Burning Love: Goodbye, My CEO Lover

Allison Roberts had gotten thoroughly drunk at a bar the night she ended things with Ethan Hopkins. Seated in a shadowy corner, she was locked in a tight embrace, passionately kissing a striking man without pause.

As the man gazed at Allison's flushed cheeks and intoxicating eyes, the effects of the alcohol, he whispered huskily, "Should we find somewhere else to continue?"

Allison's haze of intoxication lifted slightly, allowing her to recognize the man at last. It was Dominic Clark.

Allison intended to withdraw her hand but changed her mind the next second. She reached out and wrapped her arms firmly around Dominic's neck, pressing herself against him.

This moment of recklessness was driven not just by a desire to spite her unfaithful ex-boyfriend, Ethan. She also saw an opportunity in Dominic, whose influential status in Zenvale could secure better medical treatment for her father, Charlie Robert. Furthermore, he could shield her from Ethan's persistent annoyances.

Feeling Dominic's gaze traveling over her, Allison snapped back from her reverie.

She curved her lips into a seductive smile and leaned in, her scent bewitching as she drew near to his lips again. Her hand trailed down his shoulder, teasing the transparent buttons on his shirt as she looked at him with a silent yearning.

Dominic's Adam's apple moved noticeably. Surprised by her forwardness, his body tensed and then he tightened his grip around her waist, pressing her back against the sofa. His kiss deepened, becoming more fervent this time.

Allison nestled against Dominic like a contented cat, her passion palpable in every move.

Later, they checked into a hotel.

In the suite, they clumsily made their way to the bed amidst fervent kisses, culminating in a night of untamed passion.

Morning light spilled into the room when Allison awoke, finding the suite empty without Dominic.

A long, soothing bath helped ease her aches, refreshing her spirits.

As she emerged from the bathroom, there was a knock at the door.

Upon answering, Allison found a hotel waitress holding a large bag. "Good morning, Miss Roberts. Mr. Clark has arranged these clothes for you," the waitress informed Allison with a polite nod.

Allison accepted the bag with thanks and shut the door behind her.

Atop the pile of clothes lay Dominic's business card, a discreet nod to the private nature of their arrangement. Allison understood the implication instantly.

A wave of relief washed over Allison. Dominic's gesture hinted that he was still interested in being intimate with her in the future.

Digging through the bag, she found a set of lingerie, a blue dress, and a box of ointment.

Just then, her phone rang. Swiping to answer, Allison was greeted by the familiar voice of Madeline Miller, her best friend.

"Hello, Allison. How did it go? Did you make it?"

Allison's gaze shifted between the business card, the dress, and the ointment on her bed. "Sort of, I suppose."

Madeline replied, "That's good to hear. I had a feeling Dominic would be drawn to you."

"Madeline, you know I'm not interested in that stuff. I just want Ethan to get what he deserves," Allison said, her voice trembling, eyes burning with hatred.

Ethan, that despicable cheat, hadn't merely cheated on Allison. If that were all, she wouldn't have risked everything to deliberately entangle Dominic. Ethan had crossed a line.

When painful memories flashed back to her mind, Allison's hands balled into fists so tight that her knuckles turned white.

After the call ended, Allison tried on the clothes Dominic had instructed the waitress to send over. Surprisingly, they fit perfectly. She wondered how many women he had been with to perfect such a skill. Then, it hit her. She was one of them.

Even though Allison had applied the ointment, a lingering soreness persisted between her legs. Dragging her aching body, she managed to leave the hotel.

Allison had booked a taxi online, and it was waiting right at the hotel's entrance as she emerged.

Once settled in the taxi, she called her workplace to request the day off, quoting her need to visit the hospital. Going to work in such a condition seemed unthinkable.

Allison reached the hospital and headed straight for the inpatient building.

She first sought out her father's primary doctor, who let out a heavy sigh upon seeing her.

The doctor suggested, "Your father's condition has deteriorated further since last month. Have you considered transferring him to a specialized facility? There's an advanced sanatorium in Zenvale that collaborates with international experts. They could significantly aid in his recovery. The only downside is the cost, but you wouldn't need to worry about other aspects."

The mention of expenses made Allison clench her hands. "Dr. Chase, what would the transfer cost?"

"For someone in your father's condition, it requires specialized care and expert intervention. It would be around 100 thousand dollars a month."

The color drained from Allison's face as she echoed. "One hundred thousand dollars a month..."

"Though this hospital isn't equipped with advanced devices, we doctors have done everything within our power to stabilize your father's condition. If you're looking for further recovery, there's only one place to consider. The sanatorium in Zenvale offers the finest medical care available."

Clamping her jaw, Allison responded, "Thank you, Dr. Chase. I'll arrange to move my father there as soon as I can."

She left the office, only for her phone to ring the moment she stepped out. Checking the caller ID, she saw an unknown number. She figured it had to be Ethan, using a friend's phone after she had blocked his number.

Deep down, Allison felt a need to confront Ethan, aiming to ask what she should do in return for him letting her go. With a swipe, she answered the call, her voice cold and sharp. "Ethan, we're over. Why keep calling? What do you want now?"

Ethan's snort came through the phone. "Isn't your father your top priority? How does it feel, watching him suffer in bed, helpless?"

A flicker of anger crossed Allison's face. "Mr. Hopkins, please don't bother. I'm capable of managing his care on my own."

Ethan's voice was taunting. "Really? Manage on your own? You don't even have contacts outside the country. How will you get the specialists to treat your father? Listen, Allison, I have a proposition. Come back to me, and I'll ensure your father gets the best doctor immediately."

Allison clenched her phone tightly, her knuckles turning white. She had to concede that Ethan had a point. She didn't know any foreign experts for her father's treatment. But she wouldn't yield to this jerk.

Taking a few deep breaths to steady herself, Allison replied firmly, "Expecting me to come crawling back to you? Keep dreaming!"

Ethan's sneer was almost palpable. "Fine. But be ready to see your father bedridden for life. And remember, it'll cost a fortune. Can you really handle that?"

"It's not your concern anymore. I've already figured out how to help my father," Allison retorted sharply.

"You mean with Dominic?" Ethan's voice grew cold. "Just make sure you didn't do anything foolish last night, or I might not be so gentle next time."

Ethan hung up abruptly, leaving Allison staring at the blank screen. She dismissed his threats with a flicker of scorn in her eyes.

Later, Allison visited her father in the ward.

Charlie's face lit up the moment he saw her. "Allison, what brings you here? Weren't you supposed to be at work today?"

Allison sat down beside his bed, gently lifting the blanket to massage his legs. "Dad, I missed you, so I took the day off to be here. Why? You don't want to see me?"

Charlie chuckled. "Of course I want to see you. I'd like to see you every day, Allison."

"You need to follow Dr. Chase's advice and cooperate, then. Once your legs heal, I'll take you home, and we can see each other every day."

A while later, Allison said goodbye to Charlie. She walked out of the hospital, her thoughts in disarray. She found a bench outside, pulled her head back, and stared up at the sky, her eyes vacant.

Earlier, while massaging Charlie's legs, she realized he couldn't feel anything. If this continued, his legs could never heal. She concluded she needed to move him to the sanatorium as soon as possible.

Allison remained on the bench until the sunset. Finally, she reached into her handbag, pulled out her phone, and saw a message from Madeline with a photo attached. "Allison, Dominic showed up at Glamour with a date. His friends are all here too."

In the photo, Dominic had an arm wrapped around a girl's waist, leaning in to whisper something. The girl's cheeks were flushed, clearly shy.

Madeline sent another message with just a number. "That's the room they're in."

Allison typed back. "Got it. Thanks, Madeline."

Allison rose to her feet and flagged down a taxi. "To Glamour, please..."

...

As the door to the private room swung open, the lively chatter halted abruptly.

All eyes turned to Allison as she stepped inside. Their gazes roamed over her boldly, taking in every detail.

The short, blue off-the-shoulder dress accentuated her long legs, her delicate skin, and her slim waist, a sight that seemed to challenge the men present.

Allison's eyes immediately sought out Dominic, who was lounging in a secluded corner. He reclined casually on a black leather sofa, one arm draped over the back, his designer watch peeking out from beneath his cuff.

Notably, there was no woman beside Dominic, leading Allison to surmise that his date had already departed.

"Excuse me. This lady claims that she was invited over by Mr. Clark," the waiter following Allison explained.

Upon hearing this, Dominic casually lifted his head. His expression shifted to one of interest when he spotted Allison at the doorway.

"Dominic, you truly are a magnet for beauty. Your previous date just left, and here's another," a man said teasingly.

Ignoring others, Allison made her way directly to Dominic.

With a poised grace, she sat on his lap and slowly traced her fingers from his collar down to his chest, her movements deliberately seductive. Her hand finally came to rest on his lower abdomen.

"I wore it especially to show you. What do you think? Do you like it?" Her voice was mesmerizing.

Dominic caressed her cheek. "I like it the most when it's taken off."

Allison's fingers traced patterns on his lower abdomen. "Aren't you worried your girlfriend might get upset about us being this close?" she whispered.

A slight pain tingled at the tip of her ear as Dominic nipped it gently, his voice deep, rich, and intimate. "She is not my girlfriend."

Dominic slipped his hand beneath the hem of her dress, easing it upwards along her thigh. The fabric lifted. Since Allison made the first move, he saw no reason to turn her down. Anyway, he didn't need to make a commitment.

The others in the private room averted their eyes, yet they stole glances at the pair from time to time.

"Did you come here just to show off your dress?" Dominic's voice was husky with implication.

Allison lifted her head and pulled his wandering hand away. "You bought it for me, so naturally, I wore it for you. Besides, I've missed you."

Dominic bent down and softly kissed the corner of her mouth.

Just then, Aaron Spencer, Dominic's assistant, appeared at the door. "Excuse me, Mr. Clark, I've checked with the front desk. Your room is ready."

This interruption sparked laughter among the others. "Dominic, can't wait, huh?" they teased.

"Spare him with this teasing. You're just wasting his time."

Laughter erupted from all the men in the private room. Having encountered countless beautiful women, they didn't take Allison seriously. Moreover, if Dominic had any regard for Allison, he wouldn't have treated her like this. That was precisely why they felt bold enough to joke about this.

Allison, unfazed as ever, followed Dominic out of the private room.

In the elevator, they held each other close, their silhouettes reflected against the wall. Dominic's warm breath surrounded her.

Allison tensed slightly. His large hands traveled along the zipper at her waist, descending slowly, exploring.

Allison rested her head against his chest. Dominic inquired, "Feeling shy now? Weren't you the brave one earlier?"

The elevator doors swung open abruptly. A group of people entered, quickly taking note of their intimate stance and sharing knowing smiles.

Dominic pulled Allison closer to his side, their bodies aligning perfectly. She could distinctly feel his reaction to their proximity.

Thankfully, the elevator soon reached the floor of Dominic's room. He zipped up her dress, wrapped his arm around her waist, and led her out of the elevator.

Inside the room, he slid the key card into the slot, and the room brightened instantly.

The next moment, Dominic pushed Allison against the closed door, his breath hot and erratic by her ear. "So, you were flirting with me, huh?"

Allison rested her hand on his chest, tracing the line of his zipper. "At least it worked, didn't it?"

No sooner had her words faded than her dress pooled around her feet. Dominic's hand caressed her thigh, silently urging her to lift one leg.

Allison shook her head. "Just a moment."

She reached into her handbag and produced a condom.

Dominic accepted it and tore open the packet. "Do you always carry one?"

"What answer are you expecting, Mr. Clark?" Allison was candid. She had a clear intention and felt no need to justify herself. Besides, she was reluctant to take pills due to the health risks they posed.

As they lost themselves in their passion, Dominic quickly took the lead.

Allison hadn't anticipated the toll her flirtation with Dominic would exact. By the end, she was utterly drained, collapsing onto the bed.

Dominic reclined against the headboard, idly twirling a strand of her hair, his gaze intense. "Do you expect me to help you confront Ethan?" he asked.

His question made Allison stiffen. She turned slowly to face him. "Yes."

She had no intention of keeping secrets from Dominic. After all, he would likely discover her connection to Ethan someday.

Meeting his gaze without flinching, she clenched her fists. "Are you willing, Mr. Clark?"

Dominic's smile was faint, barely reaching his eyes. "Miss Roberts, I make it a point not to mix business with pleasure."

He confessed his attraction to Allison, yet that was the extent of his interest. He had no intention of offering anything more.

Dominic's words, sharp and cutting, left Allison feeling small. Nonetheless, she raised her head and persisted. "Mr. Clark, I ended things with Ethan, but he won't leave me alone..."

Dominic cut her off with a dismissive wave. "Hmm, I see. But that's not my concern."

With that, he dressed and left the room abruptly.

Allison remained on the bed, stunned, her complexion ghostly. She questioned whether it had been a mistake to try and use Dominic as leverage. Yet, in all of Zenvale, she could think of no other influential figure but him.

With a sense of resignation, Allison dressed and hurried after him, only to find he had already disappeared into the corridor.

Left with no options, she exited Glamour, overwhelmed by frustration.

From that day on, Allison had no updates about Dominic. Caught up in her work, she didn't have the focus to follow up, dedicating herself entirely to her clients.

Ethan had deliberately spread the word of their breakup throughout Allison's workplace.

Consequently, the staff believed Allison had somehow offended Ethan, leading them to treat her unfairly.

Initially, Allison's role was solely instructional at the training center, but the head teacher soon informed her of reduced resources, assigning her additional duties as an admin to liaise with clients. Moreover, she was compelled to attend a dinner party thrown by sponsors.

The financial burden of transferring Charlie to the sanatorium was substantial, making it impossible for Allison to afford to lose her job. Reluctantly, she attended the sponsored dinner party for the sake of financial necessity.

Upon entering the private room, Allison discovered that most attendees were strangers, with only a handful from the training center.

She found an empty chair and sat down, only to be confronted by a woman across from her. "Why are you here, Allison? I thought you despised these types of social events."

Allison's other colleagues joined in, mocking her, "We always assumed your backer preferred you not to attend such events. Oops! Sorry. We forgot Mr. Hopkins has parted ways with you."

Allison glanced at them, knowing they weren't skilled instructors but relied on their looks to get by.

"You are here in search of backers, aren't you?" Allison's sharp retort caught them off guard, their faces turning to glares.

Meanwhile, the rest of the room sized Allison up.

Before Allison's arrival, these few hostile women were considered pretty. However, Allison's presence soon effortlessly captivated all gaze with her striking beauty, overshadowing other women.

The door swung open once more. "Sorry, I'm late..." Ethan announced as he walked in.

As Allison turned, her eyes met Ethan's as he entered.

Ethan was a figure none of these attendees dared cross. As he walked in, the room rose, greeting him with smiles. "There's still over 10 minutes to the scheduled time. We guys just arrived early."

It was common knowledge that Allison and Ethan had ended their relationship, which emboldened some women to take jabs at Allison.

Now, with Ethan's arrival, curious glances bounced between Allison and him.

Ethan, however, headed straight for the head seat, barely acknowledging Allison.

The onlookers quickly picked up on the signal that Ethan would no longer be Allison's ally.

Smirks of malicious delight spread across their faces, but Allison remained indifferent.

"Miss Roberts, this is your first time at our dinner party. I must admit, the rumors did you no justice. You are truly stunning. I'm in awe. Allow me to toast to your beauty!"

Shawn Edwards raised his glass. As the second major benefactor of the training center with Ethan being the first, Shawn was notorious for his lustful ways.

Allison eyed the full glass with a frown, doubting she could easily leave the private room if she indulged.

"Come on. It's just one drink, Miss Roberts. Are you really going to refuse?" Shawn squinted his eyes, a stern warning in his gaze.

Hannah Simpson, ever the envious type, couldn't resist stirring the pot. "Allison, what are you waiting for? Mr. Edwards is raising his glass for a toast. Come on! Drink up!"

The crowd turned to Allison, their eyes flickering with mockery and envy, enjoying the spectacle unfolding.

Ethan, with a light-hearted interjection, said, "The food's going cold, isn't it? Aren't you all hungry?"

Someone quickly agreed. "Yeah, I'm starving."

Prompted by this, everyone began to eat, forcing Shawn to reluctantly set down his glass, his displeasure evident.

Whispers circulated, speculating whether Ethan had intentionally stepped in to rescue Allison from the brewing storm.

For the time being, Allison was left alone, and even Hannah, despite her reluctance, didn't dare cause further trouble.

Only a few truly savored their meal. After a few bites, they resumed toasting, most eager to clink glasses with Ethan.

Ethan, gracious as ever, didn't turn anyone down, and soon the room buzzed with energy once more.

Allison, who had little taste for such chaotic events, slipped out of the private box and headed toward the ladies' room at the end of the hallway.

No sooner had Allison entered than Ethan came in after her, promptly pushing her against the wall with a look of frustration etched across his face.

Allison struggled. "What do you want from me?"

Ethan caught her flailing hands and swiftly locked the door from the inside.

The restroom was too cramped for two. Despite her efforts, Allison couldn't break free, and she glared at Ethan, her eyes shimmering with scorn and contempt.

Ethan snapped through clenched teeth, "Haven't you hooked up with Dominic? Why did he allow you to go to a dinner party like this? You can't handle a man like that. He'll never love you."

"That's really not your concern, Mr. Hopkins." Allison rolled her eyes.

Ethan insisted, his voice firm. "Allison, just admit it. You still love me. You don't care about Dominic. I'm the only one you love!"

His words repulsed Allison. Clutching her handbag tightly, she swung it hard, striking Ethan across the face. "Ethan Hopkins, you're a despicable jerk. You disgust me. I've been with him, and I cherished every moment. I've long since forgotten you."

Caught off guard by the sudden attack, Ethan barely had time to react. By the time he reached out to stop her, Allison had already flung the door open and escaped.

Panting with fear of being followed, Allison dashed through the doorway.

After a few strides, Dominic's familiar voice echoed in her ears. "Allison?"