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CHAPTER 15
Last Updated:
2021-02-12 23:51:12
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WAKING UP WITH THE CEO CHAPTER 16
“Why are you laughing? What is so damn funny?” he demanded totally perplexed. “Basically, Guinevere accused you of doing exactly what you are doing! ‘The nerve on her…’ You crack me up, Lance! You should be doing stand-up comedy as a hobby,” Annalise replied and kept laughing. “Stop it now, please,” Lance said, blinking a bit annoyed by her reaction. “Okay, I get it. I’m an immature, egotistical man. The male ego is obviously a fragile creature. I think we can agree on that. Yes, it occurred to me to get on her nerves just a little by showing up with a stunning woman by my side. Sue me for it! I even hatched the whole engagement scheme complete with the ring because I figured it was the best way to finally get them all off my back.” Her shoulders shook and Annalise closed her eyes. The man was nothing if not honest. She had to give him credit for it. “Anna, look at me, please.” His pleading tone had her turning once more to stare into those intense eyes. Lance
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Totally mesmerized, Lance kept watching the beautiful woman sitting sideways on the couch, her back against the arm and her knees doubled in front of her. Annalise looked comfortable and completely relaxed, which was more than he could have hoped for given how stupidly he had sprung the whole fake engagement thing on her. After her initial fury, though, she had calmed down and had taken it quite well. Annalise was extremely intelligent and funny, a few other qualities Lance liked in a woman, especially the woman he was interested in. Accepting to play this game at his side, agreeing to play the part of his fiancée, was no little thing for Annalise, but she understood his necessity and said yes. Lance was definitely attracted to Annalise sexually, but beyond that, he genuinely liked spending time with her. This was another reason why he pleaded with her to help him. ‘Just stay put, and let her be, man!’ Lance said to himself while admiring her. ‘Stay awa
Last Updated : 2021-02-14WAKING UP WITH THE CEO CHAPTER 18
“Well, this is me, sometimes I dream impossible things… And it was a good dream for the extremely short time it lasted,” Lance grumbled. “I was too focused on my work, on achieving the success I was pursuing. So, I didn’t have the time to figure out what my ideal woman was. All I knew was that I needed a perfect private life, without problems at home… So, I looked around and there was Guinevere and I didn’t feel like waiting anymore. I asked her to marry me, and she said yes. So, I gave her the ring and that was that.” “Oh… And that went so well… Mr. Hamilton, allow me to introduce myself: I’m Annalise, your fake fiancée.” Lance scowled ferociously at Annalise only for her to start laughing again, this time even harder. “Stop making that face, Lance! Even you have to admit this is so damn funny.” He smiled. “Okay, so what happened next? Other than Arthur stepping in and being a total jackass.” Lance smiled again. He really liked this woman. Annalise
Last Updated : 2021-02-15WAKING UP WITH THE CEO CHAPTER 19
Slowly, Annalise nodded. Her fingers went to her forehead and she dug them into her hair. Still, Lance could see them shaking, and Annalise swallowed again, her slim neck working with the effort. “Please, Lance,” she whispered. “I can’t do this. It’s the one thing I can’t do. It’s a promise I made to myself. So, don’t ask it of me. Look, if you want me to admit it, to admit I’m attracted to you, I will. If this could help you in some way... if this could ease the way you’re feeling, fine... I want you, Lance. More than I have ever wanted another man. More than I want my next breath.” Savage satisfaction gripped Lance. Didn’t just grip him but lunged for him and wrapped a hand around his throat and his groin. His entire body reacted to that simple statement. Annalise wanted him more than she had ever wanted anyone else. She turned on the couch until she faced forward and her feet met the floor. She looked in turns miserable and scared. Her eyes were cl
Last Updated : 2021-02-15WAKING UP WITH THE CEO CHAPTER 20
She was lying in bed looking at the ceiling. Annalise had done this all night long just waiting for the morning to come. After what happened in the suite’s living room, she went to her bedroom, closed the door and went to bed… but didn’t sleep a wink. Annalise just stood there, tossing and turning, thinking over and over at what happened between her and Lance. And so, she didn’t need to set the alarm to get out of bed and be ready on time. “It was just a kiss, dammit!” she whispered and covered the face with her hands. She could not understand why was she feeling this way. Why every single one of her senses was completely shattered by their kiss… a pretty simple kiss. It wasn’t like Lance was the first man she’d ever kissed in her life. And it won’t be the last, she knew it for sure. Yes, it was just a kiss, a normal kiss between two grown-up people. Something most human beings experience at least once in a lifetime. So why, instead of going over her pi
Last Updated : 2021-02-16WAKING UP WITH THE CEO CHAPTER 21
Then Annalise prepared her final punch, the one she knew would bring Lance to his knees. Her excitement increased because she knew he was genuinely interested in what she had to say. This had nothing to do with personal attraction. He was all business right now and his eyes gleamed with enthusiasm. “And I have in mind the perfect person who could show both of these groups how great ‘HL Sportswear’ is for all of them. The man I’m thinking about, the one who can do these sweaty, driven shoots and the cool engaging commercials is John Beckett.” Lance’s eyes widened a fraction, and then he sat back in his seat, looking at her totally stunned. “What?” Seeing his reaction, Annalise tried to remain serious and hide her smug grin. “Wait a minute…” Lance added. ‘I got you, Mr. Hamilton!’ she thought, already tasting her success. “You’re telling me you can get me John Beckett, none other than the ‘L.A. Cali FC’ team captain? The best soccer player who ever ex
Last Updated : 2021-02-16WAKING UP WITH THE CEO CHAPTER 22
Annalise prepared herself to meet the entire Hamilton family once again, but first of all, she was going to have lunch with Lance only. After winning the first round, she was willing to celebrate a little bit, and maybe enjoy the rest of their stay. Lance was quite relaxed, so she dressed for the occasion, and soon after, they left the hotel suite. But the nice lunch by the harbor never happened. As they were exiting the hotel, Flora and the rest of the Hamilton family ran into them. His mom was so genuinely thrilled to see Annalise and Lance. Flora told her eldest son they were on the way to lunch and had the magnificent idea of having lunch all together, before going to the terrace for the very informal wedding rehearsal. Annalise couldn’t understand the need for a rehearsal, since there were few people invited to the event. Maybe Flora wanted to indulge Guinevere’s romantic whims. Still, it was evidently important for this family to keep up appearanc
Last Updated : 2021-02-18WAKING UP WITH THE CEO CHAPTER 23
Lance made a strangled noise and promptly took a long sip of his wine. Annalise kept a perfectly straight face as she took in the reactions of his family. The facial expressions were different all around the table. Flora looked wary. Guinevere looked murderous. Arthur had a strange look that could only be interpreted as a cross between regret and sadness. Michael nodded approvingly. He reached over to slap his son on the back. “You have got yourself a winner here, my son. I heartily approve. This wonderful, fiery woman will keep you on your toes well into your old age. I like her very much. I can’t talk for all the others, but to me, she is your match in every way.” Fantastic! Hearing Michael, Annalise realized she let her mouth run away with her. Yes, she had the approval of her father-in-law-to-be, but the problem here was Michael was the fake father-in-law-to-be. She looked over at Lance as guilt started e
Last Updated : 2021-02-19
Latest chapter
WAKING UP WITH THE CEO CHAPTER 53 (a long-overdue epilogue)
A couple of days later, John was signing the contract with “HL Sportswear”. Once he finished, he put down the pen and gave Lance a very serious look. The last time they saw each other, John was calling him a dumbass for letting Annalise go and threatening not to sign the contract if he would not find Annalise and get her back. And now, the three of them, together with the lawyers, were making their agreement official. With Annalise’s help, with John okay, Lance was preparing to make history. “Welcome to ‘HL Sportswear’, John!” Lance exclaimed shaking his hand. “Thank you for doing this.” The young jock looked first at Annalise, and then at Lance. “I did it mostly for Anna. She was your winning card. So, cherish her, Hamilton. Treat her like the fierce, powerful, hard-working queen she is. This woman went through hell to arrive here,” John told him, then smiled at Annalise. “I’m extremely proud of you, baby girl. I really am.” Annalise got close to Joh
WAKING UP WITH THE CEO CHAPTER 52
She made a derisive sound deep in her throat. The memory strangled her. Annalise hated that helpless feeling. “One evening, I was working late and he dropped in to see how I was doing. He came onto me hard and didn’t intend to take no for an answer. I fought against him, I even slapped him hard a couple of times. I tried to push him away from me, but he was so much stronger… He probably would’ve raped me if his wife hadn’t burst in.” Annalise was trembling, but she knew she had to go on. “I think she knew what was going on… I thought she would help me. But… I was dead wrong. She couldn’t care less. She called me a whore, even if that wasn’t true. She was also his partner, so she used me to make him pay for everything he had ever done wrong to her. And she also had her way out of the marriage.” “What happened after?” Lance asked. “Well, these days you have experienced it first-hand. Because of that woman and her disgusting husband, I was named a homewrecker, an arrogant
WAKING UP WITH THE CEO CHAPTER 51
Annalise pressed her lips together. “He told me not to bother looking for him, even if I changed my mind. Well, too bad. I made a mistake… Happens, we all make them. It’s not the end of the world. I’m sure he has made his share. He was angry and I’m sure he didn’t mean half of the things he said. So, since I know now what I want, I’m going to make him listen to me. Then I’m going to take the leap of faith Dad mentioned in the video and tell the man of my life that I love him. I hope that I’m not too late and that he will listen.” Jeremy touched her cheek in a tender gesture. “If he doesn’t, he’s a fool who doesn’t deserve my brave, beautiful baby sister. Whatever happens, I will be right here, remember that! You are not alone.” Annalise glanced down at her rumpled appearance. She shuddered to think what her hair looked like. She spent the last three days going around the house like the ghost of the Christmas past. “I need to go jump in the shower and t
WAKING UP WITH THE CEO CHAPTER 50
That day, the silence inside the house was soul-crashing. Lost in her thoughts, Annalise didn’t even realize that her coffee cup was empty. She put it in the kitchen sink and decided to go on the back porch and get some fresh air. Her father bought the house right after the wedding and renovated it all by himself. It was perched near a cliff, though it was situated a good distance from the drop-off. As a child, after reading about mudslides, she’d been convinced that they’d fall into the ocean. Her brothers had told her it was far more likely they’d fall off in an earthquake. Annalise shook her head at the memory of how they liked to torment her. It was peaceful here, and not for the first time during the last few days, she wondered why she’d been so anxious to move away. “Sometimes, a nice, calm, honest talk is the key to solving so many misunderstandings…” Annalise said, sitting on the rocking chair. “Look at Mom and me… We are finally starting to create
WAKING UP WITH THE CEO CHAPTER 49
John looked at Lance and instead of shaking his hand, he crossed his arms on his chest and let his lawyer do the talking. “Mr. Hamilton, my client instructed me to speak on his behalf during this meeting. Since this is going to be a very brief encounter between the two of you, Mr. Beckett asked me to inform you that he… changed his mind about signing the contract with ‘HL Sportswear’. This decision was taken after very careful consideration. Mr. Beckett wants you to know that…” The lawyer stopped and looked at John who, with a brief movement of his head, urged him to say the exact words. The man coughed just to clear his throat and continued. “Mr. Hamilton, these are not my words, so, please, excuse my language… My client wants you to know he will never sign with a… dickhead such as yourself, a dumbass who doesn’t see a good thing when it crosses his path. You should not have let Annalise Walsh out of your sight, even if she asked you to. Annalise was the real deal and you
WAKING UP WITH THE CEO CHAPTER 48
After a while, they started talking like they never did before. Martha pampered her endlessly, preparing her favorite food: French fries and chocolate ice cream. Her mother’s expression showed complete disapproval, but Annalise told her it was her comfort food. By the time evening rolled around, her brothers arrived and made it a point to shower her with lots of hugs and endless cuddling, as her father recommended. Martha retired to her room, leaving her children sitting on the couch together, watching ‘Roman Holiday’ and eating popcorn. Everything was so wonderful… For the first time, since the disaster that had hit her, Annalise was feeling a little bit better… and a little bit optimistic. Once the movie ended, Annalise wiped her eyes and tried to stop the sniffling. She knew her brothers hated it when she cried. Jeremy especially. He kept Annalise’s head on his shoulder. “Anna, if you feel like talking, we’re here for you. But if not, w
WAKING UP WITH THE CEO CHAPTER 47
Unwilling to face the judgment of the entire “S&W Advertising” squad after the security leak and tired of crying all night long, Tuesday morning, Annalise decided to call and inform her boss that she was going to take the rest of the week off. Hearing how horrible she sounded, Elaine allowed her to take this vacation, reaffirming the fact that the agency was standing behind her one hundred percent. Still, she emphasized once more, if a reminder was needed, that hiding would not solve her problems. That taking the coward’s way out was not the right way to address her issue. “‘I agree you should rest and think,’” Elaine had told her on the phone. “‘So, take a day, a week, a month… Take all the time you need, kiddo. But don’t do it because you need to hide from the world. Come out and face the music. I believe in you and I know for a fact you are much stronger than you think. I wish I could be half the woman you are.’” Those touching words and Elaine’s trust moved
WAKING UP WITH THE CEO CHAPTER 46
Annalise laid her head on her desk and tried to ignore the painful ache that had developed around her temples. Elaine told her to go home, but she couldn’t… not yet… She knew what she had to do, and it will hurt far more than those damn pictures. Still, she hadn’t worked this hard to rebuild her reputation and her career to have it go down the drain over her affair with Lance. Yes, she was in love with him, that was so very clear in her head, but he wasn’t responding the same way. For him, what was going on between them was just enjoyable sex and nothing more. They were great between the sheets, but out of his hotel bed, in front of the cruel reality, their relationship was doomed. Annalise sighed and covered her face with her hands. “You can’t escape your past, Anna,” she whispered. “It will hunt you forever.” She turned off her cell phone and spent the rest of the day locked in her office. She only spoke to Tara to tell her she was not acc
WAKING UP WITH THE CEO CHAPTER 45
David and Elaine stood there, in silence, waiting for Annalise to gather herself together again. She took a deep breath and then looked up. “I promise you both that it’s not how it looks,” Annalise said as she wiped the tears from her cheeks. “I swear to you I never used cheap tricks to get my hands on this account. I’ve worked relentlessly to bring this here. Everything I did was done by the book.” Elaine said nothing. David glanced at the magazine on her desk. “Well, Anna, in this photo, it looks like you were wearing his ring, but I don’t see one on your finger right now…” David continued handing her a paper tissue. “And I remember that you had lunch with him some time ago… It was the day I’ve wanted to talk to you about this account.” After she cleared her throat, Elaine intervened. “David, I know Anna. I’ve watched her for the last few months, working harder than anyone else around here, giving her best to save this agency. She spent so many sleepless nigh
