All Chapters of A Deal With Mr. CEO: Chapter 61 - Chapter 70

AMELIA It was date night. I stood in front of the mirror in my bedroom, staring at my reflection for what felt like the hundredth time. I stared at the gown Adrian had got me during the early stage of this entire thing, a deep midnight blue that fell elegantly to the floor with a subtle slit. I ran my hands down the smooth fabric, trying to steady the nerves that had been building all day. Just a few more days, I reminded myself. A few more days and this would all be over. I would go back to being single, the way I had chosen, the way I had always preferred. That had been my rule for years, no dating, no complications, no risk of getting hurt again. But then Adrian came along. I shook my head sharply, as if the motion could shake the thoughts away. No. I wasn’t going to spiral tonight. This was supposed to be our last public date. A final performance before the contract ended. I would enjoy it and keep things light. I took a deep, shuddering breath, pressing my palms

AMELIA The following Monday arrived with finality. Today marked exactly four months since the contract began, which meant it was the end of everything. I woke up that morning feeling the weight of it. When I agreed to this entire thing, I would never have believed this is how it would feel like when it ended. I went through my usual routine and then got dressed for work. Adrian was scheduled to come in for the campaign approval meeting that afternoon. When I arrived, the team whose work was directly tied to the Relaunch project gathered in the boardroom. Not a huge crowd, just the core group, senior strategists, creatives, and a couple of account leads. I took my usual seat between trying to steady the nervous flutter in my stomach. When Adrian walked in with Evander, the room’s energy shifted in that familiar way. He exchanged a brief, professional greeting with Mr. Hillary, then gave a polite nod to the rest of the room as a whole. His eyes didn’t sweep across to find m

The following week, we all that were involved in the Rebrand were called to the boardroom that afternoon. We all filed in. Mr. Hillary stood at the head of the table, looking pleased as he addressed us. "You all did an exceptional job," he said, his voice warm. "The client, Mr. Adrian Langford was satisfied. Everything was on point. Well done to every single one of you." A round of applause rippled through the room. I clapped along with everyone else. Mr. Hillary continued, "Because of the success of this project, two other major firms have already reached out to us for similar rebranding work. This is a significant win for Elevate. It puts us firmly on the map in the premium acquisition space." "We’ll be discussing the specifics of the new accounts later this week," Mr. Hillary added, gathering his things. "But for now, take the win. You’ve earned it. Meeting adjourned." Another round of applause followed, louder this time. A few people cheered. After a few more conver

It's been over a week since the "incident" in Adrian’s office. I had thrown myself into the new client pitches and just tried to distract myself. I exhaled slowly, pushing the thought away as I sat on my couch that evening. Just then, my phone began to vibrate on the table in front of me. I picked the phone up. It was a group FaceTime request from Zoey and Brianna. I smiled faintly before answering. "Hey, you two." "Hello!" Zoey’s voice came through immediately, dramatic as ever. "Happy Birthday Eve!" Brianna’s face filled half the screen. "Don't even think about saying you're too tired tomorrow," Zoey chimed in from her own window, pointing a mascara wand at the camera. She continued. "Tomorrow is the big Two and Six, and thankfully, it’s a Friday. That means no 'I have a big meeting tomorrow' excuses, Amelia. We are going out. Real food, real drinks, and zero talk about work. We're just having fun." I laughed. "Okay, okay! I hear you both. I surrender. No work talk, I promis

ADRIAN Yesterday had been Amelia’s birthday. The thought had not left my mind since. Not even once. I sat in my study. For most people, a date like that might slip through the cracks of a busy schedule. But ever since I had done my initial research on her, back when I had wanted her for the deal, the date had kind of been etched into my memory. At the time, it had been just another detail. A line on a page. Something to note and move past. Now… It felt like something else entirely. Yesterday, it sat in the back of my mind like a ticking clock. I hadn’t forgotten. My phone vibrated on the desk. It was Evander. I picked it up. "Hello?" "Sir," Evander’s voice came through. "I’m finalizing the itinerary for the business trip next week. The board is expecting you at the opening of the new tech hub. Do you want the jet prepped for Monday morning?" I stared out at the shelf for a moment. "No," I said, my voice sounding more final than I intended. "Reschedule the trip. I’m