Reuniting with the CEO

Emotion

Author's Note

Holy. Shit.

It's me, I am alive! I am so sorry for the long absence, I cannot even begin to explain how guilty I feel for being away for so long.

Since I last published a chapter, I had done 2 college internships which caused me to travel all across the great state of NY and even attend a conference in Las Vegas. However, most importantly, I graduated college with my Bachelor's Degree in May of 2022 which was so surreal.

The worst part about my absence was the writer's block and the lack of motivation to write. Every time I sat down with my laptop, my fingers just hovered about the keys. It was incredibly difficult for me to find the energy to write and to plan out the next chapter for you guys and I was not going to put out subpar work. What really motivated me was all the comments and messages I received from so many of you asking for an update and telling me how much they love the sequel. So please, keep up the comments and messages because it helped me get over the hump I was stuck behind.

As you already know, VOTE & COMMENT!

So without further adieu, here is the long awaited chapter!

CeCe_Allen

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*Aria's POV*

Regret.

It's tainted my skin along with a number of other things; disgust, shame, betrayal to name a few. I had hoped that a shower would aid in washing away my actions, as many of us do, wishing that we could swirl away down the drain with the soap. I certainly wished that was this case in this instant but instead I am left to deal with the aftermath of what I have done. I told myself that I wouldn't cheat or be a homewrecker, that I was above those actions and no one deserves it. However, here I am, left under the stream of my shower reflecting on the past month.

Why did you let yourself fall into his spider web of seduction and deception? Why did you so easily succumb to his words?

My inner conscience rolls her eyes and her burgundy lips curl up in disgust.

Seduction? Deception? This isn't only his fault, you are an adult and you know what is right and wrong.

I can see her sitting on a high stool leaning against the counter, looking at me with distaste. The guilt practically brings my inner conscience to life.

With my knees pulled to my chest, I sit on the cool tile of the shower letting the water fall over me like a blanket. Maybe I was hoping that my entire existence would wash away or believe that the blanket of water would get rid of the monsters like we believed as children. Time seemed to float away, my thoughts consuming me whole. Before I spiraled down a dark path, a subtle knock came from the door.

"Aria, love, are you alright?" Mason's concerned tone floats through the wood.

"Uh, yeah, yes. I'm alright." I scramble to my feet before he opens the door.

As if on cue, Mason slowly opens the door and slides his body in.

"I was growing worried. You've been in here for almost 45 minutes." Through the steamed glass, I can see his body grow closer to where I am.

Without saying a word, I slide open the glass door and pull him in with me.

"Aria, what-?" His words are hushed by my lips.

My hands grasp at his dress shirt, the material now clinging to his abdomen like a second skin. His hair now rests across his forehead in a wet mess, the water dripping down onto our conjoined lips. Our lips move fervently against one another's, soaking up the taste of each other. I work on the buttons of his swift quickly and push it off his shoulders until it's nothing but a wet pile on the floor. With the same amount of dexterity, I unclasp the button of his pants and push my hand between the fabric and his rapidly cooling skin. As my fingers inch their way to the waistband of his boxers, Mason stops me.