Chapter Nine

Stella hurried out of the office as soon as the clock struck six. She couldn't bear staying a minute longer. Her mind was still spinning from the day's events. Peter's deception weighed heavily on her heart. As she stepped outside, the cool evening air hit her face, but it did little to calm her racing thoughts.

She walked quickly, her heels tapping against the pavement, each step in sync with the pulse in her temples. The streets were busy with people heading home, but she hardly noticed them. All she could think about was Peter. How could he have kept such an important part of his life from her?

Reaching the taxi stand, she flagged one down and slid into the back seat. She gave her address quietly, leaning her head against the window as the car pulled away. The city lights blurred outside—soft streaks of warm yellow and faint red, the glow of streetlights and distant traffic, but Stella didn't care. She just wanted to get home, to be alone and away from everything.

By the time the taxi arrived at her apartment, exhaustion had settled in. She paid the driver, stepped out, and walked slowly towards her building. Inside, she dropped her bag by the door and sank onto the sofa, kicking off her shoes.

Her phone buzzed on the centre table. It was Peter. Just seeing his name made her feel a mix of anger, confusion, and love that she couldn't let go of. She stared at the phone for a moment, her finger close to answering, but then she decided not to pick up. She turned the phone over. She needed some time. Tonight, she just wanted to forget about him, even if only for a little while.

Curling up in bed later, the weight of it all finally broke her. Tears streamed down her face, her chest heaving with silent sobs. How could Peter hide something so huge from her? Didn't he trust her? Maybe it was her fault, too. She had always kept her feelings at bay, waiting for the perfect moment to confess her love. But there's never a perfect time. Waiting for the right moment could mean losing the person to someone else. If she had said yes to him from the beginning, maybe he would have told her about his company. Maybe he wouldn't have lied about being just a provision store owner.

She reached for her iPhone and opened her photo gallery. There he was—Peter. The picture she had taken of him one afternoon at the store, back when she thought that was all he was. His profile looked dashing, like a prince from a fairytale, even though he was casually dressed in the photo. His smile had been boyish, carefree, but even then, she knew there was more to him. Yet she had never imagined this—that he was the CEO of a billion-dollar company, living a life she had never been allowed to see.

Suddenly, the doorbell rang, pulling her from her thoughts. Stella wiped her tears quickly, assuming it was her friend Night coming to visit. But when she opened the door, her breath caught in her throat.

Peter stood there, holding a bouquet of roses in one hand and a pizza box in the other. His eyes searched hers, wide with worry and hope.

'Peter…' she whispered, unsure whether she wanted to slam the door in his face or pull him inside.

Before she could decide, he stepped forward, slipping past her into the living room. He set the flowers and pizza on the centre table, then turned towards her, hands outstretched. 'Please, hear me out.'

Her body tensed as he moved closer, the familiar scent of his cologne wrapping around her like a bittersweet memory. She clenched her fists, trying to maintain her composure, even though her heart raced. 'Get out, Peter. I told you, I need time.'

But he didn't listen. Instead, he wrapped his arms around her from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder. His warmth seeped into her skin, and despite everything, she felt herself soften. But she couldn't let him off that easily.

'Ella,' he murmured, his breath hot against her ear. 'I'm so sorry. Please, forgive me.'

Stella turned in his arms, her eyes blazing with unshed tears. 'Do you know how much you hurt me?' Her voice cracked, but she held his gaze. 'You made me feel like I wasn't enough. Like you didn't trust me.'

'I know,' Peter whispered, his hands trembling as they cupped her face. 'I didn't want you to see me differently. I was scared that if you knew the truth, you'd walk away.'

Stella shook her head, biting back a sob. 'You don't get it, Peter. I loved you for who you were. Whether you had a company or a small provision store, it didn't matter to me. I didn't accept your love because I wanted to find a good job and support your provision store. I didn't want you to feel less of a man. But this…' Her voice faltered, her throat tightening as hot tears welled in her eyes. 'This feels like you didn't trust me enough to be honest.'

Before she could say more, Peter leaned down, pressing his lips to hers. The kiss was soft, almost hesitant, as if he feared she might pull away. And for a moment, Stella didn't move, frozen between the warmth of his touch and the cold ache of betrayal that still lingered deep inside her.

His lips, familiar and intoxicating, stirred something inside her. But it wasn't enough to melt the anger that still burned beneath her skin. She kissed him back, but only half-heartedly, her hands resting lightly on his chest, ready to push him away at any moment.

The taste of him was bittersweet, like the unspoken feelings between them, now tainted by the weight of his deception. When she finally broke the kiss, her breath came in shallow gasps. 'Don't think that changes anything,' she said, her voice soft but firm.

Peter's eyes searched hers, pleading. 'Stella…'

She shook her head, stepping out of his embrace. 'I'm still hurt,' she said, her tone unwavering. 'And no amount of sweet words or roses is going to fix that.' Her eyes flickered with pain, but she refused to look away. 'You can stay if you want, but don't expect me to forgive you so easily.'

'I know I hurt you, Stella, but I did it because I didn't want you to see me as anything other than the man you fell in love with…even though you never admitted your feelings and often pushed me away. I was scared. I…'

Stella didn't respond, but part of her wanted to believe him. Yet, another part wasn't ready to let go of the hurt. When she had first met Peter years ago, she couldn't quite describe him. Even after all this time, she still struggled. One word stood out: seductive. His beautiful eyebrows, defined nose, slightly thin lips, and the perfect symmetry of his face were undeniable—but his back... his back was something else entirely.

Slender and gracefully sculpted, his back exuded a quiet, commanding strength. His shirt hugged the elegant lines of his body, highlighting the lean, toned muscles that tapered smoothly to his slim waist. The way his back moved, fluid and effortless, reminded her of the grace of a martial artist, each motion intentional and alluring. It wasn't just strong—it was mesmerising, drawing attention with its understated sexiness, like a whisper rather than a shout. His back had this magnetic pull, commanding attention without trying, leaving her breathless every time he turned away.

It was a kind of flawless sensuality that seemed almost unreal. How could someone be so perfectly sensual? It all made sense now: he was meant to be a CEO, a powerful mogul, the kind who commanded respect and had the world at his feet. He deserved every bit of it. But even though he had captured her heart, he had kept his truth hidden, and that was what hurt the most.

Stella wanted to hug him and tell him how proud she was of him. She was happy that he was the CEO of the billion-dollar company and wanted to share stories like she used to whenever they met at Chinedu Provision Store or went out to eat. But she couldn't do that now; he was the boss of Mars Corporation, and she was his personal secretary.

Instead, she turned away from him, walking over to the window. The wind outside had picked up, rustling the leaves of the dogoyaro tree in the backyard. Stella opened the window, letting the cool breeze wash over her face, hoping it would clear the storm inside her. The wind swept into the house, causing her long hair and his short hair to float gently in the air. Peter's short, neat haircut had a slight fade on the sides, with the top a bit longer and brushed back. His hair always looked tidy, showing his careful style and charm. It gave him a sharp, clean look, fitting for his role as the CEO of Mars Corporation.

At that moment, Stella suddenly remembered the first time she had met him. How everything had seemed so simple back then.