Star-Crossed Lovers: The Heartthrob's Infatuated CEO
Staring down at the man beneath her, she grabbed on to his chin and lifted his face. A devilish smile adorned her face. "If I can't have you, I would rather destroy you." ~ "My Dear Valerie, all I want is to watch you cry." The sparkling him who lives in the light would never pay attention to the her who is tainted. The Apathetic Heiress who had it all— beauty, wealth, and intelligence. That's what everyone saw her as. But beyond that exterior, Valerie Davies was an insecure and paranoid girl who remained obsessed with her first love, Lucian Gray. Valerie hid a secret side. If triggered, that side of her wreaked havoc. He was the light in her dark world, a dazzling and far-fetched dream, and the only one that mattered to her. Lucian Gray had all he could ask for— a loving family, fame, and wealth. But that happy life of his faced a challenge when his parents are set on having him marry Valerie— the very person he has deep hatred for. Getting engaged to the very person who makes his blood boil? Impossible! And what happens when he attempts to escape from the engagement? He triggers the dangerous side of hers that badly wants to possess him. As for him, he wishes to break down that composed Valerie and have her at his mercy. Throw in the mix a controlling father, a half-sister who is out for revenge, and conspiracies being planned in the dark.
Filthy Side
It was the crack of dawn when Valerie showed satisfaction with their cleaning and let them go. Exhausted and unable to keep their eyes open for longer, they almost cried in relief at Valerie releasing them. Few even bowed to her.
They ran as quick as flash, vowing to never enter her apartment again.
Lucian was tired too. Valerie clearly didn't spare him either. Stretching his arms, he stood up, ready to go to the bed when he noticed that Valerie was still standing at the staircase, looking down at him.
He wondered if it was worth it to get himself so beat just to watch that angry expression on Valerie. After a few seconds of contemplation, he thought it was.
His lips curved.
"What? Do you plan to send me to those manner classes as well?"
"That would bring shame on me," Valerie voiced out, "and treat this as my compensation. Next time, you wouldn't get out of it so easily."
With that, Valerie turned her back on him and stepped into her bedroom. That made him realize that even Valerie didn't sleep during this entire time.
Unexpectedly, even she did foolish things.
Of course, one of them was letting him, who hates her, into her private space, and she easily overlooked his gender.
He shook his head. Since it was Valerie, it would be strange if the matter had been dealt with normally.
°°°
"Chairman Davies is waiting for you inside," Valerie's secretary informed before she was about to enter her office.
Valerie nodded before stepping in.
Closing the door behind her, she bowed politely and enunciated, "Chairman."
The man stared at her. Those eyes of his looked menacing, and he had his jaw clenched as he stomped over to Valerie.
This wasn't good. Valerie concluded. However, her heart didn't shake as it did in her childhood. She remained firm.
Even when he raised his hand and harshly connected it against her cheek, letting the loud spread across the room. Valerie's head turned the other direction, and she stumbled back slightly before composing herself. A mark was starting to form on her cheek as the corner of her lips cracked.
"How dare you!? I told you to keep that filthy side of yours inside yet you dare to flaunt it! Your courage has gone really big, hadn't it? Do you want me to teach you your position personally?"
Valerie silently let him scold her without a change of expression.
She didn't know when it started exactly. Maybe it had been since ever since she could understand words. Her father had been cursing at her and, in worse cases, he would use physical methods.
Back when she was a child, she cried and begged him to stop only to learn later on how hard his heart was. Even a child's tear wasn't able to melt his heart. What good would it do now that she was older?
"I apologize, Chairman. I will try to control myself better next time."
He sneered.
"Control yourself better? How many times have you said those words!? When are you actually going to do it? It seems as though you are not serious enough. I should teach you how dire the situation is."
Valerie paled at it.
"No, Chairman. Please."
Before Arnold could continue, the door was knocked, and this got Arnold to fix himself up. He valued his image. He gave one last glare at Valerie before striding over to the door.
"This is not over."
He left his words.
Once he was gone, her secretary stepped into the room, and Valerie loosened the tie worn around her neck. The atmosphere in the room was tense.
"Should I postpone the meeting with sales department?"
"No. Book a table at May's and have Lucian safely escorted there for dinner."
°°°
"Valerie, aren't you overprotective?" Lucian joked.
She had him locked up in her apartment the entire day, so that he couldn't go out to create trouble before proceeding to have four bodyguards surround him as he was brought into the restaurant. It was extremely restrictive and suffocated him.
This wasn't the first time he had the reporters hot on his trail neither was this case even serious yet Valerie acted as though the world was out there to murder him.
She indifferently looked at him and responded, "I can't afford to have you attacked."
"I believe I will be fine," he pointed out, showing his intent of not willing to follow through this from tomorrow.
"Do I need to bring up all incidents you got attacked?"