Craving My Ruthless Ceo novel Chapter 66

Chapter 66: Professionally Yours

Roman’s POV

“That should be everything, Mr. Blackwood.” Harrison, the lead attorney, shuffled the contract papers into a neat stack. “We’ll have the final documents ready for signing tomorrow morning.”

I nodded, barely listening as he droned on about clauses and contingencies. My mind had checked out of this meeting an hour ago.

The Beaumont deal was finished in all but name. All that remained was the formality of signatures, the ceremonial handshake, the press release. I’d made sure my team had worked themselves to the bone to get every detail ready.

But right now, I didn’t give a damn about any of it.

“Sir?” Harrison’s voice cut through my thoughts.

“Great work.” I leaned back, buttoning my suit jacket. “Nine AM tomorrow. Make sure everything’s ready. I want the team in early, presentation materials double-checked, conference room set up by eight thirty. Maison Beaumont and his son will be here for the signing, and I expect this to go flawlessly.”

“Of course, sir. We’ll have everything prepared.”

The room emptied quickly, my legal team gathering their documents and laptops. I leaned back in my seat watching, when I noticed Michelle, one of the junior associates, lingering near the conference table.

“Ms. Carter,” I said without turning. “Call Ms. Winters on your way out. I need to review the Beaumont presentation with her before tomorrow.”

Silence.

I turned to face her.

Michelle clutched a tablet to her chest, her expression uncertain. “Mr. Blackwood?”

Her voice shook slightly. “Ms. Winters left the office early today. She said it was for personal reasons.”

I felt my whole body go still. “When?”

“About two hours ago, sir.”

Two hours. She’d been gone for two hours, and no one thought to tell me until now?

I could feel the anger starting to build inside me. I leaned forward, and Michelle visibly flinched.

I forced myself to stop. To breathe. To hold back what I really wanted to say.

“Thank you.” The words came out barely civil.

Michelle nodded quickly and hurried toward the door, practically running to get out.

I sat there, alone in the empty conference room, my hands balling into fists at my sides.

Personal reasons.

She didn’t ask permission. Didn’t send me a message. Just up and left.

This was clear insubordination. And it wasn’t going to be tolerated.

How could she just leave? The Beaumont contract signing was tomorrow morning, the most important deal of the quarter, and there was critical work that needed to be addressed. Presentations to finalize. Details to confirm.

And she just walked out.

Feeling an urgency to get home, I rose from my seat, needing to talk to her. I grabbed my things and headed

for the elevator.

The elevator doors slid open to the penthouse and Eva appeared almost immediately, her hands clasped in

Successfully unlocked!

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Chapter 66: Professionally Yours

front of her.

She must have seen me from the underground parking lot camera. She was always on cue.

“Mr. Blackwood.” Her smile was warm but cautious. “Welcome home. You’re back early.”

“The meeting wrapped up sooner than expected.” I handed her my briefcase, my eyes already scanning the penthouse.

“Where’s Anna?”

The smile slipped from Eva’s face.

“She… she left, sir.”

My blood ran cold. “What do you mean, she left?”

“About an hour ago. I had Zion drive her to…”

“And you didn’t think to call me?” My voice came out harsher than I intended, but I didn’t care.

Eva’s eyes widened, genuine alarm crossing her features. “She told me you were in an important meeting, sir. That you weren’t to be disturbed. She also said you already knew she was leaving.”

I let out a bitter laugh.

Damn it. She lied.

Anna looked Eva in the eye and lied so she could slip away without me knowing. Without me stopping her.

That conniving little….

“Sir, I didn’t mean to…”

I didn’t wait for her to finish. I stormed past her, taking the stairs two at a time as I made my way to her room.

I shoved the door open.

The room was empty, just as Eva had said.

But I didn’t know why I felt the need to see it for myself. The bed was neatly made, the pillows arranged perfectly, as if no one had ever slept there at all.

I crossed the room and walked toward the closet, my heart pounding harder with each step.

The closet doors hung open, the space inside completely bare. Not a single dress, not a single shoe. Every hanger swayed gently, mocking me with their emptiness.

My chest locked as anger flooded through me.

“She packed everything,” Eva’s voice came from behind me, quiet and apologetic. “All three suitcases.”

I turned to face her, and I knew my face showed exactly how I felt.

Eva’s expression fell. “I had no idea she hadn’t told you, Mr. Blackwood. I swear, if I’d known, I would have called you immediately. I’m so sorry.”

I waved her off, the anger too thick in my throat for words.

She mumbled more apologies before retreating, her footsteps fading down the hall.

I stood there, alone in the empty room.

It still smelled like her. That soft, floral scent that had embedded itself into the sheets, the pillows, the very air.

I walked to the bed, my hand reaching out to grab one of the pillows. I brought it to my face and inhaled deeply.

Her scent wrapped around me, sweet and intoxicating and utterly maddening.

“Damn.” The word came out rough, strangled.

What are you doing, Roman? Get it together.

This was what I wanted, wasn’t it? Professional boundaries. Distance. No complications.

To hell with that.

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Chapter 66: Professionally Yours

Frustrated, I threw the pillow back onto the bed. I needed to get out of this room before I lost my mind completely.

Just as I turned toward the door, something on the nightstand caught my eye.

A folded piece of paper.

I crossed the room and picked it up, my fingers trembling slightly as I unfolded it.

Mr. Blackwood,

You wanted professional boundaries. I’m giving them to you. Living in your house doesn’t exactly scream” professional,” does it? Consider this me doing us both a favor.

Thank you for coming to my rescue when I needed it. I won’t forget that. But I’ll be staying at my best friend’s apartment from now on.

I’m sure you’ll find this arrangement much more suitable.

Professionally yours,

Anna

My grip on the paper became so tight the edges started to crinkle.

Professionally yours.

The sarcasm dripped from every word, and it made my blood boil.

She thought she could just leave. Thought she could make decisions about where she lived, what we were, without even talking to me first. Her safety was still at risk, damn it.

God, why did I care so much?

I wanted to crumple the note, to tear it into pieces and throw it away.

But I couldn’t.

Her handwriting was immaculate and perfect, each letter carefully formed. I found myself tracing the curves of her signature with my thumb before I could stop myself.

Instead of destroying it, I slipped the note into my pocket.

Every rational thought I had told me to wait. To let her cool off. To approach this strategically in the morning when we were both calm and well rested.

That was what I was going to do.

I had to.

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