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Chapter 20 - Breaking Through the Glass

Auteur: Recheal writes
last update Dernière mise à jour: 2025-10-30 20:06:08

Aria’s POV

No mention of last night. No acknowledgment of whatever almost happened.

The meeting is brutal. Twelve executives arguing about market strategy. I present my revised analysis. Victoria picks it apart with intensity.

"These projections seem optimistic," she says with a razor-sharp smile. "Given Ms. Holt's limited experience with international markets."

"The projections are based on current data." I keep my voice steady. "Five separate sources, all cited."

"Sources can be manipulated."
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  • HIRED BY THE RUTHLESS CEO    Chapter 62 - Between Pain and Promise

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  • HIRED BY THE RUTHLESS CEO    Chapter 61 – “Say it Again When I’m not Bleeding”

    Aria POVThe sound of the gunshot splits reality in two.One second, Victoria is screaming, the gun pointed at me. The next, Damien is throwing himself between us, and the world explodes into noise and chaos.He staggers backward into me, his hand going to his shoulder. Blood seeps between his fingers, dark and spreading fast."Damien!" My scream doesn't sound like my own voice.Everything happens at once. Security floods the room, tackling Victoria to the ground. The gun skitters across the floor. Henry's shouting orders. My father is yelling something I can't process.But all I see is Damien, falling to his knees, blood soaking through his shirt.I catch him before he hits the ground completely, lowering him as gently as I can. My hands are shaking so badly I can barely hold him."You're okay." I'm crying, pressing my hands over the wound even though I don't know what I'm doing. "You're going to be okay.""Aria." His voice is strained but conscious. "Are you hurt?""Am I—" I can't b

  • HIRED BY THE RUTHLESS CEO    Chapter 60 – If She Pulls the Trigger, It Hits Me First

    Damien POVVictoria's breakdown is tragic, but I won't let her hurt Aria or David.I keep myself positioned between her and Aria, my body a shield. The gun in Victoria's hand shakes, her finger too close to the trigger for comfort."Victoria." I keep my voice calm, steady. "Let's talk about this. Just you and me.""Talk?" Her laugh is shrill, broken. "We're past talking, Damien. Way past it."Behind her, David Holt lies in the hospital bed, his face pale but his eyes alert. He's trying to stay still, not to provoke her."You're right." I take a small step forward. "We should have talked months ago. Years ago, maybe. About Cross Technologies. About your role in rebuilding it."Her eyes flicker with something—surprise, maybe. Or suspicion."What are you doing?" she asks."Telling the truth." I hold her gaze. "You did help rebuild Cross Technologies. You worked alongside me when everything was ashes. You put in the hours, made the connections, handled the finances.""I did more than help

  • HIRED BY THE RUTHLESS CEO    Chapter 59 – Room 412

    Aria POVVictoria's disappearance terrifies me more than her presence ever did.At least when I could see her, I knew what I was dealing with. But now she's a ghost, invisible and everywhere at once.I pack a bag and move back to my parents' house in Glendale. The security team Damien arranged follows me, two men in a black SUV who park outside and change shifts every twelve hours.Mom thinks it's excessive."Sweetheart, this seems like too much," she says, watching through the kitchen window as one of the guards walks the perimeter. "Are you sure this is necessary?""It's necessary." I don't tell her about the threatening text. Don't explain that Victoria has emptied her accounts and vanished. "Just until things settle down."Dad's still at the hospital, recovering slowly but steadily. The security there is even tighter—two guards outside his room at all times, ID checks for every visitor, even nurses.It makes me feel safer and more anxious at the same time.***Sophie shows up the

  • HIRED BY THE RUTHLESS CEO    Chapter 58 - Code Red: She Chose the Hospital

    Damien POVVictoria's threat against David Holt is the line I won't let her cross.Back at my penthouse, I pace while my legal team assembles on an emergency conference call. My lawyer, sounds exhausted but alert."We can petition to revoke her bail based on the threatening message," he says. "But we need to prove it came from her.""Then prove it." I stop at the window, staring out at the city lights. "Whatever resources you need, whatever it costs. I want her back in custody by tomorrow.""Damien, these things take time…""We don't have time." I cut him off. "She's escalating. The next message might not be a threat. It might be action.""I'll file the emergency motion first thing in the morning." His keyboard clicks in the background. "In the meantime, the security arrangements you've made are smart. Keep the family protected, document everything, and if Victoria makes contact again, call the police immediately."After I hang up, I call my head of IT."Jake, I need you to trace a te

  • HIRED BY THE RUTHLESS CEO    Chapter 57 - Choosing Better

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