hire by the ruthless ceo

chapter 6

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*CHAPTER 6: THE GALA - "SHE'S WITH ME"*

*8:00 PM - CARTER MANSION DRESSING ROOM*

I was shaking.

The dress the "maiden" brought was red. Silk. It hugged every curve and fell to the floor. Diamonds. Heels. Hair done.

I looked like someone I didn’t know.

“Miss Maya,” the maid said. “Mr. Carter said to tell you... don’t be late.”

My phone buzzed.

`Alex: Car is outside. 8:00 PM sharp.`

I took a deep breath. I was still bruised from yesterday. Makeup covered most of it. But my wrist still had faint marks.

The car was waiting. Black. Tinted.

Alex was inside.

He looked up when I got in. And froze.

His eyes went from my face, down the dress, back to my eyes. Slow.

His jaw ticked.

“You look...” He stopped. “Good.”

That was it. Just “good.” From him.

But the way he said it? Like he wanted to burn the whole gala down.

“Thank you, sir,” I whispered.

“Stop calling me sir tonight,” he said quietly. “At the gala, you’re my guest.”

My heart stopped. “Guest, sir— I mean— Alex?”

He didn’t answer. He just took my hand and laced our fingers together.

Possessive. Claiming.

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*9:15 PM - CARTER GRAND GALA*

Cameras. Flashes. Billionaires.

And Mandy.

She was in white. Of course. Standing with her father and Alex’s parents.

The second she saw me on Alex’s arm, her wine glass almost dropped.

Alex didn’t let go of my hand.

“Who is that?” someone whispered.

“Isn’t that the maid?”

“Since when does Alex bring staff to a gala?”

We walked straight to his parents.

“Son,” Mrs. Carter said, smiling. “And Mandy, dear—”

“Mom,” Alex cut in. His voice was calm. Deadly calm. “This is Maya Collins. She’s with me tonight.”

The whole room went silent.

Mandy’s smile cracked. “Alex, baby, what are you doing? She’s... she’s just the help.”

Alex turned to her. Then to the entire room.

“She’s not ‘just’ anything.” His thumb brushed over my knuckles. “Maya saved my company from a bad deal last week. She’s my assistant. And she’s my guest.”

Lie. But a beautiful one.

Mandy stepped forward, jealousy in her eyes. “I don’t think it’s appropriate. People will talk.”

“Let them talk,” Alex said. Then he looked down at me. “Maya, dance with me.”

Before I could answer, he pulled me to the dance floor.

His hand went to my waist. The other held mine.

We were too close.

“Why are you doing this?” I whispered. “People are staring.”

“Good,” he murmured in my ear. His breath was warm. “I want them to stare. I want Mandy to see. I want everyone to see.”

“What?”

“That you’re mine.”

I tripped. He caught me. His arm went around me fully.

“Careful,” he said. But he didn’t let go.

Across the room, Mandy was watching. Her nails were digging into her palms.

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*10:00 PM - BALCONY*

I needed air.

The gala was too much. The stares. The whispers.

I stepped onto the balcony.

“Following me?”

Alex.

He closed the door behind us. Now it was just us and the city lights.

“You didn’t have to do that,” I said. “The dance. People will—”

“I know what people will do.” He stepped closer. “Talk. Judge. That’s all they do.”

He reached up and very carefully tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. His fingers lingered on my bruised cheek.

“Does it still hurt?” he asked. Voice soft.

“A little.”

His expression darkened. “Mandy did this.”

It wasn’t a question.

I nodded.

Alex closed his eyes for a second. When he opened them, they were furious. But not at me.

“Maya,” he said. “If I tell you to quit, will you?”

“What? No— sir, I need this job—”

“I’m not asking as your boss.” He cut me off. “I’m asking as... as someone who doesn’t want to see you hurt again.”

My chest tightened.

“Then no,” I whispered. “I won’t quit.”

He stared at me. “Stubborn.”

“Learned it from you.”

For a second, he almost smiled.

Then the balcony door slammed open.

Mandy.

“What is this?!” she shrieked. “Dancing with her? In public? Are you insane, Alex?!”

Alex didn’t even look at her. He was still looking at me.

“Mandy,” he said calmly. “Leave.”

“No! Everyone is watching! You’re humiliating me! Our families have a contract!”

Alex finally turned. “The contract was between our fathers. Not me and you.”

He stepped in front of me. Shielding me.

“And this,” he pointed at me, “is not up for discussion. Touch her again, talk about her again, and I will personally make sure the Carter-Mandy merger dies tomorrow.”

Mandy’s face went white. “You’d really do that? For her?”

“Yes,” Alex said. No hesitation. “Because she’s mine.”

The word echoed.

Mandy ran off crying.

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*11:30 PM - BACK HOME*

The car was silent on the way back.

When we got to my room, Alex walked me to the door.

“Thank you,” I said. “For tonight. For... protecting me.”

He nodded. Then paused.

“8AM tomorrow. Don’t be late.”

“Yes, boss.”

As I closed the door, I heard him say very quietly:

“Goodnight, Maya.”

Not “maid.”

Not “staff.”

My name.

I leaned against the door, heart racing.

The ruthless CEO had just claimed me in front of 300 people.

And I had no idea what came next.

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*_A/N: 😱 DID YOU SEE THAT?? "SHE'S MINE" IN PUBLIC!!!

Vote: Should Alex break the engagement with Mandy in Chapter 7?? Comment "YES" if you want him to do it!!_*