THE CEO'S GIRL

Prologue

You know you have hit rock bottom when you discover the true meaning of the word vulnerability. It is an experience not to be recommended. It kills your emotions and destroys your strength.

It makes you unable to react, unable to move.

To protect himself.

This is what Valentina, or rather Tina, discovered as she struggled to stand in front of her bathroom mirror. She rested her hands on the cold countertop and groaned in pain as her shoulder swelled.

His face was free of bruises; according to him, Axel, it was the most beautiful he had ever seen and did not deserve bruises. However, he didn't say the same thing about the rest of his body.

He did not hesitate to hurt her, as many times as it took to demonstrate his strength. His violent masculinity over her fragile femininity. Axel had turned into a monster. He was not the same person she had met six months ago. The gentle man who approached her in a bar, who made her laugh all night and in the end, stole a kiss from her.

It was someone else, Valentina thought with her heart tightening in her chest.

The big discovery was that monsters didn't hide in closets or under beds. They were out there, with good looks and easy smiles, ready to destroy your world. All to show themselves big, unshakable, ferocious... and cruel.

Axel made no effort to try to destroy her self-esteem. He insulted and offended her every time she opened her mouth. He diminished her. Valentina tried to be resistant, to tell herself that she was nothing like he claimed.

However, after so many days of fighting alone, she began to weaken. To believe that she was an ugly woman, despite the face he loved so much. Only he could like it. She wasn't as smart as she used to be. Or as good. Or kind. And many other statements that weighed on his shoulders.

Dumb, useless, stupid, slutty, words that took away all confidence. It diminished you and left a void the size of the world in your chest. The humiliation forced you to be submissive, to ignore and accept everything without question.

Without fighting.

Without fighting.

Without a voice.

No freedom.

The monster dominated her, forcing her to believe that it would never hurt her again. That this was the last time. He didn't mean it. He didn't mean to, he regretted it, and he would never repeat that vile act... Until the next explosion of rage.

No need to be alone, Valentina told herself. She had an incredible family, they would help her. But how would she tell all that? That in a few months she had allowed herself to succumb to all the physical and psychological violence Axel was subjecting her to. It was so shameful, she thought with immense regret.

She didn't have the courage.

However, looking at her now thinner and wounded body. She realized that she had to fight. She had to do something.

Anything!

Or Axel would end up killing her.

That was the last time he hit her, at least, that's what Valentina wanted to believe. She was firm in kicking him out of her house, out of her life. Axel even left, but not before hurting her once more. Of taking her body without her permission, of humiliating her with his brute force.

He left with the promise that he would return.

Valentina needed to fight.

Valentina

I hadn't seen Axel for days, a fact that made me more afraid than relieved. His silence didn't seem very good, my skin would get goose bumps every time I stepped out into the street with the terrible feeling of being followed.

He was close by, I was sure of it.

This motivated me to protect myself. I changed the locks on my apartment and begged the landlord to change the locks at the entrance of the building. I made up a story that I had been robbed and lost my keys when my purse was stolen. He, thank the good Lord, believed me and rushed to change everything.

I was immensely grateful, however, still paranoid, I asked the locksmith to reinforce all my windows. I lived on the second floor and I didn't even like to imagine the countless possibilities Axel would have to get in there without my permission.

I was struggling, at least trying. Even after he took me to the bottom, I held my head up in an attempt to survive that terrible phase.

It was my life, not his, so I couldn't give up.

I got out of bed before the clock woke up, two months ago I got a new job and was very satisfied with the sensations that this job gave me. Wanting to work was one of the reasons for Axel's aggressions, but after almost breaking me in half, he allowed it as if he had the right to have an opinion.

I studied hard to have a professional career and now I had the opportunity to build it. The job saved me. It showed me that I was capable, competent and strong...okay, not that strong. But it pulled me out of the hole that was sinking faster and faster.

The continuous fights with Axel contradicted everything I experienced in my office hours. It gave me the courage to end that frayed relationship.

Now, my body didn't have so many marks from his last aggression, and although I enjoyed seeing my skin returning to normal, the feeling that that hell had not come to an end was seeping into my chest.

I took a long shower, trying to relax and ease the pain from my still injured shoulder. I got ready for work, taking care to leave the yellowish stains hidden.

To leave the house, I practically ran to the elevator. I used to use the stairs before, but nowadays I feel more protected inside the small metal box. I smiled with relief when I saw the residents of the building inside, I always tried to keep people around me, it gave me a false sense of security.

I mumbled a good morning to them and waited for the doors to close. We got out in the garage and each went to his car. I looked from one side to the other, looking for Axel and afraid that he had managed to enter the building.

I ran to my vehicle, started it up and sped away as fast as I could. The employee parking lot was outside the company, which made my skin freeze with fear. I needed a few minutes in the protection of my car before I could cross the entire site and enter Daslow Global, an import-export company where I managed a department.

My degree in Business Administration and training in International Relations gave me great opportunities. And all this I had my father to thank for. The stubborn ex-military man, retired from the Navy, never spared any effort to keep me studying.

Benjamin

- You know I have work to do, don't you? - asked Leo.

- Stop being a pain in the ass. - Ryan kicked sand at him.

It was Wednesday day for a late afternoon footvolley. My day had been amazing after the success with the new deal. I felt satisfied with Valentina, my new manager. She was incredibly good with market transactions.

- You are just irritated that you can't have sex with your secretary. - Italo stated calmly.

- Don't analyze me, cuckold. - Leo protested.

We laughed.

Italo was a renowned psychiatrist and usually had a nasty habit of analyzing us, but what the hell, he was our friend.

- He's stronger than me. - Italo said and shrugged. - Let's play and enjoy the evening.

- We have to agree that although he seems crazy, he is very sensible. - Ryan sneered.

- I'll start. - Italo said ignoring him.

- What is the problem with the secretary? - I asked Leo.

- She's too good for me. - he snorted.

- Any woman is too good for you. - Italo teased in his know-it-all psychiatrist tone of voice.

- He didn't even have to use his 160 IQ," Ryan sneered.

I laughed and they started to fight. Leo pissed off. Ryan ready to continue his banter.

And Italo, well... he was Italo.

- Enough talk. - I got the ball. - Let's play.

Valentina

- Good morning Tina, did you have a good night? - Ella asked as soon as she saw me.

I tried not to shiver.

My night was a living hell, I barely had a chance to sleep and when I did, I didn't want to get up. Axel broke into my house. He said that he was going to make peace and that I needed to understand that I belonged to him.

I asked and even begged him to leave, he left, but not before hurting me. Physically and psychologically. When he realized my resistance, he destroyed the patched walls that I had built around myself with enormous difficulty.

It started with a slap in the face, but progressed to punches in the stomach and kicks in the back. He twisted my right arm so hard that my shoulder hurt again, perhaps dislocated, because the pain was unbearable.

When I surrendered, he raped my body as if he had the right, on the floor of my living room. Then he carried me to bed, with a regretful look on his face as he promised that he would never do that again and that it was my fault, for trying to push him away.

For not wanting him.

For pissing him off.

Axel devastated me.

- Are you all right? - Ella asked worriedly. - You look pale and your lip looks swollen.

- I accidentally bit it," I lied.

- I'll order some coffee, you look like you need some.

- Please. - I nodded.

I walked past the water purifier and back to get a cup. I forgot about my sore shoulder and pushed it forward. The cool liquid ended up falling to the floor when I couldn't support its weight.

- Oh God! - I groaned in pain.

- Valentina?

I turned to my boss.

He was a few steps away from me with a young man at his side, as handsome as he was.

- I'll clean up this mess, Mr. Daslow. - I hurried to say.

- Only Benjamin," he corrected me. - The shoulder has not improved?

His gaze was intently analyzing every inch of my face. I looked away in embarrassment, and picked up another glass, this time with my left hand.

- It's almost fine. - I lied.

- If you need to, you can stay home until the pain subsides.

- Is she hurt? - asked the young man next to her.

- I just bumped into her," I answered.

- I'm Italo," he offered his hand.

I held back a sigh when I saw that I would have to raise my right arm, but I did it without hesitation. It hurt to move, but I swallowed and ignored the pain burning in my body.

- Valentina.

- Do you need anything? - Italo asked in a very gentle tone.

He released my hand slowly as if he knew.

- I'm fine, thank you. - I nodded to them. - If you'll excuse me, I'm going to work.

- Of course. - Italo said calmly and led the way.

I passed them knowing they were staring at my back, but hurried to hide in my office.

...

Benjamin

- You have to help her," said Italo.

- How? - I asked confused as we walked towards my office.

- Your new employee," he said softly. - She needs help.

- How so? Be more specific.

- I'm calling it domestic violence.

I widened my eyes.

- You're wrong, Italo. - I frowned.

We walked into my office and he closed the door with an irritated snort.

- Don't offend my IQ of 160. - He stood still in the same place. - That woman has clear signs of someone who is suffering.

- How did you come to this conclusion? - I crossed my arms.

- Start with the blazer in the infernal heat it is here.

- We wear suits," I pointed out.

- For lack of choice, but women have the freedom to wear light clothing. - She made a face. - Dresses, skirts, not blazers when it is forty degrees outside. - She pointed with one finger and held up another. - The way she dropped the glass showed intense pain in her forearm or shoulder. - He held up a third finger. - She lied when she said she bumped into him and when she claimed she was fine.

- She lifted another one. - Her face was pale, her lip seemed swollen and sensitive. - She crossed her arms. - Not to mention the weariness in her eyes and the way she swallowed when she squeezed my hand lightly.

- It's not possible that you watched all this in a few seconds. - I protested, trying to deny the fact.

Italo snorted.

- I can tell you how many times you dropped the ball in the game yesterday, don't underestimate my memory or my analysis.

- I'll go to it.

I took a step, but he didn't move out of the way. This explained why he didn't move out of the way of the door.

- No, you won't.

- Italo, if that woman is being mistreated, I want to know," I say seriously.

- And do what? - raised his annoying smart eyebrows.

- I don't know.

- That's why she's not leaving here. - He leans against the wood. - She looks strong on the outside, but she is fragile. You have to act delicately, find out what's going on. - He advised. - Women who suffer violence from their partners usually don't have the courage to end the relationship. They live imprisoned by fear and threats.

- What should I do?

- Let her work. - He suggested.

- If she is hurt, she needs a doctor," I protested.

- I am a doctor.

- Psychiatrist," I corrected.

- Physician. - He rebutted. - I'll go to her room, talk about anything trivial. - He shrugged. - Try to understand what you really need.

- She's my employee," I said.

- I know! - She stepped away from the door and opened it. - And you're an idiot with no patience, you're going to stress the girl out.

I kept quiet and still watching my friend leave the office, he was right, but I didn't want to give in. I was surprised at everything Italo assumed about Valentina. I never saw anything he said, no indication that she suffered domestic violence.

I only saw a closed, intelligent and strong woman. She faced meetings naturally and did not allow any client to doubt her work.

She was confident, I thought as I closed my eyes.

I remembered the yellowish bruise I saw on her shoulder. Yesterday I had walked into her office unannounced and was surprised to see her in the bathroom with her shirt down over her right arm nursing an ugly bruise.

My blood began to boil, bubbling with rage at the terrible thoughts of what Valentina was going through. If Italo was right, since he was never wrong, I would kill the idiot who was hurting her.

She was part of my company, and I would help her.