Love me Or Ruin me

Chapter Six

Two years had passed.

Two long, relentless years since that first explosive night when Arian Voss had claimed every inch of my body in his office and then continued his ruthless possession in his penthouse high above the city. Two years of walking the knife’s edge between survival and surrender.

On the surface, nothing had changed.

I was still Larissa Miller — the ever-efficient, ever-present personal secretary to Arian Voss, CEO of Voss Empire. I still arrived at Voss Tower every morning before most employees, still sat at the sleek glass desk right outside his imposing corner office on the 89th floor, and still handled his impossible schedule with quiet precision.

The office itself never changed either. The same pristine marble floors that clicked sharply under high heels. The same floor-to-ceiling windows that offered a dizzying view of Veridian City’s glittering skyline. The same minimalist luxury — black leather furniture, expensive artwork, and an atmosphere thick with power and unspoken fear.

I typed steadily on my keyboard, replying to yet another chain of demanding emails, when my private phone vibrated silently against the polished surface of my desk. The screen lit up with a private, encrypted number. My fingers paused for half a second.

I lifted my gaze toward Arian’s office. The heavy glass door was slightly ajar, giving me a clear view of him seated behind his massive mahogany desk. He looked every

bit the untouchable billionaire — sharp black suit, crisp white shirt, dark hair perfectly styled, jaw clenched in concentration as he reviewed documents. His presence alone seemed to suck the air out of the entire floor.

I picked up the phone without hesitation and rose from my chair, walking with measured steps down the long, quiet hallway toward the private executive restroom reserved for senior staff. The moment I stepped inside and locked the door, the outside world felt distant.

I answered on the third ring.

“Yes?” I said, my voice low and controlled.

A calm, professional male voice responded immediately. “Good afternoon, Miss Vale.

Apologies for calling during office hours. We have several time-sensitive matters requiring your decision today.”

I leaned against the cool marble counter, staring at my reflection in the large, frameless mirror. The woman looking back wore a modest cream silk blouse and a fitted black pencil skirt — the perfect image of a devoted secretary.

“Go ahead,” I replied softly.

“First, the $180 million investment opportunity in Sentinel Tech. Our analysts have completed the full due diligence. The valuation remains highly attractive, and the board is awaiting your final approval to move forward with the capital injection.”

I didn’t hesitate. “Approve it. Transfer the full amount by tomorrow morning at the latest. Make sure the terms remain favorable to us.”

“Understood. Second matter — the proposed merger with Harrington Group. They’ve submitted revised terms overnight. Shall we accept the current offer, push for further concessions, or withdraw from negotiations entirely?”

“Demand the revised terms we prepared last week,” I said firmly. “If they show even the slightest resistance, pull out completely. We don’t chase partnerships.”

There was a brief pause on the other end before the voice continued. “Very well.

Final item — Voss Empire’s current flagship infrastructure project. It continues to face delays and cost overruns. Do you wish us to maintain the existing level of silent financial backing, or should we begin a gradual reduction in support?”

My fingers tightened slightly around the phone.

“Reduce the silent funding by twenty percent this quarter,” I instructed. “Monitor their response closely. Do not cut off completely yet… but let them feel the pressure.”

“Consider it done, Miss Vale. I’ll send the full reports and confirmation to your secure server by tonight. Is there anything else you require?”

“No. That will be all for now.”

The call ended with a soft click.

I lowered the phone and stared at myself in the mirror for a long moment. The weight of everything I was doing pressed against my chest, but I pushed it down. Not here. Not now. No one could know. No one could even begin to suspect the truth.

I took a slow, steadying breath, touched up my lipstick, smoothed my blouse, and checked my hair. When I finally stepped out of the restroom, my expression was perfectly neutral once again.

The moment I returned to my desk and sat down, I felt it — that heavy, unmistakable stare.

Arian was standing in the doorway of his office, one shoulder leaning against the frame, arms crossed over his broad chest. His dark eyes were fixed on me with that sharp, calculating intensity that always made my skin prickle.

He didn’t speak immediately. He simply watched me, studying every detail — the way

I held my posture, the slight flush on my cheeks, the phone I had slipped back into my drawer.

The silence stretched between us, thick and heavy.

Finally, his deep voice cut through the quiet. “Who was that?”

I met his gaze calmly. “Just a personal call, sir. Nothing that affects my work.”

His jaw tightened. He continued staring at me for several long seconds, as if trying to peel back the layers I had so carefully built. The tension in the air was almost electric.

Arian pushed off the doorframe and took one step forward before stopping himself.

“You’ve been taking a lot of personal calls lately,” he said, his tone dangerously low.

I offered a small, polite smile. “It won’t interfere with my responsibilities.”

He didn’t look convinced. His eyes lingered on me a moment longer, dark and unreadable, before he finally turned and disappeared back into his office without another word. The door closed behind him with a soft, final click.

I released the breath I hadn’t realized I was holding and leaned back slightly in my chair.

Two years of this.

Two years of balancing on a razor’s edge.

Two years of secrets that grew heavier with every passing day.

I glanced toward his closed door one last time, my expression calm on the outside even as my thoughts raced.