Too Late, CEO: Regret Your Arrogance

he glowing scree

ated her pale face in t

top of her screen. Below it was a high-definition photogra

varro, the principal ballerina of the New York City Ballet. They

s 2:0

king started in her wrists and traveled

tered loudly against the sterile, white linoleum

etrieve it, a sharp, continuous

art monitor i

ped up. The soun

oors of the intensive care unit. His

wn the hall, physically brushing

ds gripped the cold metal casing. Her knuc

bed. One nurse climbed onto the mattress, locking her elbows and s

ldn't breathe. The air in the ha

, spilling over her eyelashe

her backup phone. She dialed Cole's private number. She pressed t

t straight t

erling. Leave a message." The automa

ver turned his phone off. Unles

he cold, painted wall, her expensive

s around her legs. Through the crack in the door, she heard

le

ails digging into her own forearms until

The screeching monitor finally s

ed out, pulling down his surgical mask. He

e doctor said, his voice heavy with

reath. She tried to stand, but

or, a strong, familiar

lling her upright wit

le Vanderbilt-Ster

he waist. His tie was missing. His top two buttons we

the smel

t was Chanel No. 5. Heavy, floral, and si

ya's throat, making her

d her arm out of Cole's grip with

his touch had physic

ation. His dark, calculating eyes narrowed a

asked, his voice a low, smooth

shaking finger

oice cracking. "I called you ten time

ad shoulders, looking entirely unbother

ly. "This is the natural decline of old age. Me sta

es, usually soft and accommodating, flashed with a mix o

her personal space.His towering, six-foot-three frame

e hard wall. She turned her face away, desperate to avo

his large hand grabbing her chin roughly.His fingers dug into her

to blink, she refused to shed

leaned down quickly. He forced a bruising, punishing kiss onto her lips.It wasn't a kiss o

frantically against his solid, immovable chest.She fought the d

tly heavier now. He wiped his thumb across his low

k, his phone buzzed

Alya's eyes dart

avarro" flashed bri

face relaxed. He answered the call, turning slightly away from Alya. H

I'll handle it," Cole mu

of her chest, like a knife turning between her ribs.She realized, with absolute c

turned back to Alya with a

attend to," Cole stated fla

and grabbed the slee

stripping away her pride. "Just in cas

is sleeve. He pried her fingers off the

shoulder, not looking back. He walked down the hallway, his ex

tely alone in the

mouth and aggressively wiped her lips,

skin of her lips cracked and ble

heart slowed down. The wa

urned compl