Craving My Ruthless Ceo novel Chapter 113

Chapter 113

Anna’s POV

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They all flinched, even me. I felt the power in his voice, the authority rattling in my chest. I’d never seen him lose control like this in front of staff.

And damn me, it warmed my insides. He was terrifying and protective and overwhelming all at once.

“Mr. Blackwood, I apologize for speaking out of turn earlier, but believe my experience puts me in the best position to tell you…”

Fay’s eyes cut to me, venomous. “Anna is inexperienced. A wrong decision.”

Roman smirked before he stepped even closer to Fay, invading her space the way she’d invaded mine. “There’s a reason I’m the one running a multi-billion dollar company while you work for me, Fay. You don’t get to question my decisions. I’m never wrong.”

He paused, letting that sink in. “And you’re too proud and too threatened to learn from someone younger than you.”

He turned to face all of them, his presence filling every corner of the room. “Anna’s strategy is the future. You have two options. Fall in line and follow every word that comes out of her mouth, or see yourselves out of a job. Which is it?”

He turned back to Fay, eyes like ice. “What’s it going to be?”

“We’re truly sorry, Mr. Blackwood,” Sarah said quickly, desperately. Marcus nodded so hard I thought his head might fall off. “We promise to do better.”

“Don’t apologize to me.” Roman glared at them. “Apologize to Anna. You offended her.”

Sarah and Marcus practically tripped over themselves turning to me. “We’re so sorry, Anna. We were completely out of line. We’ll give you all the support you need. Whatever you need.”

Fay stood there, her chest heaving. The seconds dragged on. Finally, through gritted teeth, she spoke. “I apologize, dear Anna. As you wish.”

But Roman wasn’t done. “Let me be very clear.” He looked at each of them in turn. “You will never question Anna again. You will never belittle her. As long as this project exists, she is your superior. You do every task she assigns without question. Anna reports directly to me. If I hear just one complaint, I won’t just fire you.”

”

His lips curled into a dark grin. “I’ll make sure you can’t find work in this city for a very long time. Do you

“Yes, Mr. Blackwood,” they said in unison, terrified.

“Get out.” His voice dropped even lower. “Now.”

understand?”

As Fay, Sarah, and Marcus scrambled toward the door, Fay paused by my side, pretending to issue another apology.

“Enjoy it while it lasts,” she whispered, her voice so low only I could hear. “Success from a man’s bed never does.”

Then she was gone and the door clicked shut.

I stood there, speechless, her words echoing in my head. Success from a man’s bed. She thought I was in charge of this project because I was sleeping with him. That my ideas didn’t have merit.

Except I wasn’t. We hadn’t even…

I’d managed to avoid office drama my entire time at Blackwood Industries. I’d kept my head down, focused on Roman, on

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Chapter 113

my work. I didn’t gossip or get involved in politics. I was invisible except to him.

Now, after Roman had torn into them like that, Fay and her tear would spread rumors like wildfire.

I didn’t know what I felt. Grateful? Terrified? Both?

Roman moved closer. His presence filled the space between us, warm and overwhelming.

“Anna.”

I forced myself to look up at him. Those blue eyes studied my face, reading me the way he always did.

“Thank you,” I murmured softly. “For standing up for me.”

He arched his brow. “Anna.”

“What?”

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“Your mouth says one thing.” He tilted his head, his gaze intense But your expression tells me you’re not pleased.”

I needed to step away from his intoxicating masculine presence before I said something or did something stupid.

The way he defended me thrilled and turned me on in a way I didn’t want to admit.

“I’m…” I took a breath. “I’m pleased.”

It was both a lie and the truth. I didn’t know which.

“Hmmm.” Roman’s eyes narrowed. Then he reached out, his fingers brushing my arm. Just that light touch. “What’s wrong?”

I flinched like his touch burned.

Because it did. Electricity shot through me, made my skin tingle made heat spread through my body.

Roman noticed, the way he always did.

“Anna.” His voice dropped lower, softer.

“Come on. Talk to me.” He stepped closer. “Is there more that happened between you and Fay’s team? Tell me and I’ll handle it.”

I knew how to deal with cold, mean, and heartless Roman. That version of him I understood. I could keep my distance, maintain my walls.

But this Roman, the one ready to fight everyone for me, stirred up emotions I didn’t know how to navigate.

“It’s nothing.” I tried to step back. “Let’s just drop it.”

“Fuck, it’s not.” His hand caught my elbow, gentle but firm. “One moment. I’ll get to the bottom of this.”

He turned toward the door.

He was going to confront them again. I knew it, and that would only make everything worse.

“Mr. Blackwood, wait…”

He kept moving.

I stepped in front of him, blocking his path. My hand landed on his chest without thinking.

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