then took Chloe away, whispering, saying,

"I'm sorry ... But I think that's the most reasonable reason, so you don't get caught up in the tension between the McLean family."

"But I mean it, too, that my parents want to see you," Harold continued hurriedly, before Chloe could respond to his earlier words.

"It's okay ... I'm just grateful, because you helped me out" Chloe said.

"Hm ... The woman who was with Matthew, was she Matthew's lover?" harold asked, sounding cautious.

"All I know is, Mister Matthew did date her" Chloe replied. "Why are you asking me that?"

"It's okay ... Just want to know. Because what I heard, Matthew already has someone he wants to marry—"

It seemed, there was still something Harold wanted to say to Chloe, but he stopped his words just like that, as they had already come face to face with Harold's parents.

"Mom! ... Dad! ... She's Chloe! ... My old college friend." Harold introduces Chloe to his parents.

Mister and Mistress Gunther smiled widely, then greeted Chloe in turn.

"Hi, Miss Fern!"

"Hi, Sir! ... Madame!" chloe said, greeting back with a smile.

Harold looked puzzled, while Mistress Gunther almost laughed, then said,

"We know each other. Mommy and daddy have met him several times ... We just don't know if you're going to university."

It didn't take long, Chloe, Harold and Harold's two parents, were already immersed in their conversation, sitting face to face.

Starting from the conversation about Harold's friendship with Chloe while in college, to talk about the Gunther family business.

"Is Miss Fern not interested in working with Harold?" ask Mister Gunther.

"Hm ... To be honest, I just found out that Harold has been working for Gunther Corp. So, I haven't thought about working with him, sir...."

After Chloe answered the question from Mister Gunther, the two old men looked beardy as if they understood.

"I've invited him to join Gunther Corp. But, ... Chloe might not be sure, if this friend of hers is working well," Harold said, as if discussing a third person.

So, Chloe and Mister and Mistress Gunther both smiled broadly, and almost laughed at it.

"It's not like that ... I just haven't thought about it yet" said Chloe.

"Hm ... Both of you are very young. But, ... I can brag about my son, right?!" mister Gunther said, staring at Chloe.

Chloe smiled and nodded her head, until Mister Gunther then continued to say,

"Now! ... I think both of you are very young. You are dreamers, and hard workers. If you two work together, then you two will be an influential couple in the business."

"It would have been better if Harold had been able to marry Miss Fern" Mistress Gunther said hurriedly chiming in, smiling broadly and looking at Harold and Chloe alternately.

"Mommy!" harold said, shaking his head.

"What's wrong?" mistress Gunther asked, then seemed to want to get a justification from her husband. "Are you, honey?"

And as if he was unwilling to make his wife angry, Mister Gunther seemed to be smiling clumsily, and nodded his head.

Seeing the gurgle of Mister and Mistress Gunther, Chloe could barely hold back her laughter anymore.

"Miss Fern! ... Harold I've arranged for a blind date. But she always rejected my chosen woman, arguing she didn't want to date a woman she didn't know....

... If only I knew that Miss Fern was good friends with her, then I would have arranged a date for both of you" Mistress Gunther said, putting on a serious expression.

"Mom...!" harold said, looking bad. "Chelle! ... Forgive my mommy ... He must've just made you feel uncomfortable."

"Harld! ... Until when, you will just be busy with work? Mommy wants to hold Grandson!" Mistress Gunther seemed unwilling to lose.

"Honey...! Let them make the choice...." Mister Gunther seemed to be trying to persuade his wife, speaking slowly and sounding cautious.

"We cannot impose our will on them ... What if Miss Fern already has a lover?" continued Mister Gunther, giving understanding to Mistress Gunther.

"Hmmm...." Mistress Gunther muttered as if she was thinking about something, then looked at Chloe fixedly, then said,

"Does Miss Fern have a lover? If not, would Miss Fern be dating my son Harold?"

"Oh, gosh! ... Mama!" harold said with a raised voice, looking frustrated. "Would mommy stop talking about it? That discussion's alluding to Chloe's privacy."

Although Mistress Gunther seemed annoyed that Harold was constantly obstructing her desires, but the woman seemed to understand.

As a result, Mistress Gunther finally just fell silent, and did not bring up about dating that again.

Even from the look on her face, Mistress Gunther looked sad, as if she felt guilty for talking too much, and no one defended her.

And Harold seemed to have realized that, until he then said,

"Mom...! I'm sorry ... But I'll talk to Chloe about it. Whether she wants to date me, or we date someone else, mommy doesn't have to worry about her."