Chapter 90 I can't take it anymore
June
I feel his body stiffen the moment I confess what I'd never planned to say.
"Hermes… Mr.—" I try to meet his eyes, but instead, he pulls me into a tight hug. His grip is firm, and possessive, and I exhale, still riding the afterglow. The sex—our dynamic—everything—it lingers in my veins. I didn’t think he’d let me take charge, yet he did. He even accepted my rules.
Tonight, he didn’t feel like Mr. Grande. He felt like Hermes.
"Hermes," I call again, catching another shallow breath.
It’s been a minute since I told him he was the first to break me, and he’s silent. Is he in shock? Or perhaps proud? I can't seem to read the atmosphere.
Will he treat me differently now?
Suddenly he releases me. I feel the wet heat of him leaving, the sudden distance of his body against mine. My chest tightens as his cock slips from my pussy, and I shiver. He doesn’t meet my gaze—his eyes dart toward the room outside the bathroom.
"I… I have something to handle," he mutters, voice clipped, before I can respond, he strides away, and the water from the tub splashes across my chest, arms, and legs, chilling me instantly. My hair clings to my skin. I stagger slightly, instinctively reaching for balance, my heart hammering—not just from the cold, but from the way he’s pushed away so suddenly.
"Right… right now?" I stutter, gripping the edge of the tub. This isn’t how I expected it to go. I thought he’d at least be amused by my confession.
He nods dismissively, stepping out, grabbing a towel and wrapping it around himself.
Wait—does he want me to leave?
"Are you okay, Mr. Grande?" I ask, standing and clutching another towel, my hair still dripping. He spares me a quick glance, then peels his eyes away, stepping out of the bathroom.
I hurry after him, wrapping myself in the towel. He’s already in new trousers, buttoning up a fresh shirt, his movements hastily.
"Is it in the office?" I ask again, stepping in front of him, my head tilted down, trying to catch his expression.
He raises his gaze for a beat, adjusting his tie, then lets out a deep sigh. “You can leave the card key on your way out,” he says, and in a quick stride, leaves the suite.
My lips part softly as I watch the door slam in front of me.
What just happened?
"What's with your face? Your walk didn’t go well?" Kayla asks as I enter the house.
I force a smile. "I don’t want to talk about it." My eyes sweep the room. "Leila’s not back yet,"
I don’t wait for an answer. I just move to my room. Actually, it’s better that Leila isn’t around—I can’t explain any of this to her.
I close the door behind me and drop the card key onto the dresser. My mind spins—did I say too much? Or maybe… maybe something urgent actually came up that pulled him away.
I shrug off my jacket, letting it fall to the floor, and throw myself onto the bed. My eyes stare blankly at the ceiling as my thoughts tumble over themselves, replaying every second with him in the suite. Confusion, frustration, and a strange ache curl in my chest.
Eventually, the weight of it all drags me under, and I slip into a restless sleep.
The next morning at the office doesn’t help. The team review with Mr. Grande? He didn’t even attend. He postponed it.
Why? Why? Just why?
Is it because of me?
"June," Amaka’s voice cuts through, and I snap my head up from my desk.
"Oh—what happened to your face?" she asks, eyes wide with slight shock.
"Huh?" I fumble for the tiny mirror in my bag.
"Oh—shit—" I flinch, grabbing a tissue to wipe the red lipstick smudged across my lips.
"You’re so out of it," Amaka mutters, shaking her head. "Here," she hands me a file. "Scott said to get the CEO’s signature."
My brows arch. "But the CEO isn’t in the company… he didn’t even attend—"
"He’s around now. Go," she says, turning to leave. "Scott said he needs it now."
Shit.
I have to go see him after that awkward ending last night.
I reluctantly make my way to his office, my nerves tight in my chest. As I near the door, Vanessa appears, smiling brightly.
"Good morning, June!" she chirps.
I freeze for a beat, then remember her flats is still with me. "Oh! I forgot your flats... I—I’ll return it tomorrow," I stammer, offering a quick apology.
"No worries at all," she says, waving it off as if it’s nothing.
Before I can say more, she leans toward the door and whispers, "Mr. Grande— Miss Alexander is here."
I take a shaky breath and step inside.
The moment I enter, Mr. Grande doesn’t lift his gaze. His dark eyes remain fixed on something across the room. He gestures toward the glass table with a sharp tilt of his hand.
"Drop it there," he says, voice flat.
I bite my lips, anger bubbling up despite my better judgment. My hands tremble slightly as I place the file down, jaw tightening. I want to snap, to demand why he’s acting like this—but before I can, Vanessa returns, cheerful as ever.
"It's time for your meeting, sir," she says.
Without looking at me, he stands. The moment is over, and he strides out, leaving me rooted to the spot, frustration and confusion warring inside me.
"I can’t take this anymore!" I snap in my mind, my voice sharp as I push past the glass door.
"Hey June!" Tobias calls, spotting me and jogging toward me with that familiar cheerful energy.
My fists clench at the sight of him, and of Hermes and Vanessa walking ahead in the same direction.
My chest tightens. No. Not again. I refuse to let myself be treated like this.
As Tobias reaches me, I throw my arms around him, hugging him tightly. The suddenness startles him, and he freezes for a beat.
I catch movement out of the corner of my eye. Hermes turns to say something, but his words die in his throat as he meets my gaze. He stops, expression unreadable, and simply watches.
I exhale, holding Tobias a little longer than necessary, my heart pounding.