All Chapters of Just Say Yes: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

StevanEric watched me in silence, unhurried, his gaze steady and far too perceptive. For a moment, I had the uncomfortable feeling that he could see straight through me, reading every anxious thought racing through my head.“Stevan, I chose to have this conversation outside the office precisely so you’d feel free to tell me the truth,” he said quietly. “So I expect you not to lie or hold anything back. A lot of people think certain things go unnoticed in my company. They’re very much mistaken.”The way he said it made my skin prickle. It sounded like he already knew more than he was letting on. Maybe he was aware of the power trips. Maybe even the harassment.My stomach knotted instantly.“I’m usually the one who puts those reports together,” I answered, trying to keep my voice steady even as my hands trembled under the table. “He gives the orders. I follow them.”Eric’s expression shifted—just a flicker, almost too subtle to catch, but I saw it. It was enough to tell me I’d only con

StevanI stared at my reflection in the mirror, gripping the cool marble edge of the sink. My mind was a complete mess. I still couldn’t wrap my head around what the all-powerful CEO of the company could possibly want from me. Just being near him was enough to make me nervous—as if the car ride hadn’t already proven that.The worst part was that one sentence.“I found you interesting.”How could someone like Eric Winter say something like that to someone like me? He was the kind of man who made people lose their breath the second he walked into a room. Men, women—it didn’t matter. All it took was a few seconds of his attention, and the whole space seemed to orbit around him.So what the hell was so interesting about me?I knew I shouldn’t think like that. I knew I needed to stop seeing myself as lesser. But years of built-up frustration, insecurity, and rejection didn’t vanish just because an absurdly attractive man decided to say two kind words over lunch.I let out a slow breath, st

StevanSince my boss’s mood seemed even worse than usual, I decided not to keep him waiting. I left my things on my desk and headed straight for his office.The door was already open.He stood with his back to the entrance, staring out the window, hands planted on his hips in that familiar posture of silent tension I’d learned to recognize all too well.I closed the door behind me as I stepped inside. Not that he cared about discretion—quite the opposite. If he decided to yell, the entire floor would hear every word. Still, I preferred not to turn this into another public spectacle.“Yes, sir?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.He turned immediately, and the look on his face nearly made me roll my eyes.“Now you’re going to explain what the hell that stunt was—having lunch with the CEO.”He walked toward me slowly, but there was aggression in every step.“Do you really think that just because you presented that report and made me look like a fool, you can start getting ideas ab

EricOn the drive back to the office, I stayed silent. I needed to figure out what the hell to do about Stevan. I’d tested the waters carefully during lunch, but hearing him say—plainly and without hesitation—that he wouldn’t sleep with anyone for money had struck me deeper than I’d expected.I’d almost asked if he’d reconsider for just one person. Almost. I stopped myself at the last second.That lunch had been a goddamn storm. Every time he called me “sir,” my mind betrayed the rest of me. An uncomfortable throb beneath my slacks, my imagination running wild. In some moments I saw an opening; in others I felt frustrated, almost powerless. And powerlessness was something I refused to tolerate—especially in myself.When we reached the building, I headed straight for the executive floor. I tried to focus on work, but Stevan occupied every corner of my mind. After a few minutes of mentally cursing myself, I picked up the phone and called Christian.“Yes, Mr. Winter,” he answered, that t

StevanChaos. That was the only word that fit what happened the moment the ice-cold, all-powerful Mr. Winter stepped into the room. Fury burned in his eyes as he came straight for us, not even giving that pathetic excuse for a boss a chance to speak.The first punch landed, and I’ll admit it—I felt a sharp rush of satisfaction, of vindication. But I never expected Mr. Winter to keep going. That satisfaction quickly twisted into fear, and for a few terrifying seconds, I was frozen in place. Yes, I was scared he might actually kill the bastard, and I knew I’d carry the guilt afterward.That my boss deserved it? I didn’t doubt that for a second. But I didn’t want Eric getting into serious trouble because of me. Still… deep down, before things spiraled this far, I have to admit my heart had reacted to the sight of him defending me like that—so fiercely, so unhinged.I couldn’t just stand there watching anymore. I had to step in. The fear that he might actually kill my boss must have been