Miss CEO

CHAPTER FIVE

ZARA

When I finally give my speech , I feel that a huge weight has been lifted from my shoulders , I look towards my loved ones and they all have huge smiles of pride on their faces , my mother is even crying with happiness , and I try to hold back the tears at the thought of how much I wish I could see my father smiling proudly at me too.

But it is Tom's gaze , which is not only full of pride, but also admiration , and something else that I can't quite figure out and it makes my hair stand on end , his eyes are like magnets to mine , and for almost a whole minute I hold his gaze , until I hear someone clearing his throat next to me , and I turn slightly to see Dominic standing next to me , also smiling with pride.

He wraps me in a big hug , very strange of him , and then , as if that were not enough , he kisses me , just like that , he gives me a kiss of those in which he only joins his lips with mine but without opening his mouth , and of course , without using his tongue , I am completely stunned , what the hell is this due to?

I look at him with a confused look , and he winks at me before quickly whispering to me " The press is here , smile, " so I turn to the cameras and give them my usual fake smile , the one I keep for these kinds of occasions , and the one that I have learned to dominate over the years , so that it doesn’t look too forced.

Through my peripheral vision , I can see Tom looking directly at me with enough intensity , the feeling that runs through my body is so strong when I feel his penetrating gaze on me , that I feel a chill travel from my neck to the small of my back and I shudder slightly , Dominic feels my slight shiver and asks me if I am cold , but I shake my head.

As soon as the press with all of their cameras leaves , I turn to see Dominic with a questioning look , waiting for him to explain what just happened , and I find him looking at Tom with curiosity.

" And who is that? I have never seen him before , does he know me? " he asks me.

" I don't think so , he is a company worker and Lucy's friend , why do you ask? " I ask him.

" It's just that I have noticed that he's looked at me strangely for a long time, " he replies , and seeing that I bite my lips in discomfort , he adds: " Did you and him ... ? "

I nod slightly , because there is no point in lying to Dominic , we have always been honest about how we feel for other people , we have never had a problem admitting if someone seems attractive to us , or if we have dated someone who is present in the place.

Dominic laughs when he sees my answer , and my curiosity increases , so I raise an eyebrow at him and he explains: " It shows , because apparently , he is not over you , his jealousy is evident, " he says with a sarcastic tone.

" I don't think so , he is just curious, " I lie , and he shakes his head in disbelief.

" Well , enough about that topic , are you going to explain to me what that little show was? I thought we didn't do that kind of demonstrations in public, ” I ask him , and am surprised to see a flash of guilt cross his face.

" Actually , I wanted to talk to you about it , I think it is time to make our relationship public , that is , make it official to the public , with labels and all that stupidity, " he tells me , and I look at him in shock with my mouth slightly open.

" What? Why? " I exclaim confused, " I thought you were fine with the kind of relationship we have now, " I tell him , and he nods.

" Yes , I am , believe me , that I would prefer that type of relationship over any other , but I have no other option Zara , they informed me about a press note that they are going to release in the next few days , where they supposedly unmask me , they put a lot of lies about me on that note , they basically say that I am the Marquis de Sade , Christian Gray , and a common p********e all in one , they say that I have sadistic tendencies and that I sleep with everything that moves and breaths , regardless of whether it is a man or a woman , you know what that means , what a note like that can do to my business , I have to act now, ” he explains in an urgent tone that I hadn't seen him use before.

" And do these statements have any truth in them? I mean , could they draw some kind of evidence against you? " I ask him cautiously , and he shakes his head.

" No , they only speak from an anonymous source , but it is not true , I mean , you know I like to do it rough , even occasionally tie their hands or make them wear a blindfold , but that's it , I haven’t done any of the things they are accusing me of, " he says , and I believe him because Dominic is one of the few people in my life that I fully trust.

“ Is that why you acted like that before? Are you trying to kill the rumors before they start? " I ask him , and he nods.

" I am sorry for taking you off guard like that , I wanted to talk to you first , but my stupid assistant put the speech time wrong and that's why I couldn't get here earlier, " he tells me with an annoyed tone , and I laugh because I always joke with him telling him that he changes his assistants more than his underwear.

" I assume you will have a new assistant tomorrow, " I reply , and he laughs too , but then his expression changes to one of seriousness.

" Zara , don't you mind that the relationship is made public? If you don't agree then I can try to find someone else , but I really hope you agree , I only trust you for this, I could not do it with someone else, ” he tells me in a pleading tone.

I doubt it for a moment as I look where Tom is standing talking to my family and looking in our direction from time to time , I don't know what to do , he just returned and from what he told me , he has every intention of resuming what we left three years ago , but I still don't know if it's the right thing to do.

Starting something with Tom would be very complicated , and the least I need are complications at this time in my life , where I am starting what is perhaps the most significant stage in my career , I cannot start a relationship now , I need time and space to focus in me and in the company , and I know that Tom will not be able to give me that , while Dominic perfectly understands my needs because he himself is in a similar situation , with him , we already have an established system , we already know what the other wants and needs , and instead of being a burden , we help each other.

So eventually , I end up accepting Dominic's proposal to go public , and as I peek at Tom one last time , I have to use all my self - control not to regret my decision , it is for the best , for now , maybe in a couple more years when my position as CEO is consolidated , I may consider having something with him , and I really hope he could wait until then.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -