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Beneath The CEO'S Mask

Beneath The CEO'S Mask

Author: kizzylove
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Chapter 1 The Perfect Night to Ruin Everything

Word Count: 1788    |    Released on: 12/07/2025

idnight, curled up in her worn-out pajamas with her laptop on her knees, finali

opulent it made her teeth ache, directing an army of overpaid caterers and skittish interns lik

urgery bright," Sera barked into her headset, her eyes scanning the sweeping room with

a line of champagne flutes. Sera caught the vase just in time, her fingers brushi

eathless. "The ice sculpture's melting

tch it with the backup in the f

: a fierce woman with deep brown skin, stormy grey eyes lined with dark kohl, and a tightly pinned bun that threatened to come

d chosen the color deliberately - a subtle statement that even if she was the hired help tonight, she'

-

like candle flames. All around her, the city's wealthiest elite schmoozed and clinked crystal flutes

os of the couple of the hour: Eryx Kane - the untouchable CEO whose stare could

ment ring a small asteroid threatening to blind anyone within ten feet. Eryx's expression never cha

-

lly loves her?" a soft

ar like ghosts at her elbow. It was Theo, her overworked, painfully earnest assis

d. "In this room? D

hey lo

it. Now stop gawking and check the champagne tower. One drunk socialite

itterness lingered. She adjusted her headset mic and started pac

-

tched it up, balancing he

g her voice low. "Please

soft, worn from years of worry and illn

"I'll be home soon. Don't

d, voice warm with a smile Sera could feel through

mother's next round of treatments, her sister's college application

it's over," Sera w

n't have time for tears tonight. Not when she was about to pull off the biggest event of her

-

arissa Mende

a side door, her train bunched in her fists. Odd. Clarissa was the kind

on the draped tables, the expensive caviar being spooned onto crackers, the CEO's icy

thing if not st

-

dded down the hallway, heels sinking into plush carpet. She paus

d. Not Eryx Kane - his voice was lower,

d her ear t

red, voice dripping with mock affection. "Or

a contract, babe. The old man's will says he has to be engaged by next quarter

y dropped

g ring, the six-figure cake, the orchestra playing sentimental n

-

arrangement perched on a pedestal. She pressed a

e'd heard nothing. Collected her paycheck

he saw Clarissa's face - that smug, dismissive cur

t party perfect? How many favors had she called in, how many bills

En

-

a hit a swell, filling the room with the climax of their waltz. Dozens of eyes - bored,

one from its stand, ign

from the edge of the da

voice slicing through the music like

rd halt. The entire room fell silent, the only sound the s

s eyes met hers. Cold, curious, and

-

into a smile that d

empty flute she'd swiped from a passing server. "To the kind o

. Clarissa emerged from the hallway, eyes wide, lipstick

ed. "Do you want to tell your

diamond heels clacking on the

as soon as you cash out?" Sera said, voice ringing with the clarity of a ch

s delight and horror all at once. Someone's phone

contorted with rage

t a flicker of surprise, not even anger. Just those eyes - col

-

rieked, lunging for Sera's hair, but Theo - bless his terrified

ling through their phones and whispers. Clarissa's

it all, Eryx

ury. Not w

ng calm that made

-

hitting the platform rang through the bal

phone buzzed relentlessly in her clutch - her mother, her sister

o her back as she fled through the staff exit. The cold weigh

-

, mocking her with its beauty. She leaned against th

hell had

work in this city again. The Kane family was ruthless. She'd made herself

ran down

x Kane's cold, unblinking stare - l

-

nt, Seraphina Vale

ally told

ust destroy

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1 Chapter 1 The Perfect Night to Ruin Everything2 Chapter 2 The Price of Truth3 Chapter 3 Welcome to the Cage4 Chapter 4 Breakfast with the Beast5 Chapter 5 The Art of Pretending6 Chapter 6 Cracks in the Glass7 Chapter 7 Playing With Fire8 Chapter 8 The Closet, the Lie, and the Scar9 Chapter 9 Echoes and Eggs Benedict10 Chapter 10 The Price of Protection11 Chapter 11 One Bed, No Mercy12 Chapter 12 Lines We Don't Uncross13 Chapter 13 Shadows Between Us14 Chapter 14 The Space Between Heartbeats15 Chapter 15 A Kiss That Burns16 Chapter 16 When Shadows Speak17 Chapter 17 Into the Lion's Den18 Chapter 18 Masks and Daggers19 Chapter 19 The Knife Behind the Smile20 Chapter 20 Shadows in Silk21 Chapter 21 The Weight of a Trigger22 Chapter 22 Fractures in the Dark23 Chapter 23 Whispers in the Veins24 Chapter 24 The Edge of the Mask25 Chapter 25 Fractures in the Fire26 Chapter 26 Shadows of the Crown27 Chapter 27 The Knife Between Us28 Chapter 28 The Crown and the Cracks29 Chapter 29 The Splintered Oath30 Chapter 30 Into the Serpent's Den31 Chapter 31 The Weight of Silence32 Chapter 32 Fractures in the Crown33 Chapter 33 Shadows at the Edge of Truth34 Chapter 34 The Midnight Divide35 Chapter 35 Fractured Truths36 Chapter 36 Shattered Promises37 Chapter 37 Chains of Fire38 Chapter 38 Fractured Promises39 Chapter 39 The Knock in the Dark40 Chapter 40 The Devil at the Door41 Chapter 41 The Weight of Cracks42 Chapter 42 Fractured Vows43 Chapter 43 The Edge of Truth44 Chapter 44 A Toast to Shadows45 Chapter 45 The Shape of a Trap46 Chapter 46 The Fracture Line47 Chapter 47 The Eye in the Dark48 Chapter 48 The Trap Beneath the Crown49 Chapter 49 Into the Wolf's Den50 Chapter 50 Blood Ties, Broken Crowns51 Chapter 51 The Weight of Silence52 Chapter 52 Fractures in the Dark53 Chapter 53 Lines in the Sand54 Chapter 54 Cracks in the Glass55 Chapter 55 The Enemy in the Spotlight56 Chapter 56 Broadcast of Blood57 Chapter 57 The Weight of Ashes58 Chapter 58 The Wolves at the Table59 Chapter 59 The Summons60 Chapter 60 Shards of Glass61 Chapter 61 Veins of Betrayal62 Chapter 62 The Storm at the Door63 Chapter 63 Threads of the Web64 Chapter 64 Fractures in the Glass