The Cold CEO's Woman

Anita Baker, a 24-year-old fair-skinned woman, had just graduated from university. She was her parents' first daughter, and five younger sisters followed her. Her father worked as a banker while her mother traded for a living.

Anita possessed a beautiful shape with curvy hips. Among all her sisters, she was the only fair one, as the rest bore a brown complexion.

Anita resembled her mother, but she was even more beautiful. Her father often accused her mother of cheating on him and doubted that he was truly Anita’s father because she was so fair-skinned. However, her mother always kept quiet about the accusations and told Anita not to mind her father, assuring her that she was really his child. Her father even threatened to conduct a paternity DNA test on her because he could not understand why she was so light-skinned compared to her sisters.

Anita's immediately younger sister, Flora—a 22-year-old dark-skinned beauty—also disliked her, even though Anita was two years older. Four of her sisters hated her, except for her youngest sister, Glory, who genuinely loved her. They say blood is thicker than water, but in Anita's case, water ran thicker than blood.

Anita's father, Mr. Joshua Baker, did not stop sending her to school; he only accused his wife of cheating on him and forcing another man's child on him to trick him into marriage. Nonetheless, he still sent Anita to the university to study business administration.

Anita felt so happy as she wrote her final exams, and the results finally came out with flying colors.

Because of her father's constant accusations toward her calm mother, Mrs. Tonia Baker, Anita refused to accept any relationship with any guy who asked her out. She only went out on dates with them, but she always ended up rejecting their love proposals.

Anita's best friend at the university, Temisa Patrick, advised her to give love a chance, but she refused and said, "My father constantly accuses my mother of cheating on him, yet he still goes back to her and gets her pregnant to birth the six of us. Mother says Dad loves her, but his daily insults do not show us that he truly loves her."

Anita shook her head as she spoke to her friend back when they were still in their second year at the university.

Handsome, well-to-do guys tripped over themselves to win Anita over, but she felt they only wanted to use her. She believed that once the man crossed the bridge and took her virginity, he would dump her or accuse her of cheating, just like her father constantly did to her mother, wanting to drive her and her mother into depression.

—

Anita sat in a private room with her best friend, preparing for their final convocation.

"Anita, I am so happy! Finally, we are leaving this school. I cannot explain how much I have missed home," Temisa said.

"Me too," Anita faintly replied, knowing that was not entirely true for her. She hated home because she knew she would face her father's constant insults toward her and her mother again. Meanwhile, her three younger sisters—Flora, Esther, and Favour—would try to torment her, calling her an outcast because they envied her looks, as if it were entirely her fault.

Anita shook her head in sadness, and Temisa noticed.

"What is it, girlfriend? You don't look happy, even though you are graduating as one of the top students in our university today," Temisa asked. She stood up from her seat facing the mirror and walked over to meet Anita sitting on the couch.

Anita shook her head again, stared away from Temisa, and did not respond.

"What's the problem, dear?" Temisa approached and crouched in front of Anita, even though she already knew the problem. Anita had told her why she hated men in general and saw them as scumbags.

"Don't worry, when I get home, I can talk to my mother to allow you to come live with us, even if it is just for your internship until you get a better job to cater for yourself."

"Thank you." Anita smiled faintly, and Temisa responded, "You're welcome, Anita. You know you're like a sister to me, so you don't have to worry or cry so much. Graduating with a first class is no joke, so you should be happy, as today is your most blessed day. Come sit here and let me apply some makeup to your face."

Temisa pulled Anita up from her seat.

Anita smiled faintly as she walked over to sit on the chair facing the mirror in the private room they shared.

"You know I don't like makeup," Anita said as she sat and watched Temisa open one of her makeup kits and prepare her brush.

"I know, but today is your lucky day, so you should look sweet when collecting your awards. No excuses from you! Just do this for me, okay? It will make you smile throughout the day and lighten your mood."

"Okay," Anita replied. She stared at her beautiful reflection in the mirror while Temisa started applying the beautiful brown powder to her face.

Temisa worked on Anita's eyelashes first, before switching to her cheeks and nose, applying the beautiful makeup powder.

When Temisa finished making Anita over, Anita was stunned by her new look in the mirror. She had never applied makeup to her face before, and as she stared at her new reflection, she stood speechless, finally understanding why Temisa had so many boyfriends.

Temisa was a billionaire's daughter; her father worked at the Benson Group of Companies. The Benson family was one of the richest in their country, and Anita had read about them and wished she could work for them. That was the main reason she studied so hard, reading day and night to graduate as one of the best students in her university.

Anita had thought about asking Temisa to help her ask her father for a job application at the BENSON GROUP, but she knew that doing so might make it look like she was trying to gain an unearned favor.

It might make others see her as a gold digger or a woman selling her body to men to gain favors, so she decided against it and resolved not to ask Temisa for her father's help.

"All done now! Don't you see how sweet you look in the mirror? Oh my god! I am the best makeup artist here on campus!" Temisa fanned herself with her fingers while Anita smiled at her.

"Don't hype yourself up too much because of me, girlfriend. Yes, you tried, but I still don't like makeup," Anita admitted.

"Shush! Shut up. I'm hoping a handsome guy sees you today and asks you out," Temisa giggled.

Everything about Temisa revolved around guys. She changed boyfriends every month like underwear and acted ruthless when it came to multiple relationships.

Temsia did not care what her fellow women had to say because she did not believe in love, choosing instead to spend her time dating different men. However, she never admitted to sleeping with any of the guys she went out with, which was hard to believe.

People always saw Temisa with different men—some at the beach, some in restaurants, and some in nightclubs—taking photos with her, yet she claimed she was still a virgin after Anita confided that she was one too.

Anita did not believe Temisa. A virgin was supposed to be calm and keep to herself so no guy could take advantage of her. But Temisa dressed hot, wearing booty shorts, crop tops, and all sorts of seductive and tempting outfits.

Temisa was a dark-skinned, curvy beauty like Anita, but she was not jealous of Anita's fair skin. They belonged to the same department and studied the same course, which brought them close as best friends. However, Anita was more intelligent, while Temisa was the party-hard type.

"Let's go outside now. I am sure most of our families have arrived," Temisa said as she quickly packed her remaining things and makeup kits into her bag and zipped it closed.

They had rented the room where they stayed, so they often remained there even when the school was on holiday.

It was their final day to say goodbye, so Anita dragged out her two boxes since she was going straight home after the award ceremony.

They stepped out to witness the university's final event and the awarding of the top graduating students.

The faculty called Anita Baker to the stage and awarded her a first-class degree and recognition for her academic excellence.

Temisa smiled brightly and clapped for her friend, who stepped out from where she sat among the crowd of graduands and families attending the convocation ceremony to receive her awards.