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Eleven

Author: rosiemeachem1
last update Last Updated: 2024-09-24 01:52:54

“I just started as a receptionist," I said, directing attention to Gino's mother. "I'm enjoying it so far. It's a great environment, and I’m learning a lot."

Gino's father nodded appreciatively. "That's wonderful! A good receptionist is the backbone of any business. And don’t get me started on the importance of first impressions. You’re already off to a fantastic start with that dress,” he added, gesturing at my outfit.

Gino chimed in with a playful glint in his eye. “Told you she would stun everyone, didn’t I? Harriet is also quite talented at organising events. We might need her for family gatherings!”

I felt a blush creeping up my cheeks again at the compliments and the easy banter Gino shared with his family. They made me feel part of their joyful chaos.

Just then, Gino’s mom stood up, heading toward the kitchen while calling back to us, “Who wants dessert? I made my famous tiramisu!”

A chorus of excited responses followed, and I felt my nervousness dissipa
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  • Rejected by my ex, claimed by the CEO   Thirteen

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  • Rejected by my ex, claimed by the CEO   Fourteen

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  • Rejected by my ex, claimed by the CEO   Fifteen

    “Alpha Damon, may I speak with you for a moment? It’s about Harriet.” I turned abruptly at Sandra's voice, the anxious tremor in her fingers betraying the calm she was trying to project. A low growl rumbled deep within me, driven by instincts I couldn't suppress—the primal urge to protect and the insatiable need to uncover the truth. Something was buried beneath her calm facade and twisted like a knot in my stomach. "I will give you some space," Lucas suddenly announced and disappeared. “What do you know? What are you hiding from me?” My words cut through the air, harsher than I intended, but the desperation clawing at my insides demanded answers. I wanted to shake the truth from her like the beast I was. "Damon, please," she breathed, inching closer yet remaining cautious. "She called me. She's okay—she's alive." Relief flooded through me, only to twist into confusion and rage. “And? What else?” I pressed, my impatience boiling over. “She said she’s happy,” Sandra con

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  • Rejected by my ex, claimed by the CEO   Sixteen

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  • Rejected by my ex, claimed by the CEO   Seventeen

    Harriet’s POV Just as I was about to lose myself in the thrill of what would happen, my phone buzzed violently against the dresser, shattering the moment. I straightened up, my heart racing; a different kind of racing this time. I rushed to grab it, my fingers trembling when I saw Sandra's name flash across the screen. I opened her message quickly, scanning the text. My breath caught in my throat as a wave of panic washed over me. *Harriet. Damon is looking for you. He wants to talk. I thought you should know.* What did he want? Why now? Did he want to apologise? To explain? A thousand questions bombarded me, each more urgent than the last. Gino was in the other room, and despite everything, I didn’t want to burden him with my past—especially not with Damon resurfacing. Not when we were on the brink of something beautiful. “Harriet?” Gino called from the other room, and my heart lurched at the sound of his voice. I couldn’t let him see my panic. I texted Sandra back hurr

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    As the plane descended toward Paris, the city unfolded beneath us like a vibrant and alive painting. The Seine glimmered under the afternoon sun, flanked by majestic structures whispering stories of art and romance. My heart raced from the excitement of arriving in a new city and the prospect of finally letting go of the shadows of my past. When we landed, Gino's enthusiasm was infectious. “Welcome to Paris!” he said, his eyes sparkling as we disembarked. The familiar buzz of excitement enveloped us when we entered the terminal. The air smelled of coffee, baked goods, and something distinctly French that made my heart flutter. After the stress of navigating customs and collecting our luggage, Gino slipped his hand into mine, guiding me toward the exit. “I can’t wait to show you everything,” he said warmly. The sincerity in his voice made me forget if only for a moment, the anxieties waiting just at the edges of my mind. I could only smile and nod in response. The taxi ride w

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  • Rejected by my ex, claimed by the CEO   Nineteen

    “Yes,” I finally whispered, “She is my mate. I was too blinded by my own fears to see it before. I thought I was doing the right thing by choosing Aurora—a choice that was supposed to bind our pack stronger. But in the process, I let the one person who truly means something to me go.” Sandra's brows knitted together as she pieced together my conflicting emotions. “Alpha Damon, if you know that Harriet is your mate, you have to go after her. You can’t just sit here waiting for her to return. You owe it to both of you to try.” “I know!” I snapped in frustration, feeling the urgency in my veins. Time was slipping away. The longer I stayed here, caught in this tension, the more uncertain Harriet’s fate would become—who was around her, who was making her laugh, who was making her feel cherished. “I’ll help you,” Sandra said, her resolve solidifying like steel. “But you need to be prepared for anything. If she hasn’t moved on, she might not want to see you. You broke her heart, Damo

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Latest chapter

  • Rejected by my ex, claimed by the CEO   Thirty eight

    Harriet’s POV I hesitated, staring at the screen as it vibrated on the bedspread. Sandra’s name lingered there, a reminder of the world outside this moment, a world filled with rules and expectations. Gino's steady gaze anchored me, even as uncertainty flickered in the back of my mind. “No,” I finally said, determination creeping into my voice. “I don’t want to.” “Good,” he replied, relief washing over him. He took another step closer until there was hardly any space left between us. “Harriet, stay with me right now. Let’s talk about this. About us.” I swallowed hard, my heart racing, feeling the weight of his words. This was a pivotal moment, one I had both longed for and dreaded. Could I truly let go of the fear that had burrowed itself into my bones? “Gino…” I started but he interjected, his voice firm yet tender. “Just listen for a second. I don’t want to pressure you, but I need you to understand how serious I am. This isn’t just about the contract anymore; it’s a

  • Rejected by my ex, claimed by the CEO   37

    Harriet’s POV Gino had booked us in a hotel for the night with separate rooms so I could get some sleep before we headed back to the office the next morning. I still couldn’t get over the fact that Damon had turned up out of the blue with Lucas. He was crazy and it made me think about everything. Everything that had happened since I left that pack. He had chosen someone else over me and I couldn’t just forget the pain and hurt that had consumed me. And on the other hand, I had agreed to be Gino’s fake wife and yet here I was confused even more because I was longing for him. To be wrapped up safely in Gino’s arms. I sat on the bed and bit my lower lip. I rested my hands on my lap and wondered why Damon would think it was okay to try and win me back. He had chosen Aurora after all. "You're an omega, Harriet. You're meant to be loyal and obedient. You're not meant to be loved or cherished. You're just a tool for us to use and discard when we're done with you." I shook my head to try

  • Rejected by my ex, claimed by the CEO   Chapter 36

    Harriet’s POV I leaned back against the cool seat of the taxi, watching the cityscape blur past. Gino sat beside me, his excitement palpable as he discussed our travel plans. "The airport is only about twenty minutes away. We'll have plenty of time to grab our bags and make our flight," he said, his voice light and animated. I nodded, but my mind was elsewhere, grappling with a storm of emotions. The reality of my choices settled heavily on my shoulders as I recalled Damon’s fierce expression from earlier—the pain etched across his handsome face as I turned away from him. Seeing him again had broken open the walls I had been trying to build around my heart. Gino glanced at me, the concern deepening his features. “Hey, are you okay?” “Yeah, just… thinking,” I replied, forcing a smile that didn’t quite reach my eyes. I felt guilty for the distraction swirling in my mind, but I couldn’t help it. Damon had been a constant in my thoughts, a haunting presence I couldn’t shake o

  • Rejected by my ex, claimed by the CEO   Chapter 35

    Damon piv Lucas shifted awkwardly beside me as I turned to face the newcomer. The man stood with a commanding presence, his arms crossed and a glint of authority in his eyes. A wave of tension surged through the air, thick enough to slice. “I'm Gino,” he said, his tone calm and condescending. “And I suggest you let her go. You have no business making claims on something you so casually tossed aside.” “What would you know?” I growled as Lucas stood between me and this guy with whom Harriet seemed to be smitten. Harriet snuggled into the man and smiled up at him, she looked so happy. I saw the way that her eyes twinkled when she looked at him but at me she looked empty. “I am happy with my life now. There is nothing for you here.” Her words stung me. I hated to see her so at ease with someone else that should be me. I felt my Wolf become restless but knew this was not the place to let him take over. Beta Lucas was determined to prevent anything from happening. He

  • Rejected by my ex, claimed by the CEO   Chapter 34

    I felt the weight of disappointment crush me as the stranger’s face blurred into the crowd again. The joy of hope had flashed briefly before it extinguished, leaving me in a dark pit of frustration and concern. “Damon, we need to keep looking,” Lucas urged, his voice steady despite my anxiety rising. He looked around, scanning the people moving past us like a human tide. “Let’s try the next few stalls quickly.” We made our way through the vibrant market, the scent of fresh paint and canvas mixing with the air that smelled of artisan coffee and sweet pastries. But every second stretched painfully, and each time a woman walked by with a wisp of dark hair or a smile that resembled Harriet’s, my heart jumped, only to drop once again when I realised she wasn’t the one I was searching for. “What if she left Paris?” I said aloud, struggling to keep the fear from my voice. The thought lingered, taunting me. What if I had lost my chance to find her, to tell her how I felt? “Let’s n

  • Rejected by my ex, claimed by the CEO   Chapter 33

    Harriet The air was crisp outside the café, a sharp contrast to the cozy warmth we had just left behind. Gino and I strolled down the bustling street, and I watched as people rushed by, lost in their own lives, blissfully unaware of the storm brewing within me. Gino’s laughter was infectious, echoing in my ears as he recounted a funny mishap from the office. I wanted to engage fully, to soak in the joy of this moment with him, yet the shadow of Damon loomed larger with every step we took. My mind raced, an endless loop of worst-case scenarios taunting me. "What’s next on the agenda?" Gino asked, pulling me back to earth as we stopped at a crosswalk. The flashing red hand signaled for us to wait, and I could feel my heart pounding, not from excitement but from a sense of impending dread. “Um, maybe we should schedule a brainstorming session with the rest of the team?” I suggested, forcing myself to focus. “We could really benefit from some diverse perspectives.” Gino nodded

  • Rejected by my ex, claimed by the CEO   32

    Damon pov My heart sank into my stomach as I realised the café was empty of Harriet but full of strangers. I could picture her sipping coffee, her laughter mingling with the sounds of the bustling café. I turned away from the counter, insisting that I wouldn’t give up, not now.“Let’s ask the barista if she saw where Harriet went,” Lucas suggested, his voice steady and calming amidst the turmoil inside me.“Right,” I replied, trying to muster determination. Approaching the counter again, I placed my palms against the cool surface and leaned in slightly. “Excuse me,” I told the barista, a young woman with dark, curly hair. Did you happen to see a woman leave here? Her name is Harriet.” The woman glared at me. “Why would I remember when I see a lot of people?” She rolled her eyes and tutted rather rudely. I swallowed hard, momentarily taken aback by her dismissive attitude. “I understand, but she’s critical to me. It would be a huge help if you could think back briefly.”“Look, I don’

  • Rejected by my ex, claimed by the CEO   31

    A chill ran down my spine as I read the words. The casualness of the café around us faded into an echo, and all I could focus on was the name that had been a ghost in my life for far too long. I didn’t want Gino to see my reaction, so I took a breath and tried to manage the confusion swirling within me. “Harriet? You okay?” Gino’s voice was laced with concern again, pulling me back to reality. I could see the shadow of worry crossing his features as he sensed my shift. “Yeah, just... a message from a friend,” I stammered, turning my phone facedown on the counter. I couldn’t bring myself to explain. The last thing I wanted was for him to question me, to sense any thought of Damon’s lingering effect on my life. I desperately wanted to keep this moment between us—a fresh beginning unmarred by the past. Gino frowned slightly but ultimately shrugged it off. “Alright, if you say so. But you know I’m here if you need to talk about anything.” I nodded by instinct, thankful for his g

  • Rejected by my ex, claimed by the CEO   30

    I took a deep breath, leaning against the counter, searching for clarity amidst the conflicting thoughts swirling in my mind. The café buzzed with energy—the clink of cups, hushed conversations, laughter. All of it felt distant, like I was watching from behind a glass wall, unable to break through. “Harriet?” Gino’s voice pulled me back to the present, concern etched on his face. “You alright? You seem… off.” “Yeah, I’m okay,” I lied, forcing a smile that didn’t quite reach my eyes. “Just... a bit overwhelmed by everything.” “Look, I really appreciate you being here,” he said, his tone less casual now. “But I need you to be all in. You’re not just my assistant; you’re an integral part of this. I value your insight.” I nodded, the weight of his words sinking in. I knew he saw my potential, but did he truly understand the depth of my insecurities? That his validation was like air to me, essential yet elusive? “I want to be,” I said, my voice faltering. “But sometimes it fee

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