REBORN AS THE CEO’s DIVA

Rule Breaker

One week later.

Zoey was tired from back to back shoots, meetings and 300-plus fake apologies from people who ignored Sophia for five years. Now they all wanted “Zee” at their parties.

She didn’t attend any though, instead, she worked tirelessly.

Today was the Crimson Throne poster shoot by 10:00am at Cole Tower studios, floor 40.

She wore a simple black dress and her hair was styled to the back. She didn’t wear red today, at least not yet. Red was made for war, and today isn’t a war day. The studio was very cold and the big lights were on, of course, it was time for shoots.

Seven people moved very fast but didn’t say anything, obviously they were scared of Ethan. He was at the studio too. He stood at the back with a black shirt on, his sleeves rolled to his elbow as usual. He crossed his arms across his chest and watched her closely.

The director, Mr Smith, was sweating as hell.

“Miss Zoey, please, stand here. Look straight at the camera and think of power.”

Zoey stood on the X, she felt the light become too hot on her.

“Now, think of the man you hate so much, channel that hate to the pose.” Mr Smith said.

She didn’t even need to think. She thought straight of Adrian, Mia, then she saw the antidepressant she had been fed.

“Good.” He clicked the camera.

“Now, Mr. Cole would have to step on here for the couple shots.”

Zoey frowned and turned to Ethan. “No one told me this beforehand.”

Ethan walked to her, slowly and stopped in front of her.

“And I’m telling you now. Any problem, Zee?”

“Yes.” She lifted her chin up so high.

“Clause 12b hasn’t started yet. It clearly stated that, no dating, no touching… I personally think you should read your own contract.”

His mouth curved into a sharp smile. “This is work, Zoey. It’s clearly for the posters. The fans need to see their Queen and her king.”

“Liar.” She said loud enough for only him to hear.

He stepped into the X very closely to her. The studio suddenly became too hot for Zoey.

“Put your hand here.” Mr Smith said with a shaky voice. “On her waist, Mr. Cole. Miss Zoey, please look at him, like you own him.”

Zoey did not move an inch.

Ethan lightly moved his hand to her waist, and she felt his hand burn through the dress she wore.

“Look at me like you hate me.” He said, only for her to hear. “You’re very good at that, you know?”

“I do hate you.” She grit her teeth.

“Good.” His thumb moved very slightly on her back. “Keep looking at me like that.”

Mr. Smith kept flashing his camera at them.

“Closer!, Mr Smith said. “The queen must claim her king! Heads up, Miss Zoey, please touch his chest.”

Zoey put her hand on his chest, she noticed his chest was racing fast, very fast.

“Last shot!” Mr. Smith shouted. “You should whisper something in his ear, like a threat or a promise.”

Ethan leaned down to her, and kept his mouth near her ear.

“You’re shaking.” He said

“No, I’m not.”

“You are.” His breath felt so warm in her face. “Because you want Clause 12b to start quickly.”

She looked up at him, very angry. “I don’t…”

His lips suddenly met hers.

The kiss wasn’t a soft one, it was not asked for.

His hand moved from her waist to her neck. He held her neck, but he wasn’t hurting her, he was rather claiming it. His mouth was hard and hot and it tasted like coffee and war.

The room went quiet, no one dared make a sound. Zoey froze for a second. Sophia would have pushed him away and apologized for pushing him.

Zoey bit his lip very hard and Ethan made a very low sound. He pulled back an inch and his eyes were piercing into hers.

“You bite.” He said

“You break your own rules.” She said with a shaky voice and she absolutely hated that.

Mr. Smith was crying. “That’s it!” “Perfect for the posters!” “That’s real love!”

Ethan did not move, his hand was still on her neck and his thumb was her on her pulse.

“Clause 12b starts now.” He said quietly only for her to hear. “You signed it yourself, you said ‘except you’.” Zoey put her hand on his chest and pushed him, gently.

“I said it starts when I say, and I didn’t say.”

She stepped off the X and walked away with steady legs but a racing heart. The room was dead silent, people moved past them very fast, pretending they didn’t see anything.

She got into the hall and stopped. She leaned on the wall and covered her mouth with her hands.

Just then, Ethan came out too. He stopped three inches away from her.

“You kissed me first,” she said.

“I did.” He didn’t apologize. “Will you put that in your live video too?”

“No.” She looked at him. “I’m not going to do that, because that kiss was for me, and not for them.”

For the first time ever, Ethan Cole looked surprised.

Then he smiled hard at her, really hard.

“Noted, Zee.” He walked past her and continued. “By 5pm, I need you to be in my office. We need to talk about Mia because she’d be at the premiere next week.”