Craving My Ruthless Ceo novel Chapter 52

Chapter 52: I Was Close To Losing It

Roman’s POV

My chest constricted like someone had wrapped a fist around my lungs and squeezed.

She lifted the glass to her lips, took a sip, and smiled at him over the rim.

Smiled at him, like his attention was welcomed and she enjoyed being there with him instead of here with me.

Heat flooded through my body, starting in my chest, spreading down my arms, causing me to clench my fists.

It took every ounce of control I had not to stand up, cross that room, and physically remove Laurent’s hand from where it had settled on the bar next to hers.

He had no regard for me, hitting on my assistant while I was right there.

“…and of course the digital campaign would need to launch simultaneously with the physical advertisements,” Maison was saying. “We’d want complete brand cohesion across all platforms.”

Laurent took more advantage of their closeness as his hand moved now, brushing her forearm as he made some point. It seemed like a casual touch no one would think twice about but I knew better.

I saw it for what it was. It was a test to see how close he could get. How much contact she’d allow.

And she didn’t pull away.

“Mr. Blackwood?”

Maison’s voice cut through the haze. I forced my eyes back to him, but it took physical effort.

“I’m sorry,” I apologized, my voice coming out rougher than I intended. “You were saying?”

Maison’s expression was knowing. Amused. His eyes shifted briefly toward the bar, then back to me. “I was saying that we’d need approval rights on all creative materials before they go public. Laurent is very…. protective of our brand image.”

“Of course,” I managed. “That’s standard…”

Laurent leaned closer to Anna again. This time his hand settled on her knee. Just resting there.

Like he had any right to touch her.

My vision actually blurred fully.

I watched Anna’s posture stiffen slightly. Her eyes flicked down at his hand. Watched her face for any sign of discomfort, any indication that she wanted him to move it.

But instead, she just kept smiling and talking. Kept letting him touch her.

“…and we’d want quarterly reports on campaign performance,” Maison continued. “With adjustments made based on consumer response data.”

Laurent’s eyes traced her body and I saw exactly where they lingered, on her breast.

My hand clenched so hard around the armrest I was surprised the wood didn’t splinter.

Get your eyes off her. Get your goddamn hands off her. Get away from her before …. “Mr. Blackwood, are you alright?”

Maison’s voice held definite amusement now. I realized I’d completely stopped listening again. Stopped pretending to pay attention.

I dragged my eyes away from Anna and Laurent with physical effort. “I’m fine.”

“Are you?” Maison leaned back in his chair, studying me with those sharp eyes. “You seem… distracted.” “Just thinking about the logistics,” I lied.

“Mm.” Maison’s smile said he didn’t belleve me for a second. “The logistics of the campaign? Or the logistics of my son charming your assistant?”

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Chapter 52: I Was Close To Losing It

My eyes snapped to his. He was smiling openly now, clearly entertained.

“The campaign,” I said flatly.

“Of course.” Maison took a sip of his drink. “Though I must say, Laurent does have a way with beautiful women. It’s a gift, really. He could charm the stars from the sky if he set his mind to it.”

My fingers curled into fists under the table.

“Anna seems quite taken with him,” Maison continued, his tone casual. “I haven’t seen her stop smiling since they walked away.”

His words enraged me further.

“She’s being polite,” I ground out. “It’s part of her job.”

“Is it?” Maison’s eyebrows rose. “Her job is to smile at my son? To let him buy her drinks? To laugh at his jokes?”

“Her job is to maintain professional relationships with clients.”

“And is that what they look like to you?” Maison nodded toward the bar. “Professional?”

I didn’t look. I couldn’t look. If I looked and saw Laurent’s hand still on her knee, saw that smile still on her face, I wasn’t sure I could stop myself from doing something monumentally stupid.

“Mr. Beaumont,” I said, forcing my voice to remain level. “I came here to discuss a business partnership. Not to be baited about my assistant’s social interactions.”

Maison laughed.

“Forgive me. I’m an old man. I find entertainment where I can.”

He leaned forward, his expression turning more serious. “But I’ll be honest with you, Roman. I like you. I like your work. I think this partnership could be very beneficial for both of us.”

“Good.”

“But I need to know you can keep your focus where it needs to be.” His eyes held mine. “Can you do that? Even when my son is across the room with a beautiful woman who happens to work for you?”

The challenge in his voice was clear.

I met his gaze head-on. “My focus is exactly where it needs to be.”

“Is it?” Maison glanced toward the bar again.

Against every instinct screaming at me not to, I followed his gaze again.

Laurent had pulled Anna’s stool closer, dragged it, really, positioning her between his spread thighs. One of his hands rested on the bar beside her hip, the other on her lower back. He’d caged her in completely.

My vision went red.

Push him away. Tell him to back off. Call for help.

“Mr. Blackwood?”

I realized my breathing had quickened. That my hands were shaking slightly with the effort of staying seated.

“I’m fine,” I bit out.

“You don’t look fine.” Maison’s voice held that damned amusement again. “You look like a man watching something he wants being taken by someone else.”

My eyes snapped back to his. “Anna is my employee. Nothing more.”

“Of course.” Maison’s smile said he didn’t believe a word of it. “And Laurent is just being friendly. Nothing more.”

We both knew that was bullshit.

“Shall we continue?”

“By all means.” Maison gestured vaguely at the papers. “Though perhaps we should take a short break? You

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Chapter 52: I Was Close To Losing It

seem distracted. Maybe you’d like to check on your assistant? Make sure she’s comfortable?”

A test. I knew it was a test.

Show weakness now, and Maison would know exactly where my vulnerabilities lay. He’d know that my assistant, my employee, had more control over me than she should.

“That won’t be necessary. Anna can handle herself.”

“Can she?” Maison glanced toward the bar again. “Laurent can be quite determined when he wants something. And he clearly wants her.”

“Let’s discuss the contract terms.” I shifted forward, forcing my voice to stay level. “The sooner we finish this, the sooner everyone can return to their respective corners.”

Maison studied me for a long moment, then smiled. “As you wish.”

He started talking numbers and percentages again, laying out terms and conditions.

But once again my eyes drifted back to that bar.

Laurent had leaned in close now, his mouth near Anna’s ear. Whatever he whispered made her throw her head back and laugh, a real laugh, uninhibited and bright. She covered her mouth with her hand like she was embarrassed by how hard she was laughing.

With each passing second, I felt closer to losing it.

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