All Chapters of CEO's Regret - Losing Valentina: Chapter 51 - Chapter 60

68 Chapters

Chapter 51 - The Fitting Room Venus Part 1

Sunday 8th February 2026 - Belladonna Atelier EthanI was already in a foul mood.That pretty boy was laying it on thick. Did he have to kiss every woman he met on both cheeks? Did he have to hold Livvy's hand every second sentence? And was it absolutely necessary for him to look at Valentina as though she'd just descended from Mount Olympus?I was fairly certain I was going to need new molars by the end of the afternoon. The way I was grinding my teeth, my dentist would probably make his Christmas bonus with a single consult.Across the atelier, Matteo was effortlessly charming everyone. The junior designers adored him. Models gravitated toward him. Assistants hung onto every word he said.And my sister...My hopelessly lovestruck sister... She wasn't even trying to hide it. Her eyes followed him everywhere. I caught myself growling under my breath."Relax," Livvy whispered as she passed me."I am relaxed."She snorted. "You look like you're planning a murder.""I haven't decided."

Chapter 52 - The Fitting Room Venus Part 2

Sunday 8th February 2026 - Belladonna Atelier EthanThe fitting room curtain opened again. This time...Silence didn't merely fall. It settled.The second gown hugged every graceful line before cascading into layers of shimmering champagne tulle that caught the afternoon light like scattered stars. Thousands of tiny crystals sparkled with every hesitant step she took, while soft curls framed her face instead of the neat ponytail she'd arrived with.She looked...Ethereal. Elegant. Utterly breathtaking.Valentina stopped just inside the curtain, immediately sensing the quiet. She looked around uncertainly. "Is... is something wrong?"Nobody answered. They simply stared.Matteo finally walked forward slowly, his expression one of genuine artistic awe. "Magnificent." Just one word. It was enough to make the entire room start moving again.The photographer resumed shooting. The stylists fussed over tiny details. The seamstress adjusted the waist. The makeup artist dabbed away a nervous flu

Chapter 53 - Elevator First Encounter Part 1

Nash23 March 2025 – Pearsons PublishingThere was only the slightest nip left in the morning air.Winter had finally loosened its grip on New York. The trees lining the avenues were beginning to show tiny green buds, and most people had packed away their heavy overcoats a fortnight ago, settling instead for lighter jackets as spring cautiously announced its arrival.Mason and I were heading to Pearson Publishing together. Somehow, over the last year, that had become our routine. It was strange. A year ago, we barely tolerated one another.Now we shared meetings, strategy sessions, drinks after work...and, more often than not, the hunt for the one woman who had managed to disappear off the face of the earth.Today's quarterly board meeting had been Mason's idea. "You need to attend," he'd insisted."I don't. Those reviews bore the crap out of me.” I moaned."You oversaw the entire takeover. This one is your baby.”"I enjoy building our asset base. You enjoy meetings and number crunch

Chapter 53 - Elevator First Encounter Part 2

23 March 2025 – Pearsons PublishingNashAs soon as the elevator doors slid shut, I turned my attention to the enigma standing as far away from me as physically possible.For the first time all morning, curiosity stirred.Who on earth was the shy little mouse who had managed to remain almost invisible the entire ride?With my view finally unimpeded, I took this opportunity to look at her. Really look.She was tiny. 5.2 maybe 5.3 in her heels. Black tailored slacks hugged long, slender legs, paired with a Victorian-inspired black blouse buttoned all the way to her throat. It was tucked neatly into her waistband, emphasizing an impossibly narrow waist that looked as though my hands could span it with room to spare.Her head remained bowed, seemingly fascinated by a pair of sensible mid heel black court shoes. Nothing that screamed look at me or sexy.Ordinarily, I would have overlooked someone dressed that conservatively. My attention had always gravitated toward a woman that wore her

Chapter 54 - Finally the Scales Fell off Her Eyes

Valentina Sunday 8th February 2026 - Belladonna Change Room I slipped into the fine lace lingerie, fastening the delicate pieces with fingers that suddenly felt clumsy. I was nervous. My breath came too fast...my hands were sweaty. The lingerie was beautiful. White lace with cups that barely held my full breasts, the matching thong made my legs look longer but showed most of my butt. My cheeks pickened. All these people would be getting an eyeful. The matching silk teddy floated over my curves, its whisper-thin fabric leaving very little to the imagination.It wasn't vulgar. It was exquisitely made—ivory lace intertwined with gossamer silk that hinted more than it revealed. It was the sort of thing a bride might wear on her wedding night. A sad little laugh escaped me. As if...when would I ever be a bride putting this on for my husband's pleasure? "Nash would have lost his mind if he saw me in this." I thought.The smile faded almost instantly from my face. Because Nash wo

Chapter 55 - At Last She Sees Me

Sunday 8th February 2026 – Casa Belladonna Atalier Ethan I watched the changing room curtain fall closed behind Valentina, and my imagination immediately betrayed me. Somewhere beyond that thin piece of fabric she was changing into the ivory lace outfit Matteo had chosen. I stood there, my jaw tight. I could feel the heat radiating off my own skin, my mind already racing with images of her in that lace. I glanced at Matteo. The too handsome pansy was vibrating with excitement, his eyes wide. I stepped closer to him, my shoulder brushing his, a silent warning to keep his distance. Lizzy elbowed me, Matteo huffed a laugh. I didn’t even feel bad. Any other time, I was the most placid person but throw Valentina in the mix and suddenly I turned into this territorial beast. I closed my eyes briefly. If life had been kinder... if circumstances had been different... maybe one day I'd have been the man seeing her wear something like that because she wanted me to. Not because a

Chapter 56 - Unearthing the Hidden Gem at Baileys

23 March 2025 – Pearsons PublishingNashAt the best of times, financial reviews bored me senseless. Today, however, they were pure torture.Maybe it was because Father's ridiculous one-month deadline was looming over Mason and me like a guillotine.Maybe it was because I was sitting in the very building where I'd first met Valentina.Or maybe I was simply exhausted from spending another night wondering where she was.Whatever the reason, I'd mentally checked out within the first thirty minutes.Graphs blurred into spreadsheets. Profit margins became white noise. Someone droned on about quarterly earnings while another argued over print distribution percentages.I couldn't have repeated a single word if someone had put a gun to my head.Under the table, a sharp kick connected with my shin. I glared sideways. Mason raised an eyebrow. *Pay attention.* he mouthed.I rolled my eyes. The fact that I wasn't asleep or snoring should've earned me some sort of medal.Ungrateful bastard. This w

Chapter 57 -Porno or Photoshoot? Part 1

Sunday 8th February 2026 – Casa Belladonna AtalierEthanThe photographer circled us slowly, camera hanging from his neck while Matteo studied us with an artist's eye.He turned to Valentina. "We'll only ever catch your face in profile or partially hidden. A glimpse. Enough to intrigue people but never enough for them to identify you before Valentine's Day."Matteo nodded enthusiastically. "The mystery is part of the magic."I felt Valentina visibly relax beside me. One less thing for her to worry about."Good," Matteo clapped. "Now, Ethan...you are obsessed with her." I bit back a smile. If only he knew. "And Bellina..." he continued gently, "...you're putting yourself out there. Dressed for your man. You feel safe with him. Drawn to him – want to surrender to his passion."The photographer raised his camera. "Let's begin."I stepped in front of Valentina as instructed. My hands hovered uncertainly above her tiny waist. She glanced up at me. "It's fine," she whispered, though her voi

Chapter 58 - Porno or Photoshoot? Part 2

Sunday 8th February 2026 – Casa Belladonna AtalierEthanThe photographer barely lowered the camera before issuing another instruction. "Now Bellina turn toward him." Valentina did, slowly. Her curls brushed my forearm. "Eyes on each other."The moment our gazes met, her green eyes locked onto me and she forgot about everyone else. So did I."Wonderful..." Matteo whispered. "The chemistry..." He looked positively delighted. "It practically vibrates."The photographer laughed. "I've photographed married couples and lovers with less tension than you two."Livvy, watching with Rhys in her arms, winked at me with an all-too-knowing grin. "This photoshoot should be PG – for goodness sake, there’s a baby here.”Valentina's blush deepened. I leaned closer. "Ignore her. She wishes it was her and that pretty boy.” I said smiling at her. Val blinked and then gave a small nervous giggle before nodding. The photographer caught the exchange. "Don't move!" The shutter fired rapidly. "That tender e

Chapter 59 - The Cantankerous Elevator Part 1

23 March 2025 – Pearsons Publishing Nash We stood outside the executive reception area waiting for the private elevator, and forthe first time in years, I couldn't get out of this time in years, I couldn't get out of this building fast enough. Funny how a place could remember things long after people were gone. My mind drifted back to the three months Valentina had interned here. To the first time we had ended up alone in this very executive elevator becuase of Livvy's shenanigans. But something about her captured me from that very first meeting, and I found myself telling her as she exited that I would keep holding the elevator for them. After that, it somehow became a routine neither of us acknowledged. On some mornings I'd deliberately slow my pace, knowing she’d be arriving any minute with Livvy. Other days she'd already be waiting outsidethe lift, tucked safely behind her best friend as if Livvy were some kind of human shield. The other staff stared. Some w

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