Craving My Ruthless Ceo novel Chapter 171

Chapter 171

Anna’s POV

1 held on tightly to the pillow

“I don’t want to talk to him”

“Check Your Phone Zoe pulled the pillow away from my face.

1 glared at her but reached under the blanket, fishing out my phone. Three missed calls and two texts.

Not from Roman, but from Laurent.

“It’s Laurent’ I frowned at the screen, slightly disappointed.

“Beaumont?” Zoe perked up. “The French guy who’s been asking you out for weeks?

Before I could respond, my phone rang again.

Zoe grabbed it and hit answer before I could stop her, putting it on speaker.

“Anna? Finally” Laurent’s smooth, accented voice filled the living room. “I was starting to worry. Are you alright?”

“L. My voice came out scratchy. “Yeah, I’m fine.”

“You don’t sound fine.” His tone shifted, concerned. “You sound… off. And you’re absent from work. That’s not like you”

I wasn’t feeling well,” I managed.

“Mm.” He didn’t sound convinced. “You also disappeared from the gala last night. One moment you were there, the next you were gone. I wanted to make sure you got home safely.”

Zoe nudged me with her elbow, eyebrows raised suggestively.

Tm fine. I repeated. Just… needed some air.”

“Well, I’m glad you’re alright, but there’s also something else.” There was a pause.

“The shoot deadline is tomorrow, and I thought I’d try one last time to see if you’d be willing. It won’t be anything too revealing, just keeping things tasteful.”

I opened my mouth to say no, the same answer I’d given for weeks. It felt too daring, not for me, and Roman had made it clear he didn’t want it. I didn’t want to set him off.

But now I was done playing it safe and holding back.

Why should I care what Roman thought? He’d rejected me, so screw him.

“Okay, I heard myself say.

Silence on the other end

“Anna? Laurent sounded shocked. ‘Did you just say yes?”

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Chapter 171

“Yes.” I sat up straighter, pushing the blankets off. ‘Til do it”

Zoe’s eyes went wile. She grabbed my arm mouthing. “Are you sure?”

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“Are you serious? Laurent asked, delight creeping into his voice. “Because if this is you being polite, I u

“Tim serious” I cut him off. “When do you want to do it?

“Tomorrow.” He said it immediately. If you’re available. Fll send a car for you. We’ll have hair and makeup, styling everything taken care of. You just need to show up”

Tomorrow works”

“Fantastic! I’ll text you the details He paused ‘Anna, are you sure you’re alright? You really don’t sound like yourself.”

Tm perfect. The lie came easily. “See you tomorrow, Laurent

I hung up before he could question me further.

Zoe stared at me in disbelief. “Did you just agree to do the lingerie shoot that Roman specifically told you not to do?

“Yes” I grabbed one of Roman’s chocolates and bit into it, “Yes, I did.”

A slow smile spread across Zoe’s face. “Oh, Anna. It’s true what they say about revenge and all that.”

“This isn’t about revenge.” I wiped chocolate from my lip. “This is about me finally living on the edge for once. Doing something daring for myself.”

The studio was bigger than I expected. Glass doors, white walls, and equipment scattered everywhere. People moved around with clipboards and headsets like they knew exactly what they were doing. I didn’t.

“Anna”” Laurent appeared from somewhere to my left, all smiles when he saw me. He crossed the floor in long strides, arm outstretched, pulling me into a brief hug.

“You came. I honestly wasn’t sure you would.”

“I don’t make promises I can’t keep.”

He looked me over, and I saw the moment he noticed. The puffiness around my eyes. The way I’d caked on concealer that morning, trying to hide the fact that I’d spent most of the night crying into Zoe’s throw pillows.

“You look beautiful, but are you feeling alright? You sounded off on the phone yesterday.”

“Just the flu, I lied. “I’m better now.”

Laurent didn’t look convinced, but he let it go. “When you agreed to this, I thought maybe you were just being polite. That you’d cancel at the last minute.”

“No. I’m here.”

“Good” He grinned, gesturing around the studio. “Because this is going to be incredible. You have nothing to worry about. I’ll be here the entire time, and the team is amazing. Come, let me introduce you?

He led me past racks of clothing I couldn’t see yet, past lights on tall stands, toward a man setting up a camera that booked

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Chapter 171

more complicated than anything I’d ever seen.

Javier, this is Anna Anna, Javier.”

The photographer turned around Mid-forties, with the kind of face that had probably seen e not quite creepy, but enough to make me shift a little

“Nice bone structure. He gestured toward Laurent like I wasn’t standing there. “She’ll photograp

“Nice to meet you. My voice came out smaller than I meant.

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“Same here. His hand settled lightly on my shoulder. ‘No need to be nervous. Laurent mentioned this is your first time. We’ll take it slow Just follow my lead

I nodded, offering a small smile.

Laurent clapped his hands. “Javier has worked with every major publication you can think of You have nothing to worry about. You’re in good hands. And Anna, this could be the start of something. A whole modeling career

I choked on air. “Let’s not jump ahead. I’m just doing this once.

Laurent laughed. “Well see about that.”

Alarms went off in my head. What was I doing here? This wasn’t me. I was an erotic romance writer, the nerdy girl who organized Roman’s calendar, not someone posing in lingerie for cameras.

But I also wasn’t the girl who let men make decisions for her anymore.

Roman doesn’t get to decide what I do.

“You ready?” Laurent asked.

No. Yes.

“Excellent. Let me introduce you to Tamika. She’ll get you ready.”

A woman approached from the side, her brown skin glowing under the studio lights. She wore her hair in beautiful long braids that swung when she walked, and her smile was cheerful.

“Anna, this is Tamika. She’s our makeup artist.”

“Hey, girl. Tamika reached out, squeezing my hand. “Come with me. We’re going to make you look stunning”

I hesitated, shooting Laurent a quick, unsure look.

He gave a small nod. “Go on Tamika will take good care of you.”

I let out a deep breath and followed her.

She led me to a corner of the studio, mirrors lining the wall, lights glowing around them.

“So here’s what we’re thinking” Tamika gestured for me to sit. “Soft glam. Nothing heavy. Fresh, romantic. Dewy skin, subtle eyes, nude lip. Sound good?

“Yeah I sat, even though I barely took it in.

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Chapter 171

My phone buzzed in my purse

I pulled it out.

Roman’s name lit up the screen.

I declined the call and shoved it back inside.

Tamika lifted a brow but said nothing, already reaching for her brushes.

The phone buzzed again

And again.

I didn’t need to check. I knew it was him.

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I closed my eyes, trying to ignore it, trying not to think about what I was doing, or how he’d react when he found out

“You’re nervous?” she asked.

“Is it that obvious”

“Little bit. She grinned. “But don’t worry. Laurent’s shoots are always classy. You’re in good hands.”

I wanted to believe her.

By the time she finished, I barely recognized myself in the mirror. My skin looked flawless, my eyes bigger somehow, my lips fuller.

The hairstylist came next. She curled my hair into loose waves that fell over my shoulders, and for a moment I looked like someone else entirely.

The kind of flawless, superstar beauty people stop and stare at. Too bad that wasn’t actually me

“Alright, wardrobe is through that door.” Tamika pointed to a white door in the corner. “Go get changed and we’ll get started.”

I stood on shaky legs and walked to the dressing room.

Inside, a woman with a clipboard smiled at me.

“Anna, right? I’m Cara. Your pieces are hanging right there.”

I reached for the first set.

Black lace.

The bra was barely there, more straps than coverage. The underwear matched, sitting high on the hips with lace cutouts on the sides

My breath caught.

“This is it?” The words tumbled out before I could stop them.

“Yep. Gorgeous, right?”

“Laurent said it wouldn’t be too revealing

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Cara laughed. “Oh honey, this is modest compared to some of the pieces we shoot. You’re going to look amazing. Trust me,”

I held the lingerie up to my body, staring at my reflection. My heart hammered against my ribs

I wanted to argue, but what was I supposed to say? That I’d never done this before? That I was already regretting every decision that led me here!

Can I have something to cover up with? For when I’m not in front of the camera?”

Of course” She handed me a silk robe. “Take your time getting changed. No rush”

1 pulled the curtain closed and stared at the lingerie in my hands

I changed quickly, my fingers fumbling with the clasps. The lingerie fit perfectly, hugging curves I didn’t know I had. But standing there in front of the mirror, nearly naked, I felt exposed in a way that had nothing to do with the lack of fabric.

What am I doing?

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