Lahat ng Kabanata ng Too Late for Love, Mr. CEO: Kabanata 51 - Kabanata 60

***Vivienne’s POV ***Julian stepped forward beside me and removed his mask, his expression warm and respectful as he greeted my grandparents politely. He said that he had heard Pop-Pop was unwell while he was on the way here with me and that he wanted to come in to check on him personally and ask how he was feeling now.Pop-Pop immediately smiled, his mood brightening as he waved his hand in reassurance and told Julian that he was fine and that there was no need to worry, that it was only a minor issue and nothing serious.Julian nodded with visible relief, and after confirming that Pop-Pop looked stable, he did not linger. He always understood boundaries clearly, so he said he would not disturb the family further and that he would head out now. He turned slightly toward me and said goodbye, then toward my grandparents again, and finally toward Alexander, offering him a polite farewell before putting his mask back on and leaving the room.After Julian left, Nana looked at me with a g

***Vivienne’s POV Cont ***I swallowed hard, my throat tight and sour. My chest felt heavy, my thoughts tangled, but I forced myself to stand still in front of Alexander’s desk, holding onto what little composure I had left.“I don’t think Isabella Blackwood’s public image aligns with this product,” I said.“She’s known for a cold, elegant persona. This campaign requires warmth and relatability.”I explained everything clearly, professionally, because this was my field. Branding was something I understood better than anyone in that room.Alexander barely reacted.He looked at me as if the discussion itself was insignificant.“That’s your responsibility,” he said flatly. “Not mine.”“You’ll figure it out. You always do.”Then he added, almost casually, “This endorsement is important for Isabella. You’ll personally supervise the entire process.”His tone was calm. Detached.As if he were assigning a routine task.Not forcing me to work closely with the woman he loved.My face felt stiff

***Vivienne’s POV ***Olivia stood in front of me with a faint smile on her lips.“Director Vivienne, congratulations on your recovery.”Her tone was polite, but the mockery beneath it was impossible to miss.I met her gaze calmly.“Thank you, Director Olivia.”Her eyes swept over me slowly, measuring, evaluating.“You were absent for several days. I almost thought you were too ashamed to come back.”A soft laugh escaped me.“Director Olivia seems to be in a very good mood, even after losing half of your year-end bonus. That must be a considerable amount. Yet you still have the energy to come here and provoke me. It seems you truly do not mind losing so much money.”Her smile faltered for a brief moment before she composed herself.“Vivienne, do you really think you have won?”I raised my brow slightly.“What do you mean?”She leaned closer, lowering her voice.“Do you truly believe that incident was only an intern’s mistake?”I fell silent.Of course I knew the truth.It had been Oli

***Vivienne’s POV***Alexander looked at me for a few seconds after I spoke, and then he smiled. It was the kind of smile adults used when a child said something unreasonable, calm, certain, and completely dismissive.Something in my chest tightened painfully.“Vivienne, this is not funny,” he said in a steady tone. “Even if you and Olivia have conflicts at work, you should not joke about something like this.”I did not respond.Of course he did not believe me. He never would.Olivia had worked with him for years, and in his eyes she was loyal, capable, and professional. She had a long-term boyfriend as well, so from his perspective, the idea that she liked him was absurd. Everything about his reasoning was clean and logical.Which meant that I, in comparison, sounded irrational.Jealous. Dramatic. Perhaps even insecure.A quiet stillness settled inside me.It became clear again that he did not truly trust me, not in the way that mattered. Not deeply.There had been a time when I beli

***Alexander's POV***The moment Vivienne pushed me away, I froze beside her.“Vivienne,” I called softly, hoping she would turn back toward me.But she did not respond. She simply shifted onto her side and faced away from me, her back turned firmly in my direction as though she had already built a wall between us.A faint crease appeared between my brows.Not again.The room gradually fell silent except for the quiet sound of her breathing. After several minutes, her breaths became slow and even, steady enough to convince anyone that she had fallen asleep peacefully.I remained awake.The darkness above me felt heavy while my thoughts refused to settle. My body was still tense from the intimacy we had almost shared, yet what unsettled me more was the confusion twisting inside my chest.She had responded to me.I had felt it clearly.Vivienne had leaned closer during the kiss. Her fingers had tangled in my hair and her body had softened instinctively against mine. None of it had been