Desire and Virtue-Series One

Things go wonderfully right or horribly wrong

It's Saturday morning, and Duke is making a lot of noise, trying to get his stuff out the house. Chloe woke up, rubbing her eyes, and her hair, all kinds of messy. "Babe, I thought you didn't leave until eleven (am)," she questioned. "I don't, but I have to go pick up something from my brother down north before I leave," Duke replied while dragging his carry-on suitcase out the door. "Ohh, so you're leaving now," Chloe paused with her hands on her hips, "You weren't going to tell me goodbye," she continued. Duke immediately stopped what he was doing and walked up to his wife. His arms wrapped around her small waist and gently reaching to squeeze her butt, he replied, "I would have never left without saying goodbye babe, I didn't want to wake you yet because I know you had a hell of a night last night." Chloe blushed as she leaned in to kiss him and said, "I wouldn't have mind if you woke me up though, I could have helped you get stuff in the car and ensure that you get everything." Duke kissed her again and said, "Well, I have a few more stuff upstairs you can help me with those, and you can triple check me if you like." Chloe shook her head in agreement and proceeded to go upstairs. However, she suddenly remembered something; she stopped herself and turned around to Duke who had already gone back to pulling his suitcase.
"You know I didn't appreciate you talking about me with Ria," Chloe said sharply. Duke froze, and looked down to the ground before turning around. "Babe, I'm sorry; she's your best-friend and she knows almost everything if not everything about you and I was growing concerned," he said with a despairing look in his eyes. "But Duke, I'm your wife, you could talk to me about anything, literally anything, you know that!" Chloe screeched. Duke stood there lost for words until he replied, "I'm so sorry babe, you're right." Chloe saw the sorrowful look on his face and realized that he really didn't mean any harm. "That better not happen again okay," Chloe concluded. "It won't," replied Duke, sounding relieved that she wasn't more heated than she was.

Later that day, Chloe went to drop Ria back home. "I can come over some nights if you like," Ria suggested. "You know fashion week is going to have me busy all day, for the entire week right, and Duke would be back on early on Wednesday; I'll be fine," Chloe replied in a rude tone. "Damn, don't gotta be so loud," Ria said, "Some company at night won't hurt." "You don't even have a car to get up here after work Ria, how is that going to work out for ya?" Chloe replied, annoyed. "You know what, I'm just being caring, but since you're gonna behave like that, it's fine, I'll give you your space," Ria exclaimed. Chloe looked over at Ria, realizing that she might have come on too strong, but she just sat quietly for the rest of the drive.

'Buzz, Buzz!" Chloe phone went off; "Hey, Dexter was telling me about the extra backdrops at Backdropsource, they just got in at the courier company, can you collect them?" Nigel questioned. "I'm downstairs and my mechanic just dropped me here and took the car," Chloe replied. "Oh my, alright, come on up, we'll work something out," Nigel said.
When Chloe entered the building she went straight to her boss's office. "I'm sorry boss, wish you had called earlier," Chloe stuttered. "It happens, but that's okay, something will work-out, and maybe I can send someone else," Nigel assured her. Chloe had an unsettled and disappointed look on her face, but then left his office to go to her desk.

"Psttttt, Chloe," Lex called. Chloe looked in Lex's direction and said, "What?"
He signaled for her to come over, but then got up from his seat in a rush and came to her instead. "Girl, tomorrow is the deadline to send in your application for assistant manager, what you doing?" questioned Lex. "Boy, I'm not sure I want to, that's just gonna add more work to my plate," Chloe said with a concerned look on her face. "Girl, listen, there is no one in here more deserving of that position than you or Shana," Lex lectured Chloe. "Oh come on Lex you're gonna sit there and tell me, you don't deserve it too, you're here lecturing me, did you even apply?" questioned Chloe. Lex looked down and chuckled, "I didn't come over here to talk about me, but yea I did, but you know a little competition is good sometimes." Chloe laughed, "But seriously Lex, it's gonna be a heavy load, I don't know if I can handle it."
"You can handle anything Nigel throw at you girl, I've never seen anyone do it better," Lex said with confidence. "You're just saying that," Chloe smirked. Before Lex could respond, Chloe heard her work phone beep, it was Nigel requesting her in the office. "Ohh, and speak about the devil," Lex said, while looking at the phone. "Yea, I got to go," Chloe rushed.
"Yes boss," Chloe said, as she opened his office door. "Come in, I've made some arrangements to have the backdrop pieces collected," Nigel remarked. He continued, "Are you doing anything now? Dexter would be here soon, so he could carry you to get them."
Chloe paused a bit, "No I'm free, and that's okay," she responded. "Great, next time I page you, that's your cue to go down," Nigel said, while shuffling a bunch of files on his desk. "Oh, and you don't need to come back to work, go straight to the warehouse and get things organized, so you should probably carry your all your stuff," he added. "Right!" Chloe agreed. "More work again huh?" Lex questioned as he passed Chloe on the way back to his desk from the water cooler. Chloe looked at him sharply, "You know it!" "Amma head out though, see you on set!" Chloe said, while waiting on Lex for a response. "Yea sure," he replied.