Alpha CEO

“I’m not surprised,” Anne observed, sitting beside me at one of the picnic tables while we watched Julian throw a kid on his shoulders, in order for him to dunk the basketball into the hoop. “Julian has always had a big heart, especially when it came to children.”

“Really?” I peered at her.

“Oh yes. He’s always known how to calm the little ones down even as a teenager. I think it was because he lived their lives himself. He knew what they needed to hear to feel safe in a new environment. This place can be rough on a child who just lost their parent or parents. Did you know he donates millions of dollars every year?”

I jerked back. “What?”

“Yeah, he not only donates to the group home, but he also helps the kids get into colleges, paying for their books and sometimes their tuition and dorms.”

“I had no idea.”

“This surprises you?”

“Yeah, it does.”

I fed into the gossip from the press. They labeled him as a cold, heartless bastard, and I figured he was like that in every aspect of his life. Especially after being with him the last few days and witnessing it for myself. Never in a million years did I imagine he’d cared about this place, let alone these children living there.

“He’s a good man. You’re lucky to have him.”

My heart fluttered, hearing her say those words to me.

Was I lucky?

The time flew by, and I’d be lying if I’d said I didn’t love every second of seeing him with his guard down. His suit jacket was in my lap, his tie was hanging from his neck with the first few buttons undone. He was relaxed, comfortable, and in his element.

My heart wasn’t just beating fast, it was hammering against my chest when Julian took off his collared shirt. Sweat glistening off every inch of his muscular, defined chest as he made his way toward us.

I could see it in his eyes—he was coming for me.

“Julian, don’t you dar—”

I didn’t have a chance to finish my sentence, as he flung his sweaty body on me, wrapping me in his manly scent.

“Julian!”

“What? You used to love it when I made you wet.”

“You’re all sweaty, and you’re ruining my dress!”

“Can’t have that now, can we?”

“What’s that supp—”

Clutching onto my waist, he sat on the bench, sitting me on his lap. My back to his front, his lips nuzzled my neck.

“Feels damn good to finally hold you in my arms, Autumn.”

I smiled. I had to, all eyes were on us. Including the camera.

Julian wasn’t deterred, muttering into my ear, “Do you have any idea how much I missed you?”

He was acutely aware of what I was experiencing with his whole body engulfing mine. Completely in tune with my emotions.

We were an illusion.

An act.

A charade.

Nothing about our relationship was real. We were living a lie in front of all these people, and the millions who’d eventually watch this intimate footage the videographer was capturing. Only suffocating me further into the reckless thoughts of what my family and brother would think when they saw us like this.

“Julian, please...”

“You know I love it when you beg.”

“You can’t do this.”

“I already am.”

“You need to let me go.”

“No, I have waited too long for you.”

The space began closing in on me, holding me hostage against my will. Sweat formed at my temples, my hands began to shake, and my heart started beating profusely through my chest.

I couldn’t breathe.

All I wanted was to breathe. Just for one second, one moment, one hour in time.

Tick…

“You’ll always be my number one girl.”

Tick…

“I lov—”

Boom.

I forcefully escaped, ignoring the disappointed expression taking hold of his face.

What did he expect?

“Kid—”

I didn’t allow him to finish, quickly walking away. I thought facing our past would be too much to bear, never thinking our future would be harder to endure.

Future? Where did that come from?

He was messing with my head. I took a walk while he showered, and once he was fully dressed in his suit, appearing like the Alpha CEO, it was much easier to be around him. His guard was back up, and I couldn’t help but remember that for most of my life, I’d prayed for him to bring it down, and now I wished for the opposite to happen.

We said our goodbyes, and I didn’t speak to him the entire drive back to the hotel. Except we didn’t go to the suite. When the driver pulled into my favorite restaurant, I was well aware Julian had told him to.

“I’m not going in there with you.”

“Autumn, one way or another, you’re going to have dinner with me. The choice is yours on how you’d like to enter that facility.”

Flinging my door open, I stepped out. Pretty much stomping my feet the entire way in. With one foot in front of the other, I walked inside with Julian behind me at the same exact time my life came tumbling down on me. Right there in front of our faces was our past beating me senseless.