Chapter 12: Tension, Temptation & the Life of a CEO
Chapter 12: Tension, Temptation & the Life of a CEO
Raven groaned as the morning sun peeked through the curtains, casting golden streaks over her face. She shifted slightly, feeling something warm and solid wrapped around her waist.
Her brows furrowed.
Her breath hitched.
Slowly, she opened her heavy eyelids, blinking away the drowsiness.
And then she froze.
Kai Valenti—the infamous mafia king, the man feared by many, the man she had married just last night—was holding her.
His strong arms were wrapped around her waist possessively, his face buried against the crook of her neck, his breathing even and steady.
Raven's lips parted in shock.
He looked… soft.
The sharp, dangerous edges of his face had melted into something innocent in sleep. His lashes rested against his sharp cheekbones, his perfectly sculpted lips slightly parted, his dark hair tousled against the pillows.
For the first time ever, he looked harmless. Like a teddy bear.
"Who knew the mafia king could look this cute?"
Before she could stop herself, her fingers moved toward his hair, brushing through the silky strands.
Kai's hair was softer than she expected.
And then… his eyes snapped open.
Raven's heart leaped into her throat.
His dark gaze locked onto hers, unreadable and intense.
Panic surged through her. She quickly shut her eyes, pretending to be asleep.
There was silence.
Then, after a moment, she slowly peeked one eye open—only to find him still staring at her.
She stiffened.
A lazy smirk curled his lips. "Good morning, cara mia."
Heat rushed to her cheeks.
She huffed, toughening up. "Get your fat ass off me."
Kai chuckled deeply, the vibrations rumbling through his chest. But instead of immediately letting her go, he leaned in slightly, his voice low and teasing.
"You sure were enjoying it a moment ago."
Raven's face burned.
She shoved him hard, making him roll away with a smirk.
Kai got off the bed, stretching. As he walked past her, he smacked her butt lightly.
Her eyes widened in offense.
"You—"
She swung her leg up, aiming straight for his jaw.
But Kai, ever the mafia-trained fighter, easily caught her ankle midair, his grip firm but teasing.
He smirked down at her. "You never learn, do you?"
Raven yanked her leg back, scowling. "Jerk."
Kai just laughed, his deep chuckle sending an annoying shiver down her spine before he disappeared into the bathroom.
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Raven the CEO: Engineering a Future
After freshening up, Raven changed into a baggy pair of jeans, an oversized shirt, and slipped on her necklace and wedding ring.
At the dining table, Maria was already setting up breakfast.
Raven glanced at the older woman. "How are you feeling today?"
Maria smiled warmly. "Much better, tesoro. Thank you for asking."
Raven nodded in approval before taking a bite. The warm flavors hit her tongue, and she sighed. "The food is great."
Maria beamed. "I'm glad you like it."
After finishing, Raven rushed out the door, heading to her company—LIFE.
LIFE was more than just an engineering firm. It was a hub of innovation, where designs were brought to life.
Upon arriving, she changed into her CEO attire—a white shirt, black blazer, a blue skirt, and black heels.
Her assistant, Adrian, was already waiting.
"The board meeting starts in five minutes," he informed her.
Raven sighed and grabbed a coffee. "Let's get this over with."
Inside the conference room, her engineers presented new AI-powered prototypes for automated surgical arms and industrial robots.
"The mechanics look solid," Raven analyzed, tapping her nails against the table, "but the AI responsiveness needs more work. Make the adjustments and rerun the tests."
The meeting stretched for two hours.
Afterward, she reviewed project reports, approved new budgets, and checked on partnership proposals.
By the time six hours had passed, Adrian placed a meal on her desk—instant noodles loaded with meat and vegetables.
"You always bring me this," she muttered, already grabbing the chopsticks.
Adrian smirked. "You always finish it."
She ate quickly before returning to work, leaving the office only at 7 PM.
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Tension at Home
When Raven arrived home, Maria was waiting at the entrance.
Her brows furrowed. "What's wrong?"
Before Maria could answer, Kai appeared, his jaw tight, his eyes burning with irritation.
"Why are you home so late?" His voice was calm, but his fury was evident.
Raven frowned, glancing at her watch. 8 PM.
She scoffed. "It's not late."
Kai's expression darkened. "You're married. Start acting like it."
Raven rolled her eyes. "I know. I just went to work."
She sighed and walked past him.
Kai stiffened, but said nothing.
As she climbed the stairs, she muttered under her breath, "What crawled into his ass?"
She skipped dinner, took a long bath, did her skincare routine, and collapsed into bed.
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A Midnight Intrusion
Sometime after midnight, Kai silently entered her room.
His eyes flickered to her sleeping form, and his jaw tightened.
The blanket had slipped off, exposing her silk nightwear—and revealing her long, fair legs and thighs.
A strange heat surged through him.
"Damn it."
With a sharp exhale, he grabbed the blanket and covered her again.
His fingers lingered at the edge of the silk fabric for just a second too long.
Kai quickly turned away, running a hand through his hair, and left the room.
Minutes later, the cold water of his shower did little to wash away the temptation.
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End of Chapter