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CHAPTER 53 (a long-overdue epilogue)
Emma SwanHi, Y'all!!!! Long time no see... So sorry it took me so long to edit this story and give it a proper ending (an epilogue as well, a long one). Life happened while I was editing, serious things I had to take care of. Today I finished editing the last chapters and added one more (53). In a few weeks, I hope to make my way back with a new story on GN. Keep an eye on my social media profiles and my GN profile. Please, let me know what you think about the epilogue and all. Until next time, Yours truly, Emma.
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WAKING UP WITH THE CEO CHAPTER 1
“Where are you, Elaine?” she said slowly looking outside the window. She then turned and started gazing around the room. Being part of a shiny, rich, boring crowd such as this one wasn’t the way Annalise hoped to spend her evening. She always hated participating in social events but most of the time, they were solid gold occasions for someone in her line of work. However, this fundraiser was a bit different than the usual ones she’d attended. And she knew exactly why it was important to take one for the team. Lance Hamilton was there! The new ‘King of Los Angeles’ was the main attraction of the event. Annalise was standing way back, near one of the large windows of the ballroom, sipping white wine and observing him thoroughly, gazing away every time Lance would look in her direction, trying not to show him how impatient she was to deliver the decisive pitch and start working for him. Being an advertising executive (A
WAKING UP WITH THE CEO CHAPTER 2
A waiter was passing near them and Lance took two glasses of champagne and handed one to her. She didn’t like champagne but she accepted it anyway. “Lance,” Annalise replied, greeting him with a slight nod. “You finally freed yourself from your adoring fans. You were having so much fun…” “Yeah, I was having the time of my life,” he replied in a sarcastic tone. “Come on, Annalise! You know very well I’m not into these gatherings.” “Do I?” she asked and raised an eyebrow. “Even so, you are the ‘New King’ in town. This is just one of the many social events you will have to attend from now on. So, prepare yourself, ‘Your Highness’. Every important person in this town will request your presence.” Lance smiled, and his eyes locked with hers for a few seconds, then checked her from head to toe, lingering way too much on her curves. Annalise started to feel a bit uncomfortable under Lance’s intense scrutiny. “The new King…” he said. He was practically undressing her r
WAKING UP WITH THE CEO CHAPTER 3
Enough socializing for one night… It was time to go back to his hotel suite and unwind. All these events were draining the life out of him. Lance walked out of the hotel that was hosting the fundraiser and went straight to the parking spot. He asked the valet to bring him the car. Up until a couple of weeks ago, his headquarters were in New York. But then, he decided to move the “HL Sportswear” base to Los Angeles. Lance dropped off the old advertising team and started looking for a new one, able to put his company on the right path to universal success. He never thought that all this would include socializing, meeting people willing to do anything to get the big prize, to have his approval, to get their hands on something so important as his pet project. Their behavior was understandable, though. “Hamilton Inc.” was well-known in the business environment and everybody wanted a slice of the pie. But this business development wasn’t the only reason that
WAKING UP WITH THE CEO CHAPTER 4
Lance could sense a note of anxiety in his mother’s voice that always seemed to creep in when his brother was being mentioned.“Oh, come on! You really expect me to go to their wedding and act like we are one big happy family?” he asked, trying to stay calm. “I know how my ‘dear’ brother’s brain is working. And I can say without a doubt, that the only reason Arthur wants me to be present at this ‘celebration’ is to show off… He wants me to watch his triumph. This is all that matters for him and nothing more.” His mother made a disapproving sound.“‘Son, I know it won’t be easy for you… But even so, don’t you think you should finally forgive your brother? It’s obvious that he and Guinevere are made for each other. They have so much in common… Please, Lance, it would be so nice to have my whole family back together once again.’”“Easy? Mom, please… For me, it won’t be easy or difficult. And you know why? Because I don’t care about Arthur or Guinevere. You got one thing right ab
WAKING UP WITH THE CEO CHAPTER 5
‘Come on, Anna! Suck it up!’ she thought. ‘It’s just another Saturday like all the other Saturdays... The good thing is you’re not going to be alone this time.’“I have to get through this day and be there on time,” Annalise whispered, taking a quick glance at her wristwatch.“Don’t you worry,” the cab driver replied. “I’ll get you to your destination in no time.”“I hope so, for both our sakes,” Annalise told him smiling. “Otherwise, you will be the one explaining to my mother the reason for my arriving late.”“Piece of cake!” the man exclaimed.“Don’t bet on it! My mother is an iron lady. Even Lucifer would be afraid to face her when she’s pissed off.” Annalise was a bit anxious about that particular day. It was her mother’s birthday. And since she had no wish to be alone with her mother, as always on Saturdays, Annalise ‘summoned’ for the event the most important men in her life: her two siblings, Brandon and Jeremy. She even asked her ex-boyfriend to be there, ‘
WAKING UP WITH THE CEO CHAPTER 6
Brandon got near Annalise. She turned toward her brother and disappeared in his embrace. His arms surrounded her in a hug that nearly squeezed the air out of Annalise. Sometimes her older brother was acting like a giant panda. “I’ve missed you, Anna,” Brandon said laying a kiss on the top of her head. “How are you?” “I am okay now that I have you both here with me,” she replied and took a small step back from him, stopping right in the middle. “And how are things between you and Mom lately?” he went on. Annalise lowered her gaze. “Not bad…” “Really?” Brandon asked. “Well, at least, she stopped repeating ‘you should quit your job and get married’ during every lunch we have. Now she’s talking to me about her friends and their grandkids…” Annalise answered and smiled but the smile never got to her gaze. Brandon looked at her, then at Jeremy. “We should talk to Mom about this,” he said to Jeremy. “Reassure her that as long as we are around Anna, she is going to
WAKING UP WITH THE CEO CHAPTER 7
Yes… she left home to get away from the strange, awkward relationship with her mother and at that time, San Francisco was the best option in the world. And it had been for a while, until the CEO, Todd Crosby, brought his wife, Wanda, to work at the same agency, as executive creative director. Two of the best in the business… Two of her idols… Annalise felt the rage overwhelming her. But she knew she had to calm down and avoid unnecessary drama. Jeremy rising from his chair pulled her away from her angry thoughts. Annalise forced her fingers to relax and winced at the marks she had left on her palms while once again walking down memory lane.“Mom, this was amazing, but…”“What? Are you leaving already?” Annalise asked watching the clock. “Stay until tomorrow morning…”“Anna, sweetie, I can’t. My team is expecting me bright and early in the morning. We have a lot to do for the campaign.”“But…”“Anna, leave your brother be. He’s got bigger responsibilities now,” her m
WAKING UP WITH THE CEO CHAPTER 8
“Lance is ‘a once in a lifetime’ type of client…” Annalise replied nodding. “Elaine, my boss, is trusting me to snatch this contract from our competition.” She put down her slice of pizza and faced John.“John, you have known me since we were in high school. You know how determined I am when I’m after something important. So, please, don’t get me wrong. I’ll get Hamilton with or without you, but let’s just say that having you in my corner is going to be the nail in his coffin. Moreover, it would be huge for you also. Lance Hamilton will pay a lot to have you be the spokesman for his brand.” John looked at her, then shook his head, and sighed.“You know something? I think your mother is absolutely right.”“Absolutely right about what, John? You should be more specific since my mother has a lot of opinions regarding my life. Many of them not requested,” Annalise countered in a sarcastic tone.“You should quit this job, Anna. You don’t have to prove yourself to anyone.
Latest chapter
- WAKING UP WITH THE CEO CHAPTER 53 (a long-overdue epilogue)
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- WAKING UP WITH THE CEO CHAPTER 51
- WAKING UP WITH THE CEO CHAPTER 50
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- WAKING UP WITH THE CEO CHAPTER 48
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- WAKING UP WITH THE CEO CHAPTER 46
- WAKING UP WITH THE CEO CHAPTER 45
