The CEO's Forbidden Desire

Chapter 1

**Anna

I couldn't stop smiling.

“Can't wait, can't wait, can't wait!” I screamed, spinning around in my tiny bedroom, holding a ball gown to my chest. I folded the gown and pressed it into my suitcase that was already stuffed with clothes I probably didn't need. I just needed to look perfect for him.

This wasn't just going to be any ordinary trip.

It was my graduation trip. The trip Ryan and I had been talking so much about for months.

Finally…it was going to be just me and Ryan. No classes, no interruption, just us.

I zipped up the bag and walked towards my bedroom mirror, butterflies swirling in my stomach. “Yes, of course, yes,” I whispered, practicing the words.

Heat flooded my cheeks even though no one was there to watch. Still, I could see it…Ryan kneeling, his dark eyes locking on mine, his voice trembling in a way it never did when he was confident in class or at parties. He’d open a little velvet box, and inside, a diamond would sparkle under the golden hotel lights. Not too big, not too small … just perfect,.

I pressed my fingertips to my lips and imagined the kiss, the applause, our future stretching out before us. We’d call my parents, text our friends. I’d send a picture of the ring to my best friend, and she’d scream over the phone. Everything would finally, finally fall into place.

“‘Yes,’” I said again, smiling at my reflection.

We'd been together for four years, surviving the trials, distance and every storm that could have sunk us. My friends told me that college relationships never lasted, but ours did. It was obvious he was going to propose to me tonight.

I shoved another dress into the suitcase, this one far too formal for the hotel but better safe than sorry. I added my heels as well, along with half my perfume collection.

Then my eyes landed on the clock.

“Oh s**t, oh s**t, oh s**t!”

“I was supposed to be ready by now,” I said, darting into the bathroom and running a hot bath.

My fingers lingered a little longer on my skin today as I smoothed the soap over every inch of me, wanting to feel perfect for him tonight.

Tonight was gonna be a long night.

The warm water ran over me, and I shivered, letting my fingers run freely on my skin. I kept thinking of him, of what he would do to me…how he would whisper my name.

“No time,” I snapped at myself, yanking away from the daydream.

I rinsed up and put on a white crop top that I knew he liked and blue skinny jeans that highlighted my curves.

A few strokes of the brush and my brown hair fell smoothly down my back.

I grabbed my car keys and suitcase.

“He's going to be so surprised,” I said to myself as I entered my car.

I drove to his house in dad’s old graduation gift, my little blue car.

I parked down the street from Ryan’s house, I didn’t want him hearing me pull up, it would ruin the surprise visit. I walked quietly to his porch with the spare key he’d given me.

The door clicked as I turned the key inside the knob. My lips curved brightly.

“Surpri—”

The word died in my throat.

Ryan stood there, naked, pressed tightly behind a woman. She was busty, blonde hair, and cherry red lips. My stomach twisted.

Mrs. Andrea, my professor.

He was f*****g my teacher.

The room smelled of sweat and something sour. Their skin glistened in the light, their breaths ragged, and my world tilted until I couldn’t tell if I was standing or falling.

“You b***h!” I screamed, walking up to them and yanking her hair before I even knew what I was doing

“Let go of me,” she said, clutching the duvet to cover herself.

Ryan's face was pale, then red. “What the f**k are you doing here?”

“What am I–” my voice cracked, a sob catching in my throat. “You're screwing my teacher!”

I tried to hold back the tears that threatened to spill from my eyes.

Andrea smirked, tossing her hair back as if I were nothing more than an inconvenience. “Honey, she was bound to find out sooner or later.”

She kissed Ryan on the cheek, slow and deliberate, like she wanted to brand him in front of me, then she strolled inside as if it were her home.

I realised that this wasn't a one time thing. It wasn't the first time.

I could barely breathe. My chest heaved as tears blurred my sight.

“So this is what you’ve been doing? No wonder you never had time for me. I booked us a trip, Ryan. I thought—” My voice broke. “I thought you were going to propose tonight.”

His expression hardened.

“First of all, you can’t just barge into my place without telling me. And second, don’t yell at my guest.”

Guest?

The words sliced me open.

“I shouldn't have come here,” I whispered, finally letting the tears drop.

“Yeah. You really shouldn't have.” His eyes narrowed cruelly . “You’re just… boring. Too safe. That’s the truth.”

This pierced my heart like a needle to the chest. The world spun around me, I was shattered. I staggered backwards, not knowing what do do next. All I could do was…run.

He was a monster.

The front door banged against the wall as I bolted outside, tears streaming down my face. I didn’t care if the neighbors saw me. I didn’t care about anything except getting far away from him.

I collapsed into my car, gripping the wheel with trembling hands. The tears came harder, unstoppable. “f**k, f**k, f**k!” I sobbed, forehead pressed against the leather.

I had never been this humiliated in my life, ever.

Four years. Four years of love, trust, dreams…and this was what I got. My boyfriend and my teacher. Laughing behind my back.

I drove home on autopilot, headlights streaking through my tears. By the time I reached my apartment, I was hollow. I collapsed onto the bed, not minding that my mascara would stain the sheets.

All my hopes and dreams, gone. We…we were gone.

My head pounded as the aftereffects of my cries began to take hold.

My chest ached, but somewhere deep down, anger simmered beneath the heartbreak.

I grabbed my suitcase with shaky hands and wiped the tears on my face.

I wouldn't just cancel my reservation because of a horny bastard. No.

“I won't waste my money. I'll go alone.”

And I would.