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We hadn’t spoken since the fateful weekend. That did nothing to alleviate my anxiety. I wasn’t sure how he was going to act, but then I reminded myself that the weekend hadn’t meant anything to him. So, he wasn’t going to be any different. Was he? I decided to go into the office earlier than usual to see if I could catch him before his morning meetings began. I wouldn’t be able to focus unless I did it straightaway. When I pushed open the office door, I saw I was in luck.
It looked as if he had just arrived, as he had removed the long grey cashmere coat, and was hanging it in its usual place on the steel coat stand.
He cocked his head when he noticed my presence, in that way I found so disarming. “Miss Woods…You’re in early. Are you making up for the other day?”
I stopped in my tracks, halfway across the floor to my desk. “Making up for…” I honestly had no idea what he was talking about.
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Mr Stone, My CEO 39
As usual, mine and Mr Stone’s paths did not cross too much during the day. I was now absorbed in the work with Blast. My team had spent the morning pitching the new mock-ups to some of the company’s representatives, and had received very positive feedback about my ideas for a more retro theme. As a result, Mr Fraggon had now begrudgingly accepted me into the fold. Or at the very least seemed to be giving me less and less derisive looks. Louise, the girl I’d worked with on my first day in the social media department had also been involved to showcase the ads we were going to run on Facebook and other platforms. We’d barely seen each other since Mr Stone had put my desk in his office.After we came out, she pulled me aside. “Hey, fancy lunch with me today? Unless you have other plans?”I firmly shook my head. “No, that would be great.”Thankfully, like me, Louise was saving money to pay off her student
Mr Stone, My CEO 40
The next few weeks were confusing and weird to say the least. My desk was moved out of Mr Stone’s office, and I realised how unlikely it was going to be that I would ever return to the ‘Sky Lounge’. Thankfully they let me work next to Louise. I think it was partly under the guise that I was now focusing my attentions on the social media ads for Blast, but from the way people raised their eyebrows at me, I wasn’t sure they’d bought it. Louise was my saving grace, helping me to be distracted from the gossip, and making sure she always ate lunch with me.Mr Stone never contacted me directly after that. My make-up lessons with Adrianne ended, so there was no reason for me to visit his flat. I saw him twice in total, and that was only to watch him stride through the marble lobby to the lifts. The only thing I saw from him was impersonal emails to the Blast team about our work. Even within this, he never named me.This is what I’d as
Mr Stone, My CEO 41
“Wow.”Adriane’s jaw was nearly on the floor, but I hadn’t dared to look yet.Despite the fact our lessons were over, I had still been sent an email by Greta telling me the details of where to go to prepare for the Blast launch. This time there had been no fancy shopping trip. Instead, a selection of dresses had already been picked out for me and were waiting on a rail in the salon. Despite my aversion to dresses, even I couldn’t deny how beautiful some of these were. In the end, I had let Adrianne decide again.So here I was, standing in front of the floor length filigree mirror. Finally, I took a proper look. At first, I squinted, stepping closer to the mirror to make sure it was really me. It didn’t look like me because…well…the reflection looked…kind of beautiful? Adrianne had selected a deep crimson velvet dress. It ran all the way down to my feet, but a long slit revealed the top of my
Mr Stone, My CEO 42
I made my way shakily back to the table, trying to block out the hundreds of eyes that were watching my every move. Why had he done that? I hadn’t wanted him to make a big fuss of everything, and by the look on Mr Fraggon’s face, he was thoroughly put out by my special mention. Louise on the other hand was giddy.“Oh my god Rosie, that was amazing!”I couldn’t even bring myself to give her a fake smile. I heard the sound of another speech starting, relieved to see everyone’s eyes were now refocused on something else. I hovered at my seat. No. I wasn’t going to sit down. This experience had been more than enough. It was time to go.I leant over towards Louise’s ear. “I’m going to slip out, if anyone asks, just say I wasn’t feeling well. Okay?”She nodded. “Sure, have a good night with Matt.”I slipped of the hall as quietly as I could, but once I got to the tiled flo
Mr Stone, My CEO 43
I ran until a sharp stich formed in my side and my feet were bleeding. I collapsed against the rough bricks of the wall, breathing hard as images of what had nearly happened flashed before my eyes. I realised how hard I was shaking, and tried my best to take deep breaths, each one stinging my throat. I looked around wildly, not even sure where I had ended up running to. It looked like a lot of streets in London. Dirty, bright and loud, with various takeaways lining the pavement. The people walking around were drinking and laughing loudly, and I felt like I was naked with my leg exposed so much and only the thin shawl to cover my shoulders. I wanted to call a taxi to take me home, but I’d spent the last of my cash on the one to Matt’s.It was then that the tears came. Huge salty drops falling from my wide eyes. They’d been there ever since Mr Stone had confronted me on the steps tonight, and now they were finally being set free. Why hadn’t he conv
Mr Stone, My CEO 44
I placed my hand against the door. “What…what do you want?” My voice was cracked, and I realised they were the first words I’d uttered since Saturday night.“I want you to let me in,” came back his gruff voice.I rested my forehead against the cool wooden panel. I couldn’t let him in. Not now. I was too broken. “I’m sorry Mr Stone, I’m really busy.”The impact of his fist coming down on the other side of the door made me jump backwards.“Let me in right now, or I will break your door down. You know well enough I have the money to replace it.”I could tell from the tone in his voice he was being serious. Defeated, I moved the metal latch from the door, the chain knocking against the wood. Then I took a deep breath, and opened the door.As usual, he was quaffed to perfection in a navy-blue suit. His dark tendrils styled away from his face. But instead of the tight j
Mr Stone, My CEO 45
I looked down at the table, faking interest in the lines and knots of the varnished wood.“Rosie, you need to tell me. I might be able to fix it.”I wish he could fix it. But, how could he? It was impossible.Without warning, tears seeped out. “You can’t fix it,” I said, my voice cracking. “What’s done is done.”I pressed my fingers against my eyes, rubbing the tears away.I heard him take a deep breath. I understood that the patience he was showing me must feel unnatural. He was used to getting his way, almost immediately.“Have you told anyone else?”I shook my head.“Not even that friend you’ve mentioned? Or…,” he cleared his throat. “Matt?”The mention of his name out loud was my undoing. I began to sob. “No,” I snapped. “It was him who did this to me!” I clapped my hand over my mouth, but the dama
Mr Stone, My CEO 46
I didn’t lock the door. I wanted to show him that I trusted him. I soaked in the bath as Mr Stone’s…wait…Ezra’s words soaked into me. Did he mean that he actually saw me as more than an employee? Or even more still? After everything that had happened though, I wasn’t sure how I felt about it. He had appeared to see me as nothing more than a project. He had put me through some gruelling tests. He’d also slept with Emma during our time together. Not to mention the woman I’d seen him with at the launch. I was sure there was others too.And even if by some bizarre chance, he was being truthful, was I ready for it? The incident with Matt had only just happened. I sighed. Of course, when he said he’d cared for me, he hadn’t stipulated exactly in what way he meant. I cared for Vanessa deeply, but I didn’t want to sleep with her. Yes Mr…I mean, Ezra and I had done sexual things together, but I wasn’t so
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