All Chapters of THE CEO’S DIRTY SECRET: Chapter 111 - Chapter 120

STELLAEverything was quiet when I opened my eyes. The fireworks had stopped. The city below was calm against the night sky, and I could see it from where I sat on the bed through the balcony.For a moment, I actually thought everything was a dream the argument, the ache in my chest, everything. But the space on the other side of the bed told me it wasn’t.James wasn’t in bed.I got out of bed slowly, the sheets cold against my skin. My eyes flicked toward the balcony again, and there he was. I hadn’t noticed when I first woke up his broad shoulders looked tense under the night.He hadn’t noticed I was awake.Something about the sight tugged at me. He looked… still. Lonely. Broken. Was it because of our fight? What really was going on? For a man like James, who always carried himself like nothing could touch him, the sight looked painful.I stepped forward. For a moment, he hadn’t noticed me there, and all I wanted to do was hold him from behind. But when I moved even closer, I heard

BRAD“Where the hell is he?” I yelled, but no one could give me an answer. They all sat there, heads bent, refusing to meet my gaze.“Done... surely you’d have a clue on where James is, right?” I said, voice low and frustrated.“No, sir. He’s your cousin... what about if you ask his mother, or should we bring her in?” he spoke, his voice calm and confident, but that fear was there and I liked that.“If I get James’s mother involved in this,” I said, fiddling with a pen in my hand, “it’s going to raise suspicions. And believe me, she’s a very smart woman. And he’s not picking my calls.” I clenched my fists.“Could he be onto us?” Done asked.I chuckled darkly. “James is a smart man, but I’m always a step ahead. So if he’s planning anything, I’d know.” I looked around the room. Most of my loyal subjects were already here except... one. “Zade.”“Where’s Zade?”“In his apartment, sir.”“Get him. Now,” I said, my control slipping. I was posing as calm when it felt like a storm was inside m

STELLAI stood there completely still, my mind trying to process what Nicholas was saying. I knew he had feelings for me, but him being in love with me was something I seriously couldn't handle right now.The space between us was suffocating. I couldn't breathe. I never should have come here. I opened my mouth to speak, but it felt like I had no right words to say.Nicholas was a good person, even if he and James were enemies, there was no disputing that fact. But I wasn't the woman for him.“Nicholas…” I finally said, my voice small, trembling. “Please… tell me you don't mean that,” I asked, knowing fully well he meant every word he said.He stepped closer, his eyes burning into mine. “I do, Stella. I've tried to forget you, to stay away from you, but it's so difficult. I've never felt this way for anyone before. I knew it was wrong from the first moment you stepped into my life. I should have kept my distance, but I didn't, and now I'm hopelessly in love with you, and I know I'd nev

JAMESI was pacing the room like a restless animal. Stella wasn't back. She wasn't picking any of my messages or returning any of my calls.I looked at the clock. It was 2 a.m. Every single second that passed without her walking through the damn door made it harder for me to breathe, my pulse was racing, my chest tightening.“Stella, where are you?” I muttered as I kept calling her line over and over and over again. But it kept going to voicemail. All my texts were unread. Was she that mad at me?This was all my fault, but she could have at least come back home.My throat was dry, chest tight. I tried to sit still, but I couldn't. I should have just told her what she wanted to know or better still lied—at least it would have been better than making her feel crazy, like she didn't know what she heard.“She’s fine,” I resorted to saying over and over again, trying to convince myself. She just needed space.But even as I said it, it felt so fucking hard to even believe.It felt like I wa

JamesI was still seated on that chair watching the time as the night stretched to morning. I couldn't close my eyes.I poured myself another glass of whiskey, the only thing keeping me sane right now. I'd lost count of how many bottles I'd had. I felt myself slowly drifting into madness. I'd waited, hoping that she would just walk through that door, but I knew it was too good to be true.I ran a hand over my face and picked up my phone again, calling Zade. I shouldn’t have, not when he was already spying on the Triad for me, but I needed something, anything at all.“Zade,” I said when he picked after the third ring.“I'm really sorry, James. This wasn't the Triad. They didn't take her. I’ve been digging and nothing. If they didn’t take her, I would have known.”“Please… please tell me this is a joke. This can't be happening. If the Triad didn't take her, then who the fuck did?”“I’m sorry, James,” he said, voice broken, “but it wasn’t the Triad, and I have no idea where she could be.