Married To My Ex's Brother, Reborn Miraculously-Chapter 47: When did she become so damn difficult to control?

A sudden knock at the door made him freeze, his grip loosening. Seizing the moment, 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 me go. Someone 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. freeweɓnovēl.coɱ

"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 met for a brief second, but she didn’t stop. She quickened her pace and disappeared down the hall.

"Damn it!" Denis slammed his fist onto the sofa, his entire body rigid with frustration. He exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. "When did she become 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 immediately. "The meeting with Mr. Lee—it’s in an hour."

The moment the name 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 meeting. 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 me?" 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 time, you’ll come begging for my help."

Anne got the file for the meeting with Mr. Lee.

"Sir won’t be able to attend the meeting," Haris said apologetically. "The data leak has stirred up quite a chaos in the office. He has meetings 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 some 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 name on the screen, he left quietly.

Anne’s eyes turned cold as she saw his name. She wished to throw the phone away but answered instead.

"Hello."

"The contract with Mr. Lee is important," Denis’s cold tone came 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 time. Say sorry to me. 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 me. 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 me. 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 demeanor 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," someone 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 same sentiment. A woman nearby stared at Augustine, her eyes gleaming with admiration. "Not at all," she murmured dreamily. "He is incredibly handsome..."

"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.

"Welcome to Starlite, Mr. Augustine," a woman in a tailored navy suit said with a professional smile. "I’m Helena, the head of the HR department. We’re honored to have you leading us."

Augustine nodded, offering a firm handshake.

"Please follow me." She led him into the conference hall.

Above the entrance to the conference room, the Starlite logo gleamed in silver, positioned beside the emblem of Sphere Group of Industries—a clear indication that Starlite had now come under the ownership of Sphere Group.

Inside, the former 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 welcomed 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 documents and signed wherever needed.

A few minutes later, the meeting ended with another round of handshakes.

Helena approached and bowed slightly. "Let me 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.

"Welcome to your office, sir."

He walked in, his eyes roaming around before he turned to face her. "Thank you for your time, Miss Helena."

"It’s my pleasure, sir. Please let me 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 time. "Madam is meeting Mr. Lee alone. That man has a notorious reputation—he is infamous for his twisted desires for women."