Craving My Ruthless Ceo novel Chapter 67

Chapter 67: He Wanted To Get Under My Skin

Roman’s POV

8:50 AM

I stood at the floor-to-ceiling windows of my conference room, staring out into the early morning sky. My team had already prepared the conference room, but I’d instructed them to clear out and give me a moment alone before the Beaumont meeting began.

Blackwood Corporation wasn’t a company scrambling to prove itself. We were established, powerful, the largest advertising company in the country. But empires needed fuel, and deals like this kept the machine running.

That was why this partnership wasn’t just about adding another luxury brand to my portfolio, and it wasn’t only about the money, even though the numbers ran into the hundreds of millions.

Maison Beaumont represented a long-standing partnership with the potential to strengthen our name not just here, but across other regions as well.

Europe wasn’t out of reach. It was the next natural step.

And I liked to soak it all up before the noise. To bask in this moment of victory before the chaos descended.

Then it clicked.

Anna hadn’t shown up to work yet.

My eyes snapped open.

She had this habit of being late, always rushing in at the last possible second with some excuse about traffic or her alarm. It drove me insane. How I’d kept her this long was beyond me, but she always knew to show up early for meetings like this.

My thoughts raced.

Was this still about yesterday? Or was she just being Anna, chronically unable to manage her time?

Either way, it didn’t sit right.

I reached for the button and paged Michelle, the junior staff member who worked closely with me.

“Has Ms. Winters come in yet?”

There was a pause on the other end. “Unfortunately, no, Mr. Blackwood. Not yet.”

I pressed harder. “The email for the Beaumont meeting was sent last night?”

“Oh, yes, sir. And another reminder just this morning.”

My teeth ground together. “Since Ms. Winters isn’t yet available, you’ll be taking her place until she shows up.”

“Of course, sir. I should also inform you that Maison Beaumont, Laurent, and their legal team just arrived. They’re making their way to the boardroom now.”

“That’s fine. I’ll handle it from here. Tell the rest of the team to get in here immediately. You too.”

“Yes, sir. Thank you.”

I hung up and exhaled slowly through my nose.

I straightened my shoulders and put on my game face.

A few seconds later, Maison Beaumont walked in, dressed in a tailored suit that radiated old money and European elegance.

My irritation flared the moment I saw Laurent, that smug smile playing at the corners of his mouth. I still couldn’t put his stunt at the ball behind me, dancing with Anna, holding her close, making her laugh.

But I forced a brief smile as I approached them

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Chapter 67: He Wanted To Get Under My Skin

I extended my hand. “Mr. Beaumont.”

Maison took my hand in a firm grip, his eyes crinkling at the corners with genuine warmth.

“It’s great to finally have you here at Blackwood Advertising.”

“Good to be here,” Maison replied as the handshake broke and he gestured to the two men that followed behind him. “I came with my legal team. I thought it best we handle everything properly today.”

“Absolutely. I couldn’t agree more. Let’s make sure everything is finalized the right way.”

Maison waved me off with a chuckle. “Let’s get rid of the formalities. I’m about to entrust you with my company’s expansion in this market. I think we can do away with formalities. First-name basis from here on out.”

He paused, his smile widening. “Call me Maison, while I call you Roman. Or if you still insist on Blackwood, that’s fine too.”

I inclined my head slightly. “Whatever works for you. Maison is fine by me.”

Maison chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “Roman it is, then.”

Now came the part I dreaded.

I turned to Laurent.

Our eyes met, and the temperature in the room seemed to drop.

We both extended our hands at the same time. The handshake was cold, brief. His grip was just a bit too firm, a silent challenge, his jaw tight as mine.

I wanted to break his damn hand. Wanted to crush every bone until he couldn’t use it to touch what was mine ever again.

Both Laurent and I turned to Maison when he cleared his throat.

“Ah, messieurs,” Maison began, switching effortlessly between English and French, his tone light and teasing.” Don’t look so surprised. I saw it all at the ball.”

He turned his gaze directly to me, though his expression remained amused. “Roman, I know you know this because you’ve built an empire for yourself. No woman is worth ruining millions of dollars over. Garde la tête froide. Keep your head in the game.”

Laurent chuckled, clearly enjoying this.

I forced a grin, though inside I was seething.

I hated that I’d lost control at the ball. Hated that Maison had to give me a pep talk in the middle of signing an enormous deal such as this. It made me look like I was a novice who didn’t have his act together. Hated even more that Laurent was standing there with that smug look on his face.

But Maison was right.

I’d built this empire by keeping my emotions in check, by making smart decisions, by never letting anything, or anyone, distract me from what mattered.

Even though deep down I knew Anna wasn’t just any woman.

I pushed the thought away. I had to get it together.

“You’re right. This partnership benefits both of us. Let’s make it count.”

Maison nodded, satisfied. “That’s what I like to hear.”

I gestured toward the table. “Gentlemen, please. Have a seat.”

Soon, everyone was seated around the sleek glass table.

Michelle sat beside me, documents already organized in front of her.

There were no more presentations. Those had already been done. This was ceremonial, the legal signing. My team had put in the clauses. Now it was about Beaumont needing more assurance of us making sales, legal

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Chapter 67 He Wanted To Get Under My Skin

talks, expansion plans, what the first move would be, all of that.

Maison leaned back in his chair, the life of the room as always. He cracked a joke about French wine and American ambition, and everyone laughed.

Laurent chimed in, smooth and charming, keeping the mood light.

But then his eyes scanned the room.

“I haven’t seen Anna around yet,” he noted casually.

My spine went stiff.

Of course he had to ask about her. Of course this jerk couldn’t keep her name out of his mouth for one meeting.

I sat up straighter, my tone controlled. “She’s running a bit late. She’ll join us shortly.”

Laurent leaned back in his chair, a faint smile playing on his lips. “After how beautiful she looked at the ball, I must confess I’m eager to see her again.”

Anger surged through me, white-hot and vicious. My blood roared in my ears. I knew exactly what he was doing. Trying to rattle me. Trying to get under my skin. Trying to stake some kind of claim on her in front of

everyone.

And damn him, it was working.

But I kept my expression neutral and my voice even.

Michelle was doing a great job, jumping in smoothly with details about the campaign rollout, keeping things

moving.

I began talking, walking them through the contract details, the three-phase rollout, projected sales numbers, target demographics.

Laurent leaned forward, interrupting. “No offense to the young lady here,” he pointed at Michelle, “but is Anna usually absent during such an important meeting, or did you do something to scare her off? I imagine working for someone as… demanding as you must be quite challenging.”

My fists curled as I gripped the edge of the desk. The wood bit into my palms. This man was really doing everything to make me lose it. Everything to provoke me. To make me look unstable in front of Maison.

I could see Maison’s eyes watching me carefully, waiting to see what I would do. Waiting to see if I’d prove him right, if I’d let a woman derail this entire deal.

I fought back the urge to reach across the table and wipe that smirk off Laurent’s face. To show him exactly what happened to men who thought they could take what belonged to me.

Instead, I gave him a cold smile. “I don’t scare my employees, Laurent. Unlike some people, I prefer to inspire loyalty through competence, not empty charm and false promises.”

Laurent’s jaw tightened, his eyes flashing with anger. He opened his mouth to respond.

And just then, the boardroom doors opened.

Anna walked in.

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