The CEO's Secret Affair-Chapter 21: Childish...

~Riccardo’s POV~

It was bad already that I felt she still had some lingering feelings for Thomas, and now I find her in the arms of another man? That hadn’t just been a casual hug, I could see the emotions being shared in that little moment, and while I had pretended like I didn’t care, my insides had been burning with jealousy.

I tried to tell myself that it wasn’t my place to feel anything about it. I was the one who had drawn the line, the one who insisted on distance, on professionalism. I couldn’t push her away and then expect her to stand still, waiting for me.

Yet the image wouldn’t leave my mind.

Anne in his arms. Her face pressed against his chest. Just thinking about it made me feel heated.

I clenched my jaw, forcing my attention back to the documents in front of me.

Get a grip.

She was allowed to have friends. Allowed to seek comfort. I had no claim over her. This was what she wanted, and since she hadn’t said anything about changing her mind, it was best I focused on myself and tried to get her out of my mind.

I was still staring at the same page I’d been pretending to read for the last ten minutes when the door opened without a knock. James stepped in, all easy confidence and that disarming smile he wore like cologne. He was wearing a charcoal blazer over a white shirt, sleeves rolled up just enough to look casual but expensive.

My eyes ran over him slowly, deliberately, taking in every detail I hadn’t allowed myself to notice before. Tall, broad-shouldered, the sort of build that suggested he actually used the gym membership he probably had. Dark hair, a little messy in a way that looked intentional. A jawline that could cut glass. And those eyes, warm, the kind that could easily get him any woman he wanted.

No wonder she’d buried her face in his chest like it was home.

I let the silence stretch just long enough to be uncomfortable before I spoke.

"James. Sit."

He hesitated for half a second, reading the room, then crossed the office and lowered himself into the chair opposite my desk.

Without wasting time, I slid the file across the table toward him without a word. Thick, black leather, embossed with the company crest. He picked it up, flipped it open, and started scanning the pages.

His brow creased almost immediately.

"Singapore expansion lead," he said, voice calm but curious. "Three-month minimum on-site. Potentially six."

"That’s correct."

He looked up. "This is a big project. High visibility. I’m... flattered, Mr Antonelli, obviously. But there are senior directors who’ve been angling for international postings for years. Besides, I just got back from one myslef..."

I leaned back in my chair, folding my hands.

"None of them have your particular skill set. You closed the Meridian deal in half the projected timeline. You speak fluent Mandarin. You’ve handled cross-continental regulatory hurdles before. The board wants someone who can hit the ground running, not someone who needs hand-holding through customs."

He studied me for a moment, and I could practically see him weighing whether to push back. He was good, too good, to miss the subtext.

"Mr Antonelli..." he said carefully, "I have pending deals yet to be covered here—"

"They’ll be taken care of, there’s no need to worry.."

He exhaled through his nose, glancing down at the contract again. Then he nodded once, crisp and professional.

"Understood. I’ll make it work."

"Good." I allowed myself the faintest smile. "Travel arrangements start Monday."

He stood, tucked the file under his arm, and left without another word. I let out a slow breath I hadn’t realized I was holding.

Three months. Minimum. It felt long, but I knew it was barely enough time. But it didn’t matter, it was enough for me and Anne to build something, something solid enough to not get threatened by the likes of James Blue.

I hadn’t fully finished my thoughts when my office door swung open aggressively. I looked up from my paperwork to see Anne standing right in front of my desk, her eyes blazing with anger and disappointment.

Before I could say a word, She slammed the file down on my desk so hard the pens in the holder jumped. It was the exact files I had handed James just a few minutes ago, and it didn’t take me more than a second to understand what was really happening.

"What the hell are you doing?"

I raised an eyebrow, keeping my voice level. "I’m running a company. Something you might try occasionally."

"Don’t." She pointed a finger at me, trembling with fury. "Don’t you dare play cold with me right now. You’re sending James to Singapore for three months because you saw us hug? Are you serious?"

I met her gaze steadily. "James is the best candidate for the job."

"Bullshit." The word cracked like a whip. "You’ve got half a dozen people who could handle it. You’re punishing him because you’re jealous?"

"I don’t get jealous, Anne. I make strategic decisions."

She let out a short laugh, her eyes still bright with disbelief. "Can we just stop this?! I’m tired of pretending like I don’t care, and I’m tired of you pretending like I don’t exist. If it’s because of what I said that day, then I’ll take it back."

She took a few seconds to catch her breath, and all I could do was sit still and watch her with awe.

"I’m scared, it’s true. I don’t want to get hurt again, and I don’t trust you, Riccardo. I really want us to have something real, but if this is the way you’re going to act when anybody besides you shows me any affection then we might as well forget about each other."

I didn’t say anything, I just there and watched her leave without another word. I knew Anne had a fire in her, but I hadn’t expected her to react this way. She was right, it was childish of me to try and ship her friend across the continent because of a simple hug. I had overreacted, and it was clear now that I owed her an apology.