All Chapters of One Night with the Cold CEO: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

“Who do you think you are?! Just because you ask doesn’t mean I have to tell you! What does it matter to you where I am?!” Ruby cried, her voice raspy from weeping.Before Tony Stark could speak, a man’s voice filtered through the line: “Excuse me, miss, should I clear away these empty bottles for you?”“Yeah... clear them.”“Right away, miss.” The bartender stepped over and swept the empty bottles off the counter.Hearing that exchange, Tony Stark’s brow furrowed tightly. The truth dawned on him instantly, his voice stiffening with tension. “Are you at a bar right now?”Ruby slumped over the bar top, thoroughly wasted, tears streaming down her flushed cheeks. “Where I am is none of your business! You don't get to ask about me!”She was completely smashed, her mind a haze of grief and alcohol.She had loved him for so many years, yet her sister was the only one who had ever held a place in his heart. There had never been room for her—not even an inch. Even if he showed her a shred of

Spotting Chloe Bishop fully dressed and standing by the front door ready to head out, little Adrian’s tiny brows knit together in a subtle frown."Mommy, it's so late. Where are you going?""Adrian, Auntie Ruby got drunk, so Mommy has to go pick her up. I’ll be back super fast, okay?" Chloe explained hurriedly, giving him a quick wave before rushing out the door.Adrian stood in silence, watching the door click shut.Walking over to the sofa, he let out a long, weary sigh. Mommy and Auntie Ruby are both so helpless... No wonder they’re best friends.After taking a quick trip to the bathroom, Adrian gave it some thought and decided to curl up on the sofa to wait for Chloe to get back.Inside the BarThe flashing lights were blinding, making it almost impossible to see.Pushing her way through the dense, crowded floor, Chloe scanned the room for Ruby. She hadn't been searching long when her eyes caught sight of the bar counter.Ruby was thoroughly wasted, passed out cold face-down on th

Chloe knew Ruby wasn't the type of girl who frequented bars. She had always been sensible, sweet, and mild-mannered. Going out to drink like this meant something was weighing heavily on her chest.Chloe already had a strong guess. It probably has something to do with that news segment on TV... Tony Stark must be the man Ruby’s been in love with all this time."Actually, I..."Ruby’s lips parted, but she hesitated, shutting her mouth again.Chloe gave her a gentle, reassuring smile. "It's okay if you don't want to talk about it. Just tell me whenever you're ready."Having been best friends with Ruby for so long, Chloe knew how kind-hearted she was—and how she tended to bottle up her pain rather than burden others. Seeing her friend hurt like this made Chloe’s heart ache."It's not that I don't want to tell you..." Ruby swallowed hard. She had simply been running away from it, lacking the courage to bring it up.Pressing her lips together, Ruby took a long, deep breath. "Chloe... I'll t

Tears spilled over her eyelashes in a hot, uncontrollable torrent. Ruby’s voice broke, choked with raw emotion. "Then what about me?! I love you too! You're my first love, Tony Stark—do you have any idea?!"Tony Stark froze, his heart dropping like a stone. His tall, towering frame turned instantly rigid.The blaring bar music pounded around them, but her frantic sobs drowned out everything else. The man instinctively raised a hand to comfort her, but after a moment's hesitation, he let it fall back limply to his side."What happened after that?" Chloe’s soft voice pulled her back from the dizzying tide of memory. "Did he accept you?""No... He turned me down." Ruby buried her face in her hands, crushed by shame and heartache. "And no matter what I did, he refused to open his heart to me. I tried so hard to become accomplished like my cousin... I even forced myself to do all the things she used to do. But he still couldn't bring himself to love me—not even a little bit. So in the end,

Once the coffee was brewed, Chloe Bishop carried the cup over and stopped outside the office door.Knock, knock, knock."Come in," a low, deep voice responded.The executive suite was dead quiet.Chloe pushed the door open, carefully setting the mug onto the sleek desk. "Mr. Grayson, your coffee is ready."Xavier Grayson picked up the porcelain cup, took a single sip, and set it back down. He didn't order her to remake it like yesterday.Nailed the temperature!Chloe couldn't help but quietly celebrate her own cleverness. Using a thermometer to measure coffee temperature had been a stroke of absolute genius."Secretary Bishop, compile the annual financial reports for all subsidiary companies and hand them to me before the end of the day." His dark eyes remained fixed on the tall stack of files resting on his desk."By... today?"Chloe’s bright eyes widened in sheer disbelief. That stack of documents on his desk was nearly a foot high—and he expected her to finish all of it in a single