Craving My Ruthless Ceo novel Chapter 14

Chapter 14

ANNA’S POV

“I’m so screwed

The words slipped out before I could stop them.

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Trushed inside the apartment and pushed the door shut with my back. My hands trembled. My heart would not calm down no matter how hard I tried to control my breathing.

I slid down until I hit the floor. My legs felt weak. My fingers cured into my hair and tugged the bun loose because I needed the pressure gone.

What did I just do?

Why did I let him kiss me? Why did I kiss him back like I had no self–control?

I shut my eyes. His face flashed behind my lids. His mouth on mine. His hands on my hips. The way my body leaned into him without thinking.

Pathetic, Anna. Completely pathetic.

He had accused me of trying to trap him with a baby. Like I had some plan to drag him down.

And still, the moment he touched me, I gave in.

I hated how quickly I fell apart around him.

I pushed my palms into my eyes. The burning there was getting worse.

Do not cry. Do not you dare cry over him.

But it hurt.

It hurt because I had actually believed for one stupid second that he cared. That last night was not just a moment of weakness for him. That he actually wanted me.

The way he touched me last night had felt real. The way he looked at me. The way his hand slid up my back like he needed me close.

“Anna?”

I jumped. My heart went wild.

Zoe stepped out of the kitchen holding a mug. Her eyes widened when she saw me on the floor. “Shit, you scared me. What are you doing at home when it is not even noon?”

My throat closed up. I opened my mouth but nothing came out.

Zoe set the mug down and rushed toward me. She crouched in front of me, reaching out but not touching until I nodded.

“What happened? Talk to me.”

I shook my head. “I quit.”

The words did not sound real. Like someone else was saying them.

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Chapter 11

“You what?”

A

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I quit my job. My voice got stronger, like the reality was finally landing. “I basically told Roman Blackwood to fuck off and I walked out.

Zoe’s mouth dropped open. She stared at me like her mind could not catch up.

“You are joking. Please tell me you are joking.”

I shook my head. “I wish I were.”

“Anna, that job… Her voice thinned. “You worked so hard to get that position. Three months of proving yourself, of barely sleeping because you wanted to impress him. Why would you…

“Because he is an arrogant, condescending, self–absorbed asshole” The words exploded out of me.

My hands moved to my face, covering it. My fingers pressed into my eyelids. “God. I cannot believe I even responded to him. I cannot believe I stood there arguing with him.”

“Wait.” Zoe reached for me, her hands closing around my arms. “Slow down. Start from the beginning.” Her thumb brushed back and forth, steadying me. “Last time we talked, you two had a steamy night. How does it go from that to this?”

I took a breath. Then another. My hands were still shaking. My whole body was shaking.

“So. I finally managed. “I walked into his office to deliver the report he asked me to work on. The one I stayed up all night finishing because I wanted it to be perfect.”

My voice grew louder. “Instead, he had this whole speech prepared about how it was inappropriate and unprofessional. Then he slid an NDA across his desk like I was some kind of business transaction.”

“An NDA?” Zoe’s hands dropped.

“A non–disclosure agreement. Basically to make sure I never talked about anything that happened. To protect his precious reputation. My hands balled up. “And when I refused and tore it up, he accused me of trying to trap him. He said I had probably seduced him to get pregnant and demand money.”

“He said that?” Zoe’s voice jumped. “What is wrong with him? Who does he think he is?”

“A billionaire CEO who thinks every woman is after his money, apparently.” I stood and began pacing because I could not stand still. “So I yelled at him. I told him exactly what I thought of him.”

“Good. You should have.” Zoe paced too. Both of us moving in circles.

“And then he…” I stopped walking.

Kissed me.

The memory sent heat through me. The way he pushed me against the wall. His hands on my body. The desperation in his kiss. Like he had been starving for it.

“Anna.” Zoe stood in front of me. Her eyes searched my face. “What did he do?”

I dragged my hands through my hair. My face felt like it was on fire.

“He kissed me. He grabbed me and kissed me like he could not help himself. And I tried to shove him off. I swear I did. But he kept going like he could not stop even if he wanted to.”

The embarrassment squeezed my throat. “I kissed him back, Zoe Even after everything he said to me. I still wanted him.”

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Chapter 11

*Anna..”

“I know how it sounds,” I whispered. “I know”

Zoe pulled me into a hug and held me tight.

“I hate myself for it,” I whispered. “I hate that I let him do that to me.”

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“Stop. She pulled back and held my shoulders. “Do not blame yourself for having feelings. He is the one who messed this up, not you

“But I should have pushed him harder. I should have slapped him or…

“Or you are a human being who had an incredible night with your boss and got confused when he kissed you the next day. That is normal, Anna. That is not weakness.”

I took a shaky breath. “You did not ask what happened next.”

Zoe’s expression shifted. “What happened next?”

“Right after, he pulled away. He stopped like nothing happened. He went back to his desk, straightened his tie and told me another copy of the NDA would be sent to my email if I still wanted to keep working for him.” The anger came back, hot and sharp. “Like the kiss was just another negotiation tactic. Like he could use my body against me and I would fall in line.”

That manipulative piece of…

That is when I told him to fuck off and quit.” I looked at her. “I did not even think about it. The words just came out.”

Zoe’s mouth fell open. Then she started laughing. “Oh my God. I never thought I would see the day Anna Winters told her CEO to fuck off. What happened to my sweet, people–pleasing best friend who apologizes when other people bump into her?”

“I have no idea where that came from.” A small laugh came out of me too, but it felt cracked. “I just… I could not stand there and let him treat me like that. Like I was some gold digger trying to ruin his perfect life.”

Zoe grabbed my hand and pulled me to the couch. We sat down.

“Okay. Listen. I am glad you stood up for yourself. Truly. But babe, you need this job. Badly. I understand he made you feel small. I understand he is an emotionally bankrupt asshole who probably learned intimacy from a textbook. But…”

She paused. Bit her lip. “I am thinking you can go back. Apologize. Say you were emotional and…”

“And nothing. I yelled back. He tried to pay me off.” I shook my head. “Do not you get it? Three hundred thousand dollars. Like I was supposed to fall at his feet when I saw the amount.”

Zoe’s grip tightened. “I am sorry, did you just say three hundred thousand dollars?”

“Yes. Like I was some kind of…

“Three hundred thousand dollars?” Zoe’s voice rose. “As in three Hundred. Thousand. Dollars?”

“Yes. What arrogance, right? Like I was some whore he could just..”

“Anna.” Zoe grabbed my shoulders. “You rejected three hundred thousand dollars?”

I blinked. “Well, yes, but…”

“Are you insane?” She shook me. “Go back. Right now. Tell him you are sorry and take the money.”

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Chapter 14

“What? No. Zoc, you are not listening. He was trying to…”

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“I heard every word” Zoe paced. “He is an asshole. He treated you horribly. He made accusations and yes, he deserved to have his NDA ripped up. But Anna…” She pointed at me. “Three hundred thousand dollars.”

“It is insulting”

“It is rent money. It is a better life money.” Zoe sat again. Her voige softened. “Anna, we are broke. Your mom kicked you out and you have been saving for your own place near your office. And you just turned down enough money to solve all of that?”

My heart dropped because she was right.

My mother had not just kicked me out for “wasting my life writing.” There was the gambling too. The lies. The pressure. The way she always chose Bianca over me.

Every paycheck went to student loans. I had maybe two hundred dollars left.

Now no job. No savings. No plan.

Three hundred thousand dollars would have changed everything. It would have given me time to breathe.

Before I could answer, my phone started ringing.

The buzzing cut through the apartment.

I jumped. My heart raced again.

It kept ringing.

You going to get that?” Zoe asked.

I shook my head. I grabbed my bag. “I cannot talk to anyone right now. I just need to silence it and…”

My fingers found the phone. I pulled it out.

My screen flashed a name I had not seen in months and my blood ran cold.

I turned the screen toward Zoe.

She blinked. “Anna… why do you look like you saw a ghost?”

Her eyes widened. “It is your mom.”

I nodded. “She has not called me in three months.”

“Exactly.” Zoe folded her arms. “Do not answer. You do not need her drama right now. You need to fix your life first.”

“I know,” I whispered, but the phone buzzed again. “Just… let me hear what she wants.”

Zoe sighed but did not stop me.

I swiped to answer.

“Hello?”

There was a long pause. Then a shaky breath.

“Anna, baby, please.” My mother’s voice cracked in a way I had never heard. “I need your help. I am in trouble. Come home.

Please.”