Craving My Ruthless Ceo novel Chapter 12

Chapter 12

ROMAN’S POV

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Anna’s face turned red. The color moved from her neck up to her cheeks. Her eyes glistened and I could see her fighting back tears.

She is going to cry. Damn it.

But she did not. Instead, she straightened her spine and folded her arms across her chest.

“No.” Her voice shook, but the way she stood made it clear she meant it. “I will not.”

My eyes narrowed. “Anna.”

“Since you think I am such a…” She paused. I watched her swallow hard. “Since you think I would sell what happened between us to the first blog that asks. I better take my chances with them.” Her chin lifted. “I am guessing they would pay better than you anyway”

Heat exploded in my chest. Did she just threaten me?

I rose slowly. I wanted her to feel how large I was compared to her. She looked small near my desk, her frame tense, arms locked across her body. I placed my hands flat on the desk and leaned toward her.

“Anna.” My voice dropped low. “Do not make this more difficult than it is.”

I nudged the pen toward her with one finger, keeping my eyes on her.

“You do not get to decide. Sign it.”

She did not move away. Instead, she stepped closer and leaned against the edge of my desk. It brought her so near I could have touched her without taking a step. Her eyes were bright, full of fire I had never seen in her before. It made her impossibly pretty.

Her lips were wet from where she had nervously licked them. Slightly parted. All I could think about was how they had. tasted last night. How soft they had been. How eagerly she had responded when I showed her how to kiss properly.

Kiss her. Grab her. Make her understand.

No. Control yourself.

“And what would you do if I do not, Mr. Blackwood?” She tilted her head, challenging me. “Tie me to a chair and force my hand to sign it?”

The images her words created were immediate and vivid. Her tied to my chair. Her wrists bound. Her body at my mercy while 1….

Get a grip.

She had no idea. No idea what I was capable of. The thought of her tied up and helpless made me hard despite my anger. I wanted to show her exactly what kind of man she was dealing with.

The rage and arousal mixed together, stirring up a dark hunger inside me.

“Do not provoke me.” I lowered my voice. Threatening.

She took a step back. For a moment, uncertainty flashed in her eyes. Recognition of how serious I was.

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15.47 FM, Jan 23 GG.

Chapter 12

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Then her lips curved into a mischievous smile and she straightened, pulling away from the desk. I watched every movement. Watched her hand reach for the NDA, and for one brief second I thought she would actually sign it.

That she would be smart and take the money I was offering.

Instead, her fingers closed around the document.

And she ripped it.

The tearing sound filled the room. She tore the pages in half. Then she tore the halves again. Her eyes stayed on me the entire time, bright with hurt, anger, and wild courage.

Then she threw the pieces at my face. Paper brushed my check and fell onto the desk. For a moment, I could not move. Could not breathe. No one had ever dared disrespect me like that.

Heat flooded my veins. My hands clenched into fists at my sides Every muscle in my body pushed me to make her pay for this.

But I held myself back

She was young, innocent, and hurt. That explained her irrational behavior.

1 was going to give her one last chance to make this right.

Do you have any idea what you have just done?” My voice came out harsh.

She stared at me, still unapologetic. “I just said no to you.”

“Little what? Finish it.” Her voice rose. “Little girl? Little assistant Little whore like your little paper tried to describe me?”

I gritted my teeth, fighting back emotions that were close to exploding.

“You do not understand who you are standing against.”

“Oh, I understand.” She stepped back, her hands trembling even though her voice grew stronger. “You are Roman Blackwood. You are used to people doing whatever you want. You snap your fingers and the whole world jumps for you.”

She clapped once. Mocking me.

“That is how it works, right?” She took another small step back. Tell me, is it so hard to imagine someone refusing you? Has anyone ever told you no in your entire life, Mr. Blackwood?”

My breathing picked up. She was actually challenging me in my office, without any fear.

“Wait.” She held up one finger. Tilted her head like she was thinking. “Let me guess the answer.”

Silence.

“No.”

Who was this woman?

This was not the shy, nervous assistant who could barely look me in the eye during meetings. The one who stammered through presentations and hid behind oversized clothes and thick–rimmed glasses.

This was someone entirely different.

“Anna.”

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15:47 Fri, Jan 23 DGG.

Chapter 12

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She lifted her chin. “I am not going to jump Her arms folded across her chest. Her breath shook, but she kept standing tall. “You want me to sign that paper? Take your money? Become one of those women you pay off? I am not that cheap. And I will not let you treat me like I am”

I moved around the desk, anger coursing through me. She did got back away.

“Do you have any idea what I could do to you?” I stepped closer and towered over her. “Your career? Your life?”

Fear crossed her face for a moment.

Then it changed.

Tears.

They filled her eyes and spilled onto her cheeks. She looked up at me with hurt covering her entire expression. Disappointment. It made my chest ache.

“Go ahead.” Her voice broke. “Do whatever you want to me. Fire me. Ruin me. Blacklist me. It does not matter anymore.”

She was shaking now. Her whole body trembled as she wiped the tears that fell.

“You know what your problem is?” Her voice got stronger. Louder. “Men like you think you can treat women like garbage and get away with it. You think because you have money and power that you can use people and throw them away when you are done.”

Fury burned through me. I wanted to punish her for this disrespect. But underneath the anger was admiration.

She was putting me in my place, something no one else had ever dared to do.

I wanted her more in that moment than I had ever wanted anything in my life.

And that terrified me. So I fought back the only way I knew, by acting like my heart was made of stone and I had no emotions.

I grabbed her wrist.

She gasped. Her eyes went wide as I pulled her closer.

“You have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Don’t I?” She tried to yank her hand back, but I held firm. “Then prove me wrong. Tell me I’m wrong about you. Tell me you don’t see me as just another problem to solve with your checkbook.”

The worst part was… she was right. She read me in a way no one else ever had, and I hated that she could see straight through me.

I backed her up, step by step, until her shoulders hit the wall besicle my desk. Her breathing quickened. Her chest rose and fell. Fast. I realized how close we were. How her body was pressed between me and the wall with nowhere to go.