TOO LATE TO WANT ME BACK, MR CEO のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 1 - チャプター 10

Aurora (18 months later)When I opened my eyes, everything felt… wrong.The world felt slow and heavy like I had been asleep for too long. A dull headache throbbed behind my eyes as I blinked, trying to focus.The ceiling above me was unfamiliar, white and just too bright.Beep… beep… beep…The sound was sharp and annoying.It filled the room like it was mocking me, interrupted by a soft whimper.I turned my head slightly in the direction of the sound and came face to face with the sight of a man standing by the side of the room, holding a small child wrapped in soft cloth.He was feeding the baby carefully, like he had done it a hundred times before.I frowned, feeling very confused and disoriented.“What…” My voice came out as dry as paper. “What is going on?”The man froze before slowly turning to look at me. Shock filled his face.“You’re awake.” he breathed.Before I could ask anything else, the doctors rushed in, checking me and probing for questions“Her vitals are stable!”“She’s

DAMIEN“Sir, the files have been sent to your inbox.” I turned at the sound of my assistant’s voice and incline my head, letting her know that I got the message. Leila gives me a worried smile and strides out.It’s no secret that I’ve been a raging asshole for the past year. The last few months have cooled off my anger – ever since my father returned back from his honeymoon.My assistant had taken the brunt of it, before getting fed up one night a few weeks back and threatening to leave me – if I don’t get my act right.Easy to say, I was not eager to run off my forty six year old assistant and have her cry to her husband – who was a former heavy weight boxer.Yeah, not an ideal situation to walk myself into. I finally let go of the morose cloud hanging over me and go to my desk, willing my mind to focus on my work.The email that Leila dropped in my inbox was staring back at me and I hesitated at the subject line before finally clicking into it.“Fuck no.” I recoiled deeper into my s

AuroraBy the time I got home that night, my nerves were frayed.Damien Cross had walked back into my life, looked me in the eye, and told me he wanted me back.After five years.He had to be insane if he thought I was going to let him waltz his way back into my life and let him have his way.To think he thought a single apology would erase all of that.I shoved my office bag onto the kitchen counter harder than necessary."Mommy!"A blur of little legs launched itself at me.I barely had time to put my arms out before Theo collided with my waist.A smile escaped me despite everything."Hey, troublemaker."He grinned, a missing front tooth on full display.Leon was sitting at the dining table, laptop open."Rough day?" he asked."You have no idea."His gaze sharpened slightly, but he didn't push.One of the many things I appreciated about Leon.He never pushed. He always respected my privacy.Unlike a certain billionaire who thought boundaries were optional.That thought alone ruined

AuroraSitting up and peering at my morning coffee as if it were the cause of my life problems, I was halfway through it when a figure hurried towards the glass walls of my office and stumbled through the door.Patrice. Of course.I focused on the document on my screen, scrolling through reports.“You need to see this?” She rasped.“No,” I said bluntly.“Why?” She gasped.“Because I’m not interested,” I said. “So, let’s just skip to the part where I say no, and you go away.”A folder dropped beside my coffee cup, nearly spilling my coffee. That was when I looked up.“Patrice?” I glared at her. “I’ll begin to lock this office because of you.” “You said that last month,” her voice sounded flat.“I meant every word," I shot back.“Well, it’s not my fault that you love me too much,” she shrugged.“I think you’re referring to my work,” I said. “What is it?”“Cross Industries,” she muttered with a grim expression.My mood soured instantly. “What about them?”“They sent a proposal,” Patrice

AuroraIncompetent people were the next thing I hated more than Damien. I hate them in everything in me. I hated them more if their incompetence affected my work.And right now, it was.My heels clicked against the marble floor hard as I strode through the executive wing, heading for the sales manager’s office.The human had ignored three calls.Three business calls during working hours.I wasn’t paying people six-figure salaries so they could pretend their phones didn’t exist. While my phone was still in my hand, I pressed redial, watching the phone ring.Then went to voicemail. Of course.I stopped walking, staring at my phone. Then an unpleasant smile tugged my lips. “Mr. Tanner is definitely getting fired today,” I muttered.A junior assistant walking past me immediately lowered her head and scurried away.I continued working, and Conference Room D came into view.Normally, I wouldn’t even spare a glance.But today, fate hated me, and I looked. The glass walls offered a perfec