Chapter 10 10

Rose POV

"Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit I'm so sorry!" I stammered, scrambling to gather the papers and tablet I'd dropped like my life depended on it. My hands shook as I bolted out of his office, slamming the door shut behind me and pressing my back to it.

I literally felt like the ground should swallow both of them whole. What the actual fuck.

I sucked in air like I'd just run a marathon. My chest burned, not from the sprint but from the storm inside me. Jealousy? Anger? Envy?

Hell, all of it maybe even more.

Didn't this man make me scream his name for hours while he made me his personal slut? Absolutely.

Because what I'd seen... burned into my mind like a sin.

There was a woman on her knees, lips stretched around Mr. Ricci's thick length, slurping like her life depended on it, and he was leaning back in his chair head tilted, one hand on her head,jaw tight, face undone with pleasure.

And I hated that the image made my thighs press together.

I shook my head hard, trying to delete the scene from my brain, and forced myself back to my desk like nothing had happened. Pretend, Rose. Pretend.

Fuck I might as well act like he doesn't exist at this point.

"...Yes, sir. The documents will be signed and returned to you promptly." I forced professionalism into my voice as I argued with the manager on the phone, though the only thing in my head was the echo of his low groans from earlier. "There's no need to panic....Thank you."

After like 10 minutes of trying to negotiate with him, he finally agreed.

The moment I hung up, I reached for my tablet only to groan when I saw the screen cracked beyond repair. Perfect. Just the cherry on top of this humiliating sundae.

My Ricci, be grateful you're a rich...snob.

The office door creaked open and out strutted her. Skirt too short, heels too tall, lips too swollen not to scream what she'd been doing.

Cum whore, slut, crazy wench bitch...

"Oh, I'm so sorry, ma'am, for barging in earlier," I said, sweetness dripping with venom.

She shot me a look like I was gum on her heel before flouncing into the elevator. I rolled my eyes. Please. I may have let this man ruin me twice already, but she was the one desperate enough to swallow during office hours.

Fifteen minutes later, when I was sure the coast was clear, I stood and went back to his office. This time, I knocked, no more accidental live shows for me.

"Enter," came that deep, commanding voice.

There we have it.

I stepped in with my best smile. "Good morning, sir."

His eyes narrowed like I was plotting his murder. I ignored it, walking with deliberate sway as I set his documents on his desk. "Your schedule today is pretty light. Only one board meeting...and this requires your signature."

He scanned, signed, and slid it back without a word. Tension curled between us, sharp and unspoken, but I wasn't about to give him the satisfaction of mentioning what I'd seen.

Back at my desk, my phone buzzed violently. Cara. My best friend. And when Cara called, ignoring wasn't an option.

"Bitch! Have you checked the news today?!" she screamed, nearly rupturing my eardrum.

"What possible news could involve me?" I muttered.

"Uh, maybe the fact you're trending online for being arm in arm with a billionaire Adonis last night? You and Mr. Tall, Dark, and Ruin Your Underwear look like the new fairytale couple. Pictures don't lie, baby."

"Cara-"

"Check it! And FYI you two look disgustingly good together. Like, I might hate you for it." Then she hung up.

My pulse spiked as I unlocked my phone and searched Ryan Ricci. And there it was. Dozens of pictures...him staring at me like I was his favorite sin, me walking in beside him like I belonged there. To strangers, it screamed romance.

Dear fuck, I'm ruined.

"That'll be handled," came a voice so deep it nearly melted my spine.

I jumped, spinning to find him standing there. "Oh my god, sir! You nearly gave me a heart attack."

"You were so lost staring at your phone, I had to see what was worth that kind of attention." His gaze dipped to my lips before flicking back up, unreadable.

Yeah, you were pretty occupied yourself ten minutes ago, I thought bitterly.

He adjusted his cuff, all smooth authority. "Ready? Let's go."

I almost asked go where? before I remembered the board meeting. My cheeks heated as I snatched up my notepad (since my tablet was now electronic roadkill).

"Procurement will send you a new one," he said casually, already moving toward the elevator.

I did as told, dialing quickly, though part of me hated how easily he ordered me around. And hated even more how much I liked obeying.

Ryan POV

I should've said something to her. An apology, maybe. An excuse. Anything. But my tongue was tied in knots.

Because the truth was ugly ,I'd had Becky on her knees, her mouth full of me, and still... all I could imagine was Rose.

Her lips, her gasp, her eyes watering as I pushed deeper.

I was fucked. Irredeemably fucked.

"Sir, we're here," her voice pulled me back. That soft, teasing tone that lived rent free in my head.

She stepped out first, her heels clicking, her skirt hugging her hips in a way that had my self control dangling by a thread. I followed, scowling to myself.

Board meetings meant my mother. My mother meant suffocating dinners. Already, my mood soured.

But the moment I reached the door, my instincts prickled. Something felt off, heavy in the air.

"Sir?" Rose's soft voice slid against my spine. "You just...stopped."

I glanced at her, the concern in her eyes tightening my chest. Then I shoved it down and pushed the door open.

And immediately wished I hadn't.