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BOOK 2: CHAPTER 15: The Grand Gesture

ผู้เขียน: Sire Bliss
last update ปรับปรุงล่าสุด: 2026-01-15 00:17:21

Five days.

I’ve given her five days of space, and it’s been the longest five days of my life.

No texts except the occasional “good morning” that she responds to with a simple heart emoji. No calls. No coffee dates or spontaneous visits. Just silence and the gnawing fear that every minute I’m not with her, Adrian is filling the space I left empty.

But I promised her time, and I’m a man who keeps his promises.

Still, I’m not an idiot. Time doesn’t mean giving up. It means being strategic.

“You’re sure about this?” My assistant, James, is looking at me like I’ve lost my mind. Maybe I have. “The coastal house? For the whole weekend?”

“Positive.” I’m packing my overnight bag, throwing in casual clothes that Serena’s never seen me in. Jeans. T-shirts. The version of me that exists outside boardrooms. “Is everything set up?”

“The house is stocked with food, fresh flowers in every room, and I’ve arranged for a private chef for Saturday night if you want it.” He’s reading from his tablet. “But
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  • I’m Back, Mr. CEO    BOOK 2: CHAPTER 24: The Dinner (Continued)

    I nearly drop the plate I’m holding. “Ethan!”“What? That’s what they always ask in movies when someone’s dating their mom.” He looks genuinely confused.Lucas is trying not to laugh, I can tell. He sets down his own plate and gives Ethan his full attention. “That’s a very fair question. My intentions are to make your mom happy. To be there for her when she needs me. To never take her for granted. And to beat you at video games, which I’m told is happening after dinner.”“You won’t beat me. I’m really good.”“Then I intend to lose graciously.”“Acceptable.” Ethan nods seriously, then grins. “I like you, Lucas. You’re good for her.”“Ethan—” I’m mortified, but Lucas is smiling.“I like you too, buddy. And for the record, I think you’re pretty good for her as well.”Ethan beams, and I feel tears threatening. Because of this. This is what I want. This easy love, this comfortable family feeling, this sense that we’re building something real.After dinner, Lucas does indeed let Ethan destr

  • I’m Back, Mr. CEO    BOOK 2: CHAPTER 23: The Dinner

    **Few Days Later**“Mom, you’re burning the garlic bread.”I jolt out of my thoughts, grabbing the oven mitt and yanking open the oven door. Smoke billows out, and sure enough, the garlic bread is definitely more charcoal than bread at this point.“Damn it.” I toss the ruined bread into the sink, running water over it.Ethan appears at my side, looking concerned. “Are you okay? You’ve been weird all day.”“I’m fine, baby. Just distracted.” I force a smile, checking the pasta that thankfully isn’t burned. “How’s your homework coming?”“Done. Unlike your dinner.” He grins, and I swat at him playfully. “So Lucas is really coming over for dinner?”“He is. Is that okay?”“Mom, I literally suggested it.” Ethan rolls his eyes in that way nine-year-olds do when they think their parents are being ridiculous. “I like Lucas. He’s cool. And he makes you smile for real, not that fake smile you do when people ask how you’re doing.”Out of the mouths of babes.“Well, he should be here any minute, so

  • I’m Back, Mr. CEO    BOOK 2: CHAPTER 22: Serena better choose Lucas

    “Just do it. Close your eyes and take a deep breath.”I do.“Now imagine your life five years from now. You’re happy, successful, at peace. Ethan’s thriving. Your company is flourishing. You’re genuinely content.” Her voice is soothing. “Who’s standing next to you in that vision? Who’s making you coffee in the morning? Who’s there when you come home? Who makes you laugh?”I see it immediately. The beach house. Morning sun. Someone’s arms around me from behind, kissing my neck while I laugh. The smell of coffee and ocean air and safety.“Lucas,” I whisper, eyes still closed. “I see Lucas.”“Now imagine that same life, but with Adrian.”I try. I really try. But the image won’t come. All I see is anxiety. Walking on eggshells. Wondering when the other shoe will drop. Waiting for him to become the man he was before. Never fully relaxing. Never fully trusting.I open my eyes, and Clara is watching me with knowing sympathy.“That’s your answer,” she says softly. “Your brain knows what your

  • I’m Back, Mr. CEO    BOOK 2: CHAPTER 21: The Best Friend’s Intervention

    Clara shows up at my penthouse at seven in the evening with wine, takeout, and a look on her face that says we’re about to have a conversation I’m not going to like.“I didn’t invite you over,” I say, but I’m already stepping aside to let her in.“That’s because you’ve been avoiding me for three days.” She marches into my kitchen, setting down the bags with more force than necessary. “Ever since you got back from your weekend with Lucas. Ever since you had coffee with Adrian. Ever since you’ve been walking around like a ghost who can’t decide which dimension to haunt.”“That’s dramatic.”“You’re dramatic.” She’s pulling out containers of Chinese food, slamming them on the counter. “Where’s Ethan?”“Homework in his room.”“Good. Because what I’m about to say, he doesn’t need to hear.” She pours two very large glasses of wine, shoving one at me. “Sit.”“Clara—”“Sit, Serena.”I sit.She takes a long drink, then sets her glass down and looks at me with an expression I’ve only seen a few

  • I’m Back, Mr. CEO    BOOK 2: CHAPTER 20: I need Space, Adrian!

    I’m sobbing into his chest, and he’s holding me like he used to, when we were young and in love and thought nothing could touch us. And for a moment, just a moment, I let myself pretend we could go back. That we could erase the years between then and now. That love could be simple again.But it can’t.“This is why I can’t do this,” I manage through tears, pulling back. “This right here. Because being in your arms feels like home and it shouldn’t. It should feel like the place I barely escaped with my life. But it doesn’t.”“Because we were real once.” He’s still holding my shoulders, his face inches from mine. “What we had before I destroyed it, that was real, Serena. And I think, I think part of you still feels that.”“Of course I do.” I wipe my face, trying to compose myself. “But feeling something and acting on it are different things. I could love you and still choose not to be with you. I could forgive you and still walk away.”“Could you?” His eyes search mine. “Could you really

  • I’m Back, Mr. CEO    BOOK 2: CHAPTER 19: The Coffee That Changed Everything

    I shouldn’t have agreed to this.I’m sitting in a quiet coffee shop on the edge of the city, the kind of place where no one knows us, no one cares, and I’m already regretting every decision that led me here.Adrian texted yesterday, the day I got back from the beach house. Just one line: **“Please. Coffee. Just to talk. I need to see you.”**I should have said no. Should have blocked his number. Should have done anything except agree to meet him at ten on a Monday morning when I should be at work, pretending my life isn’t falling apart.But here I am.He walks in exactly on time, and he looks worse than I’ve ever seen him. His hair is messy, his shirt wrinkled, dark circles under his eyes like he hasn’t slept in days. He looks like I feel.“Thank you for coming.” He sits across from me, hands wrapped around his coffee cup like he needs it for warmth. “I wasn’t sure you would.”“I almost didn’t.” I don’t touch my own coffee. Can’t. My stomach is in knots. “Adrian, why are we here? What

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