Intrigued by the CEO: Paranoid Obsessions

Harper’s breath was taken away by the kiss. Blaze loosened his hold on her for a moment, then kissed her again passionately, ravishing her lips and tongue, until her body gradually softened in his arms, involuntarily leaning against his chest.

Only then did Blaze release her, his eyes fixed on her fair face. “Okay.”

“Eh…” Harper touched her swollen lips… Now she had to get his approval for everything she did. He said he was her home, but he seemed more like a guardian, a domineering one at that.

“But you must meet next door,” Blaze added.

“…” Harper was speechless.

“No more than a kilometer away from me.”

“…”

“Do you hear me?” Blaze bit her ear, dissatisfied with her silence.

“I got it, Mr. CEO, whatever you say.” Harper felt helpless. She had never seen anyone approach love the way Blaze did.

“Then I’ll make plans to meet up with my classmate.” Harper returned to her desk and texted Lena to arrange a time.

Blaze had arranged to meet at an upscale private club. He directly booked two adjacent rooms, so Harper wouldn’t be too far from him. He could see her anytime.

The private club’s rooms were lavish and magnificent, dominated by gold tones. The entire place was decorated like a palace. As Harper stepped in, she felt like she was entering a luxurious world. Living with Blaze, everything she saw and heard was so different from before.

Harper walked over to the bar, pondered for a moment, then took out a bottle of high-proof red wine and sat down at the table.

Before she could even open the wine, the door was pushed open.

Lena, dressed in a white dress, stood at the doorway, “Sorry. Harper, I’m late.”

“No worries, I just got here too.” Harper smiled, “Have a seat.”

Lena looked around the room with admiration, “It’s a high-profile private club, did Mr. Wychwood arrange this for you?”

Harper just smiled and didn’t say much. She poured a glass for Lena, “Long time no see, let’s have a drink.”

After Lena put down her glass, she looked at Harper curiously, “By the way, we rushed things last time we met. Tell me, what happened three years ago? And what’s going on between you and Mr. Wychwood now?”

“Don’t you already know?” Harper said lightly as she took a sip of the wine. It tasted a bit bitter.

“I don’t know much,” Lena said.

“You seem very interested in what happened three years ago?” Harper had a hunch that Lena know something, but she couldn’t put her finger on it.

“Just chatting. If you don’t want to talk about it, we can drop it. So, how have you been these years?” Lena twirled her long hair, exuding a mature woman’s charm. Lena was really different from before. The old Lena didn’t have this seductive vibe.

“I’ve just been drawing comics, you know I’ve always loved comics since college. My days have been pretty simple and boring. How about you? You seem to be doing well,” Harper said.

“Me?” Lena’s face darkened at the mention. She was a bit tipsy from the wine. After a moment, Lena looked up at her, “Do you want to hear the truth?”

Before Harper could say anything, Lena suddenly stood up from the table, pointing to her bag hanging beside her,”I have designer clothes, designer bags now, but I’m not doing well. In fact, I don’t even know what I want…”

Harper listened quietly.

“Back then, my family was so poor, I didn’t have what others had. I was so poor that I had to borrow money for tuition. I could only do part-time jobs, and I couldn’t even afford to go to the hospital when I was sick.” Lena looked at her bag with a bitter smile, “I was really scared of being poor. I thought I would get better after graduation.”

Harper listened, sinking into memories of their college days.

Back then, they often leaned against the window of the dormitory. They encouraged each other, one saying they had to work hard to make money, the other saying they had to strive to become the top girl in the world of comic.

“But I found out, poor people are just poor people. It’s not that simple to get better! No matter how hard I try, I can’t catch up with others!” Lena suddenly looked at Harper, self-mockingly, “I know, when you saw my boyfriend on the cruise, you secretly looked down on me.”

Harper looked at Lena, her gaze sincere, “No. I just thought you could choose a more comfortable life. The Lena I know is a very hardworking and ambitious girl. After not seeing you for a few years, I was a bit surprised.”Content property of NôvelDra/ma.Org.

“A more comfortable life? Huh, that also depends on material things… Nowadays, who cares about you if you don’t have money?” Lena laughed. She picked up the red wine bottle and poured herself another full glass, “I know you look down on me too. But I need to stay a live, I need money, I’m tired of living a life where I’m exhausted but get nothing in return!” At the end, Lena shouted out passionately.

“You’ve had enough to drink.” Harper stood up, pressing down Lena’s hand that was about to raise her glass again, and said calmly.

“Let me drink.” Lena looked at her with a bitter smile, “You don’t know, I’m tired of pretending to be a lady in front of those rich people. In the world of the elite, women are always competing secretly, there are no friends at all. Meeting a friend like you, I really don’t want to pretend anymore.”

Harper looked at her, slowly retracting her hand.

As the waiter came in with a variety of dishes, Lena was already completely drunk.

“Miss,” a waiter approached her, holding a tray, “Mr. Wychwood asked me to give you something. He’s waiting for it.”

“Give me something?” Harper looked at the tray in confusion.

On the tray was a piece of paper wrapped around something.

It was a piece of ice-cold transparent glass, about the size of her palm, cut into a heart shape.

‘How much does Blaze love heart shapes…’ Harper placed the glass on her lap and unfolded the paper. On it, four letters were written in a flamboyant manner – kiss!

‘… This guy…’ Harper thought. ‘He actually thought of this trick to ask for a kiss, shameless.’

The waiter seemed to sense her reluctance and said immediately, “Mr. Wychwood said if we couldn’t get it back, he would come and take it himself.”

‘Come and take it himself? This damn pervert!’ Harper thought, embarrassed. She lowered her head and picked up the heart-shaped glass, pressing her lips against it. The crimson lipstick immediately left a light imprint on the glass.

“Take it,” Harper said, feeling incredibly embarrassed. Her face was burning.

‘Damn Blaze. Stupid man! Kiss fiend! Perverted lunatic!’ Harper cursed Blaze in her mind, waiting for the waiters to leave before she lifted her head.

Lena was already too drunk, murmuring about their college days, “I’m not as good as before, neither are you. You’re also with Mr. Wychwood. Harper, we’ve all changed, we’ve all changed…”

“Lena, I have something to ask you.”

Lena, barely able to open her eyes due to drunkenness, slurred, “What?”

“Three years ago, someone from The Wychwood Family approached you for questioning. Why didn’t you tell me anything and just watched me get crushed by the college gossip? And on the cruise, I could tell you were shocked. Your avoided the topic of three years ago… Are you hiding something from me?”

Lena sobered up slightly at Harper’s words, sitting up. She sighed bitterly, “You’re really smart, Harper. You’ve always been smart, actually.”

“I want the answer,” Harper said seriously.

Lena shook her head desperately, as if she remembered something, “I can’t, I can’t say.”

Seeing her like this, Harper became more convinced of her suspicions. She grabbed Lena’s arm, “Are you really hiding something from me? Tell me, what is it?”

“I can’t say…”

“Lena!” Harper couldn’t help but get excited, “Do you know how important the events from three years ago are to me? I’m in this situation now because of that. Tell me! What do you know?”

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry…” Lena apologized.

“Sorry? Why are you apologizing to me? What do you know? What have you done?” Harper gripped her arm tightly.

Lena felt uncomfortable being held so tightly, and she accidentally spat out some red wine onto the ground. She shook her head repeatedly, “I can’t say, I really can’t say. Harper, please don’t force me…”

‘Is she really not willing to say anything? What happened three years ago? Why can’t she talk about it?’ Harper’s mind raced with many thoughts.

Watching Lena’s distressed expression, Harper didn’t speak for a long time. She reached behind Lena and gently patted her back, asking, “Are you feeling better?”