I've Had Enough, CEO

The sharp sting brought Elena Blackwood back to her senses. She pressed her lips together and nudged the man in front of her, her annoyance barely hidden. "What's wrong?" Nathaniel Cross' voice was low and gravelly, tinged with irritation. "You scratched my waist—it hurts," Elena said, making no effort to hide the dissatisfaction on her otherwise flawless face. She wasn't the kind of woman to back down easily. Tonight, Nathaniel had come home early, and things had gotten a lot rougher than usual. She wasn't about to suffer in silence. Nathaniel's gaze dropped, and sure enough, there were faint red marks on the soft skin of Elena's waist where his nails had dug in. A flicker of guilt passed over his usually stoic features. "I'll get the first aid kit." As Nathaniel left the room, the faint scent of tobacco clung to the air, slowly fading. Elena's eyes followed his lean, powerful frame as he walked away. When she had first joined Cross Industries, she rose quickly, her sharp business instincts and relentless drive earning her a coveted spot by Nathaniel's side. She had worked harder than anyone else, No one knew why she pushed herself so much. But she knew the truth—she had raced up the ladder, not to become someone's hidden lover, but for something far greater. Sure, she'd loved Nathaniel for a decade, but that didn't mean she was willing to be treated like his dirty little secret. Nathaniel reappeared, now wrapped in a white bathrobe, his toned abs briefly visible as he leaned down to grab the first aid kit from the living room. Just then, his phone rang. The name on the screen read: Gwendolyn. Nathaniel's eyes darkened for a split second. He placed the kit down and stepped outside to take the call. Elena waited. And waited. Her chest tightened as the minutes ticked by. Then, her phone buzzed with a message. Gwendolyn: I'm coming back home. Nate just told me he'd pick me up at the airport. Elena, I don't need to fight you for him. He's always loved me—you're just a toy. Elena had always known about Gwendolyn Price, the perfect girl from Nathaniel's past who had been abroad for years. People whispered that she looked like Gwendolyn, but she never paid much attention to it. But lately, she'd noticed. Nathaniel sometimes muttered Gwendolyn's name in his sleep. 'Am I really just her replacement?' The next morning, Elena stepped into the office, only to be greeted by the sound of excited gossip. "Did you hear? Gwendolyn Price, the heiress of Price Holdings, is coming back!" "With Gwendolyn returning, Elena's going to be left out in the cold, don't you think?" "Everyone knows Gwendolyn was Mr. Cross' grandfather's pick for his future wife. She's the one meant to take over with him. As for Elena? Just a fling. She'll get tossed aside soon enough." Outside the door, Elena's blood boiled. Her secret relationship with Nathaniel had been uncovered by these very same gossipmongers. They acted all respectful to her face as the finance department manager, but behind her back, they couldn't wait to tear her down. Before, she could shrug it off. But not anymore. She shoved the door open. "Are you all done with your work, or do you just enjoy hearing yourselves talk? If you're not interested in doing your job, feel free to leave." The group immediately quieted down, exchanging uneasy glances before hurriedly returning to their tasks. As Elena walked away, Mia Turner leaned in to whisper to her colleague, "Look at her—she's really acting like she's already Mrs. Cross." Outside Nathaniel's office... Elena adjusted the fitted pale blue skirt that hugged her curves and let her chestnut hair fall over her shoulders. She looked polished and composed, the image of professional grace. In her hand, she held a meticulously prepared file. She knocked twice. "Come in." Nathaniel's voice was cool, lacking any warmth. Elena stepped in. "Mr. Cross, here's the market analysis for CloudStar Innovations over the past five years, as you requested." "Mm," Nathaniel responded briefly, his eyes focused as he flipped through the pages. Elena hesitated, her mind replaying Gwendolyn's message from last night. Testing the waters, she asked, "Mr. Cross, do you need any changes to your upcoming schedule?" She was really asking if he needed time off to pick up or spend time with Gwendolyn once the latter returned. Nathaniel's sharp gaze lifted, for he read her intentions with ease. "Focus on your work. Don't overthink things." Caught, but unfazed, Elena shot back, "I'm asking because I'll be out of town for a business trip in two days." "You're not going," Nathaniel cut in, canceling the trip without further explanation. "What? Why not?" Elena stared at him, her frustration evident. She hadn't done anything wrong. "You've been slipping." Nathaniel's tone was flat, but there was an edge of disappointment. He tapped the top of the report. "This is for Wave Enterprises. You mixed up the market analysis for CloudStar Innovations and Wave Enterprises. Elena, you've let me down." Anger flared up inside her. She never made careless mistakes like this. The CloudStar Innovations report had been the one she'd finished last night, while Wave Enterprises had been filed away for weeks. She left her office with everything in place, and the only person with access to her desk was her assistant, Mia. It had to be her. Mia must've tampered with the reports during her absence. Elena took a deep breath, forcing herself to remain calm. "Do you really think I'm dumb enough to make that kind of mistake? Someone sabotaged me. And Mia Turner's the most likely suspect. Instead of pointing fingers at me, maybe you should look into what's really going on in this office. And let me tell you something, Nathaniel. I'm done playing games. Whether it's at work or in whatever this is between us, I won't be anyone's second choice." Nathaniel's voice grew icy. "Keep your personal feelings out of the office. This is your last warning." Elena's heart pounded with a mix of anger and betrayal, but she refused to back down. "I'm not some pushover you can just step all over. I'll get to the bottom of this. If Mia's behind it, I won't let her off easily. And as for you, I'm done letting you treat me like a stand-in." Without waiting for a response, she grabbed the file and stormed out of the office. With a loud thud, the report landed hard on Mia's desk. Mia jumped, startled, her guilty expression barely concealed. "Elena... what are you doing?"