A sudden knock at the door made him freeze, his grip loosening. Seizing the mont, Anne shoved him with all her strength, catching him off guard. He stumbled back, and in an instant, she scrambled to her feet, her body trembling uncontrollably in fear and fury. Her hands shook as she wiped her tear-streaked face, her fingers fumbling to smooth her skirt and adjust her blouse.
Denis sat there, his eyes blazing with anger as he watched her.
She turned to leave, but he grabbed her wrist, tightening his grip.
Anne sucked in a sharp breath, her shoulders stiffening. "Please, Denis," she whispered. Her lower lip quivered, betraying the storm raging inside her. "Let go. Soone is outside."
Denis smirked wickedly, relishing the sight of her—shaken, fearful, pleading. She looked like a frightened kitten, desperate for escape. This was the Anne he wanted—submissive, obedient, completely under his control. And the more she trembled, the more he wanted to make her his.
"Apologize," he commanded. "Admit you were wrong and promise to be my obedient girlfriend."
The arrogance in his voice and the smugness on his face made her stomach twist. But instead of fear, anger surged through her, burning away any trace of hesitation. With a sharp yank, she freed her wrist from his grip.
"In your dreams." She spat the words at him before storming out.
As soon as she stepped outside, she spotted Haris. Their eyes t for a brief second, but she didn’t stop. She quickened her pace and disappeared down the hall.
"Damn it!" Denis slamd his fist onto the sofa, his entire body rigid with frustration. He exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. "When did she beco so damn difficult to control?"
Haris hesitated at the doorway before cautiously stepping inside. "Sir..."
"What?" Denis barked, his voice echoing off the walls.
Haris flinched, lowering his head imdiately. "The eting with Mr. Lee—it’s in an hour."
The mont the na registered, Denis’s expression shifted. His lips curled into a calculating smirk, and an eerie glint flickered in his eyes. Leaning back on the sofa, he adjusted his tie.
"I have more pressing matters at the office," he said coolly. "I won’t be attending the eting. Let Anne handle it. Give her the file."
Haris’s eyes widened in disbelief. His throat went dry. "Are you sure? But Mr. Lee is—"
"Are you questioning ?" Denis’s cold stare cut him off instantly.
Haris stiffened before bowing his head. "I wouldn’t dare, sir." Squaring his shoulders, he added, "I’ll deliver the file to her right away." Then he turned and left.
Denis smirked darkly, tapping his fingers against the armrest. "Let’s see how long you can hold out, Anne. This ti, you’ll co begging for my help."
Anne got the file for the eting with Mr. Lee.
"Sir won’t be able to attend the eting," Haris said apologetically. "The data leak has stirred up quite a chaos in the office. He has etings with the directors and investors."
Anne said nothing. She quietly opened the file and checked the contents. She felt suffocated being there and wanted to get so fresh air. It was a good excuse to get out of there.
Haris paused, his distress evident. "Be careful, Miss Clair," he couldn’t help but caution her. "Mr. Lee won’t be easy to deal with. He is..."
Anne’s phone buzzed on the desk before Haris could say further. When he saw Denis’s na on the screen, he left quietly.
Anne’s eyes turned cold as she saw his na. She wished to throw the phone away but answered instead.
"Hello."
"The contract with Mr. Lee is important," Denis’s cold tone ca through. "Don’t make any mistakes."
"I get it." She was about to end the call, but his next words stopped her.
"You still have ti. Say sorry to . I’ll go with you."
"There is no need, Mr. Beaumont," she turned him down. "You have more pressing matters to deal with. Don’t worry about . I can handle it."
Without waiting for his response, she ended the call.
Denis scrunched up his face and tossed the phone away. "Anne Clair, you have the nerve to hang up on . I’ll not help you even if you cry."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Augustine finally took over Starlite Corp, marking his first day in the office. As he stepped inside, his sharp gaze and poised deanor commanded attention.
The reception area buzzed with quiet anticipation—employees gathered in small groups, their eyes following him with a mix of curiosity and admiration.
"The new CEO has arrived," soone murmured. "I heard he worked for Sphere Group of Industries for years before being appointed to lead our company."
"He looks intimidating," another man remarked.
However, not everyone shared the sa sentint. A woman nearby stared at Augustine, her eyes gleaming with admiration. "Not at all," she murmured dreamily. "He is incredibly handso..."
"I wonder if he is single," another woman whispered.
The man who had spoken earlier scoffed. "Even if he is, he wouldn’t spare you a glance."
A polite round of applause broke out as he walked toward the elevators. A group of senior executives stood at the entrance to greet him.
"Welco to Starlite, Mr. Augustine," a woman in a tailored navy suit said with a professional smile. "I’m Helena, the head of the HR departnt. We’re honored to have you leading us."
Augustine nodded, offering a firm handshake.
"Please follow ." She led him into the conference hall.
Above the entrance to the conference room, the Starlite logo glead in silver, positioned beside the emblem of Sphere Group of Industries—a clear indication that Starlite had now co under the ownership of Sphere Group.
Inside, the forr CEO, Richard, a man in his late fifties, with silver-streaked hair, sat at the head of the long oak table. He stood up and welcod him, extending a firm hand. "Congratulations, on a successful acquisition."
"Thank you." Augustine nodded, shaking his hand.
Richard gestured toward the neatly stacked files on the table. "Everything you need—financial reports, project pipelines, and transition notes. I’ve ensured my team is prepared to assist you in any way necessary."
Augustine flipped through the docunts and signed wherever needed.
A few minutes later, the eting ended with another round of handshakes.
Helena approached and bowed slightly. "Let take you to your office, sir."
Augustine followed her.
She paused as they reached a set of double doors. "This is your office."
She pushed the doors open, revealing a spacious, elegantly designed workspace. A massive floor-to-ceiling window bathed the room in natural light, overlooking the cityscape. A dark oak desk sat at the center, accompanied by a plush leather chair.
To one side, a sleek bar cart stood near a seating area with a low coffee table and modern armchairs. A bookshelf lined the far wall, neatly arranged with financial reports, industry journals, and a few decorative pieces.
"Welco to your office, sir."
He walked in, his eyes roaming around before he turned to face her. "Thank you for your ti, Miss Helena."
"It’s my pleasure, sir. Please let know if you need anything." With a polite nod, she exited the office and closed the door.
Left alone, Augustine settled into the plush chair and pulled out his phone, intending to call Anne. "She’ll be thrilled to hear that I finally got the job."
His thumb hovered over the call button when a sharp knock sounded at the door. Gustave stepped in.
"It’s not good," he announced grimly, wasting no ti. "Madam is eting Mr. Lee alone. That man has a notorious reputation—he is infamous for his twisted desires for won."
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