The Cold CEO's Woman

Anita Baker was a 24-year-old lady. She had just graduated from university. She was the first daughter of her parents and had five younger sisters. Her father worked as a banker, and her mother ran a trading business.

Anita had fair skin, a beautiful shape, and curvy hips. Among all her sisters, she was the only one with fair skin. The rest had dark skin, with a few being fair brown.

Anita looked like her mother but was more beautiful. Sometimes her father accused her mother of cheating on him and doubted he was truly her father because she was so white. Her mother always stayed quiet about it and told Anita not to mind her father—that she was really his child.

Her father even threatened to run a paternity DNA test on her because he couldn't understand why she was so fair, unlike her sisters.

Her immediately younger sister, Flora, a 22-year-old dark-skinned beauty, also disliked her, even though Anita was two years older. About four of her sisters hated her, except for her youngest sister, Glory, who genuinely loved her.

People say blood is thicker than water, but in Anita's case, water felt thicker than blood.

Anita's father, Mr. Joshua Baker, didn't stop sending her to school. He only accused his wife of cheating and forcing another man's child on him so he could marry her. But he still sent Anita to university to study business administration.

Anita felt happy as she wrote her final exams, and the results 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 from guys asking her out. She went on dates with them but ended up rejecting their love proposals.

Her best friend in university, Temisa Patrick, advised her to give love a chance, but Anita refused. She 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 he loves her, but his daily insults don't show us that he truly loves her." She shook her head as she spoke to her friend when they were still in year two.

Guys tripped over themselves to have Anita—handsome and well-to-do guys—but she felt they only wanted to use her. Once they crossed the bridge and broke her virginity, she thought they would dump her or accuse her of cheating, just like her father did to her mother, wanting to send her and her mother into depression.

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

"Anita, I'm so happy. Finally, we'll be parting from this school. I can't explain how much I've missed home," Temisa said.

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

Anita shook her head in sadness, and Temisa noticed.

"What is it, girlfriend? You don't seem happy, even though you're graduating as one of the best students today in our university?" Temisa asked. She stood up from her seat facing the mirror and walked over to meet Anita sitting on the couch. But Anita shook her head again and stared away from Temisa, not responding.

"What's the problem, dear?" Temisa approached and crouched in front of Anita. She already knew the problem because 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 let you come live with us, even if it's just for your IT, until you get a better job to support yourself."

"Thank you," Anita smiled faintly.

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

Temisa pulled Anita to stand up from her seat. Anita smiled faintly and walked to sit on the seat facing the mirror in their private room.

"You know I don't like makeup," Anita said as she sat and watched Temisa open one of her makeup kits and start preparing 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 today and lighten your mood," Temisa said.

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

Temisa started on Anita's eyelashes first, then switched to work on her cheeks and nose, applying the makeup powder. When she finished, Anita was stunned by her new look in the mirror.

Anita had never applied makeup on her face before. Staring at her reflection, she felt speechless and now understood why Temisa had so many boyfriends.

Temisa was a billionaire's daughter. Her father worked in the Benson Group of companies, one of the richest families in their country.

Anita had read about the Benson family and wished she could work for them. That's why she studied so hard, reading day and night to graduate as one of the best students in her university.

Anita thought about asking Temisa for her father's help, if she could help her get an application in the Benson Group. But she knew if she did that, it might seem like she was trying to gain a favor she didn't merit. It might make others see her as a gold digger or a lady selling out her body to men for favors. So she thought against it and decided 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'm the best makeup artist here on campus!" Temisa fanned herself with her hand while Anita smiled at her.

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

"Tar! Shut up. I'm hoping a handsome guy will see you today and ask you out," Temisa giggled.

Everything about Temisa was guys. She changed boyfriends every month like pants and didn't care what other ladies said. Temisa didn't believe in love but spent time dating different guys. She never admitted to sleeping with any of the guys she went on dates with, which was hard to believe.

Temisa was always seen with different guys—some at the beach, some at a restaurant, some at a club—taking different photos with her. Yet she claimed she was still a virgin, after Anita also told her she was a virgin.

That was hard to believe, and Anita didn't believe Temisa either. A virgin should be calm and keep to herself so no guy would use her. But Temisa dressed hot, wearing bum shorts, crop tops, and all sorts of seductive and tempting clothes.

Temisa was a dark-skinned beauty, sexy and curvy like Anita, but she wasn't jealous of Anita being light-skinned. They were in the same department and studied the same course, which made them best friends. But Anita was more intelligent, while Temisa was the party-hard type.

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

Temisa had rented the room they stayed in, so they stayed back most times even though the university was on holiday.

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It was their final year to say goodbye, so Anita dragged out all her two large boxes, ready to go back home after the awarding ceremony.

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

Anita Baker was called and awarded a first-class award and recognition for her academic excellence.

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