Executively Devoted | CEO h.s.

17 | Beautiful & Brutal

♬ ✥*

Serenity.

Demolition day was probably one of the most exciting days of my life.

Everything was officially starting, and the thrill that ran through my veins was so intense, I thought they were going to burst.

I'd already called my family to let them know of this marvellous news since the day everything was confirmed. So what happened when the renovation actually started, they drove down in-person to see the work in action. Needless to say, I was a tad embarrassed but brushed it off when I saw the mutual smiles on their faces that were identical to my own.

Keon showed up midday to double-check on how things were doing. It was all still fresh, but I was surprised to see that all of the walls were removed, the flooring was ripped out. The electrical was all exposed, some of it even removed entirely. The studio was almost unrecognisable to me; it was so bare — almost naked.

The fact that I knew it was going to turn from this caterpillar into a gorgeous butterfly warmed my heart.

Without thinking, I'd snapped a picture, and texted it to Harry. He didn't ask to see progress or anything, but I felt the need to share the moment with my investor.

He'd already invested more than just his money by now — and in my mind, we were slightly past the friendship level.

I wasn't entirely sure if we'd ever be more, but even if that didn't happen, I was content with what we had now.

Or that's what I let myself believe.

Harry didn't text me back that day, though, but sent me a reply Tuesday morning — but not through a message.

He didn't skip out on what I'd told him to find me when he arrived — because he did.

Mr CEO stepped out of his vehicle, this time exiting it without waiting for his driver to bother opening the door for him. I did wave a little hello to Archie from a distance when he saw me from a distance away.

When Harry stepped through the front doors, my focus being on him the entire time. His eyes searched around, not looking at the work that was taking place, but looking for me. The second our eyes met, a smile made its way on his face, and his emerald gems suddenly got brighter.

Another fitted grey suit adorned his body, polished black loafers, gaining some dust on them from the construction as he made his way towards me. His tie, of a lighter shade, was perfectly done up, striped with white — the same tone was his pocket square. Pretty chocolate brown hair styled like a crown, so regal and royal; and those same beautiful petal raspberry lips that spoke heart clenching words.

From the looks of it, it was clear to me that he'd stopped here before he planned on going to his office. He came to see me first, and the closer he got, the more I heard my heart pounding in my ears.

There was also one more thing that I noticed about him. Which was that to me, the world's weight was on his shoulders, but he only let them sag behind closed doors — no one else could sense that from his demeanour and appearance.

His strut towards me was as confident as could be, never faltering with the authority and power he carried. Everyone who was in the room quickly recognised who he was and stood as he passed them. Harry, on the other hand, did not give them a single glimpse of attention — as his emerald gems were locked on my sapphire ones.

"Hi, Essie," he greeted softly.

He desperately needed to stop making my heart turn soft and the butterflies in my tummy flutter.