All Chapters of HIRED BY THE RUTHLESS CEO : Chapter 51 - Chapter 60

65 Chapters

Chapter 51 - Mother’s Words

Damien POVMy mother hasn't left her house in years. Last I saw her was when I invited Aria over her apartment. The fact that she's standing in my lobby, perfectly composed in Chanel armor, means whatever she has to say will destroy me; but alas, I was wrong. "Not here." I glance at the receptionist already pretending not to stare. "Upstairs."Henry starts to follow, but my mother's look stops him cold. This is between us.The executive floor feels different now—like I'm already a ghost haunting my own empire. I lead her into a private conference room, close the blinds. She doesn't sit. Neither do I."I've been calling for weeks," she says without preamble. "You haven't answered.""I've been busy.""Being eviscerated in the press?" Her tone is sharp. "I read the articles, Damien. The board investigation. The inappropriate relationship with David Holt's daughter." She pauses. "The woman whose family you swore to destroy."My jaw tightens. "If you came to lecture me""I came because yo

Chapter 52 - Flashback

Aria POVThe apartment is dark when I get home, which means Sophie's still at her evening yoga class. Good. I need a few minutes to process before she interrogates me about why I look like I've been crying.I drop my bag by the door and head straight for the kitchen, pulling out the cheap wine we keep for emergencies. This qualifies.Three weeks at TechVista Solutions and I'm finally finding my rhythm. The work is challenging but fair. My colleagues respect me. Julian treats me like an equal, not a project or a pawn. I'm building something real.So why does my chest feel hollow?I pour wine into a mug—we still haven't unpacked the wine glasses from the move—and settle on the couch. My laptop sits on the coffee table where I left it this morning. Against my better judgment, I open it and pull up the business news.The headline still makes my stomach clench: CROSS CEO TAKES LEAVE OF ABSENCE IN WAKE OF LEADERSHIP CRISISI've read the article four times today. It doesn't get easie

Chapter 53 - What Henry Sees

Aria’s POVI answered Henry’s call and he pleaded we met to discuss something important.The coffee shop Henry chose is deliberately neutral—a place neither of us has been before, halfway between my apartment and Cross Tower. When I arrive, he’s already at a corner table, looking like he hasn’t slept in days.“Thanks for coming.” He stands as I approach, and I see the relief wash over his face. “I wasn’t sure you would.”“Of course I would.” I take off my coat and sit, offering a small smile. “Sophie’s been worried about you both. And honestly, so have I.”His shoulders relax slightly. A waitress appears, and I order chamomile tea—something to calm the nervous flutter in my chest.When she leaves, Henry leans forward. “He’s not himself, Aria. I know you’ve been keeping your distance, and I understand why. But this isn’t just—he’s really struggling.”“I know.” I wrap my hands around the edge of the table. “I’ve seen the news. The leave of absence. I just—I needed space to figure out wh

Chapter 57 – Forgiveness and Choice

Aria’s POVI drive home slowly after leaving the coffee shop, Henry’s words echoing in my head. When I finally get home, Sophie’s waiting with worried eyes and Chinese takeout. “How are you?” That was the first thing Sophie asked.“Confused. Hopeful. Terrified.” I sink onto the couch. “He’s in therapy, Sophie. Three times a week. Actually trying to change.”“Good. He should be.” She sits beside me, hands me chopsticks. “But babe, that doesn’t obligate you to anything. Therapy is what he should have done years ago, before he destroyed you.”“I know.”“Do you?” She turns to face me. “Because I can see you softening. Thinking maybe you should give him another chance. And I’m scared you’re going to sacrifice yourself on the altar of his redemption.”“What if I’m not sacrificing myself?” The question surprises us both. “What if facing him is part of my healing too?”Sophie’s quiet for a long moment. “Then that’s different. But Aria, you have to be honest with yourself. Are you doing this

Chapter 55 - Admission

Damien POVI stare at the screen until my vision blurs. We need to talk. Four simple words that could mean everything or nothing. Forgiveness or final goodbye.I forward the text to Dr. Talia immediately.My therapist calls within minutes. "Damien. I saw your message.""She wants to meet." My voice sounds foreign. "Tomorrow. What do I say? How do I…" I stop, overwhelmed."Let's work through this." Her tone is calm, grounding. "What are you most afraid of?""That she'll look at me and see exactly what I am. A monster who destroyed her for something she didn't do." The words feels uncomfortable. "That she'll confirm what I already know—that I'm irredeemable.""And what do you hope for?"I close my eyes. "That somehow, impossibly, there's a version of this where she doesn't hate me. Where I can show her I'm trying to be better. Not for her. For myself. But…" My throat tightens. "I want her to see that I'm trying.""Then that's what you tell her." Dr. Talia’s voice is firm. "No grand gest

Chapter 56 –Starting with Your Father

Aria POVBefore I can respond to Damien's confession, my phone rings.Mom's name flashes across the screen. My heart drops into my stomach."I need to take this." I don't wait for permission. "Mom?""Aria, your father is awake." Relief floods her voice, tinged with exhaustion. "He's asking for you. And he wants to see Damien too, if he's nearby."I lower the phone slightly, looking at Damien across the café table. His expression shifts immediately—concern replacing the vulnerability from moments ago."It's my dad," I tell him. "He's awake. He wants to see both of us."Damien stands without hesitation. "Let's go."I bring the phone back to my ear. "Mom, we're coming. Twenty minutes."****The drive is silent except for the hum of the engine and the occasional direction I give. Damien grips the steering wheel like it's the only thing keeping him grounded.I want to say something. Want to acknowledge what just happened at the café. But everything feels suspended, waiting.At the hospita

Chapter 57 - Choosing Better

Damien POVFacing David Holt is harder than any board meeting I've ever attended.The man lying in this hospital bed is the person I blamed for eight years. The person I built my entire existence around destroying. And now I'm sitting beside him, knowing I was wrong about everything."Mr. Cross." David's voice is weak but steady. "Thank you for coming.""Mr. Holt." I force the words past the tightness in my throat. "I don't deserve your time.""Maybe not." He shifts slightly, wincing. "But we're past what anyone deserves, aren't we?"I don't know how to respond to that.David studies me for a long moment. "My wife tells me you paid for my surgery.""It was the least I could do." Shame burns through me. "After everything I put your family through…""But was it because you made my daughter pay for my mistakes.""Worse." I meet his eyes. "I made her pay for mistakes you didn't even make. I've seen the evidence now, Mr. Holt. The sabotage. The frame job. You took the blame to protect your

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

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

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

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