The CEO's Secret Affair-Chapter 22: What’s Really Happening?

~Anne’s POV~

I returned to James’s side the moment I left Riccardo’s office. Although he had no idea what was going on between me and our boss, I was certain he had begun to catch on, especially after how I reacted to him telling me he was being sent off again. I had snatched the file from him, glanced through it, and had bolted straight for Riccardo’s office. No employee in their right senses had such audacity, well except the ones that had something going on with Riccardo.

"Is everything okay?" James asked the moment I was within earshot. It was clear that I wasn’t fine, and I was certain he knew that too. But James was kind, and it was exactly why he was my friend.

I forced a smile and nodded quickly. "Yeah, totally fine. Just... clarifying a few details with Mr. Antonelli. You know how he is about these projects."

He didn’t smile back. He just looked at me, those warm brown eyes searching my face like he could see through my lies. He probably could, and I hated how easily he read me. Most people bought the act. James never did.

He took a slow step closer, closing the small distance between us. The air felt suddenly thicker. Gently, almost reverently, he reached up and tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear. His fingers lingered just a second longer than necessary, brushing the shell of my ear.

"Anne," he said softly, "are you... is there something going on with Mr. Antonelli?"

I froze.

I trusted James, I did. He’d been my friend for years, the one person who listened without judgment, who showed up when everyone else bailed. I wanted to tell him the truth, to seek his opinion on what to do next, but it was far too much of a risk to take.

It wasn’t because I didn’t trust James, but because I knew that accidents happened sometimes. And one careless word, one slip, and the whole thing could blow up. If news got out that the CEO was having an affair with an employee, it would definitely hurt Riccardo’s reputation, and mine as well.

I swallowed hard and shook my head. "No. There’s nothing. Really, James, don’t worry about it."

He didn’t step back. If anything, his expression softened with something that looked a lot like concern, and something else I couldn’t quite name.

"I am worried," he murmured. "I’m worried about you. Whatever this is, I don’t want you getting hurt. Or losing your job. Especially not because of me."

His hand moved again, this time settling gently against my cheek, his thumb brushing just beneath my eye. My breath caught. He leaned in slowly, eyes dropping to my lips, and suddenly I couldn’t move, couldn’t think. Tension coiled tight in my stomach.

What was happening? What was with the sudden development? I was far too confused and shocked to move a muscle. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Just as his face tilted toward mine, my phone buzzed sharply in my pocket. I jerked back, fumbling for it with shaking fingers. Riccardo’s name glared on the screen.

I answered before I could think better of it.

"Yes?" My voice came out too high.

"My office. Now." His tone was clipped, ice-cold, no room for argument.

I closed my eyes for half a second. "I’ll be right there."

I ended the call and looked up to find James watching me, something unreadable flickering across his face; hurt, disappointment, I really couldn’t tell.

"I have to go," I said quietly.

He nodded once, dropping his hand. "Yeah. Of course."

I flashed him a nervous smile before finally turning and walking away, my mind still trying to figure out exactly what had just happened. Had James really tried to kiss me, or had I completely misread his actions. We had been friends for years now, and not once had I ever thought of him in that way, and neither did I ever think that he viewed me as anything besides a friend.

Sure he always teased about marrying me if I failed to fall in love soon, or enter a relationship, I never really took those words seriously. Besides, he always had a girlfriend whenever he made those types of remarks.

Maybe I was just overthinking things, he probably just wanted to give me a hug. And even if it had been a kiss he was going for, it was probably just a harmless one, there was nothing for me to be scared about.

I managed to gather my thoughts and composurebefore I got to Riccardo’s office. If I walked in looking all confused, he was going to figure out that something was wrong. I wondered what he wanted this time, and sincerely hoped he hadn’t seen James and I.

I paused outside Riccardo’s door, smoothing my blouse and taking one steadying breath. Whatever storm was waiting inside, I couldn’t let him see me rattled especially not by James. I knocked once, softly, then pushed the door open.

He was already on his feet. standing in the middle of the room with his jacket gone, tie loosened, and sleeves rolled up like he’d been restless for hours. His dark eyes locked on me the second I stepped in, and before I could speak, before I could even close the door fully behind me, he crossed the space between us in three long strides.

His hands framed my face, and then his mouth was on mine.

My back met the door with a soft thud as it clicked shut, and I gasped against his lips, stunned, my hands instinctively gripping his shirt. He didn’t pause, didn’t give me room to think. He kissed me deeper, one hand sliding to the nape of my neck, the other around my waist, pulling me in until our bodies were glued to one another’s.

When he finally pulled away, just enough to breathe, his forehead rested against mine. His chest rose and fell hard, matching mine.

"I want you," he said, voice low and rough, the words scraped raw. "I’m done pretending. Done acting like I don’t care."

I stared up at him, heart hammering so loudly I was sure he could hear it. My lips tingled where his had been, and every place he touched felt like it was on fire.

"Riccardo—"

"No." He shook his head slightly, eyes fierce. "Listen to me. I know I drew the lines. I know I pushed you away. But I’m done with that too. I don’t care how many times you tell me no, how many times you push me back. I’m not stopping."

His thumb brushed over my lower lip, gentle now, almost reverent.

"I’m going to keep trying, Anne. Every day. Until you fall in love with me the way I’m already in love with you."