Intrigued by the CEO: Paranoid Obsessions

“I…” Harper hesitated.

“Fine, don’t wear it!” Blaze suddenly stood up, snatching the ring from her finger and kicking the table over with a loud crash.

“Bang!” The sound reverberated through the room. The table flipped onto the ground, and the glasses on it scattered, water spilling everywhere.

A mess.

He glared at her furiously, clutching the ring tightly in his hand.

He was throwing a tantrum again.

“Mr. Wychwood…”

Several waiters approached, carrying dishes, and they were all stunned by the scene.

Blaze glared at them darkly, then grabbed a silver tray and smashed it against the window, shattering the glass with a loud “bang.”

Harper watched in shock, wondering how much force it took to break the glass like that.

With a swift motion, Blaze tossed the diamond ring out of the window, causing the waiters to gasp in astonishment.

“Are you satisfied now?” Blaze demanded, his anger boiling.

Harper was speechless, her mouth slightly agape in disbelief.

He was so furious?

Blaze’s eyes bore into Harper, and he strode over to her. Harper couldn’t help but shrink back, fearing he might hit her.

But the expected blow never came.

Blaze stared at her lowered head, sensing her fear of his temper. ‘Yet, even in her fear, she didn’t utter a word about wanting the ring back. Such a stubborn woman.’ A hint of sadness flickered in his eyes, “Harper, you’re the first person to ever refuse me.”

With that, he stormed off, not even looking back.

Harper stood alone, feeling a mix of emotions. She knew Blaze had a volatile and obsessive personality, but seeing him explode like that still scared her.

“Miss, Mr. Wychwood…” The waiters looked at Harper, completely bewildered.

“I’m sorry, he’s not in a great mood,” Harper forced a calm smile, “How much for the damages here, and the cost of booking the restaurant…”

“Mr. Wychwood has already covered the restaurant rental fee. As for the damages here…” The waiters quickly estimated, “It’s probably around thirty to forty thousand. Let me go get the manager to assess it properly.”

“No need, I have a card. Just swipe it,” Harper said, pulling out her card from her bag. Thankfully, Blaze had already paid for the venue, or she wouldn’t be able to afford this today and might end up getting detained here.

After swiping her card, Harper left the hotel, feeling utterly exhausted.

Blaze’s temperament was just too frightening.

Harper walked out, finding a spot in a nearby flower bed to sit. She looked around, but there was no sign of Blaze or his car.

He must have left in a fit of rage.

Harper stood up, about to leave, when she noticed the same waiters sneaking off in the direction where Blaze had tossed the ring earlier. She tightened her grip on her handbag. She couldn’t accept Blaze’s ring; it was too intimate. But after spending the whole day with him, she didn’t want his ring to just disappear like that. With that in mind, Harper headed over.

The waiters were rummaging through the bushes. Seeing Harper approaching, they exclaimed and immediately straightened up, looking embarrassed. Then they scattered, no longer daring to search for the ring.

Harper watched them run off, then set her bag down and started searching on the ground. Outside the restaurant was a parking lot and a green area, lush with bushes in rows.

She remembered Blaze had thrown it in this direction.

Time flew by, and before she knew it, it was dark. Harper’s hands were covered in dirt, and her vision was worsening. She had to take out her phone, using its flashlight to illuminate the bushes and continue searching.

“Why can’t I find it? It was definitely around here,” Harper muttered to herself, “Strange. Did it bounce off after landing here?”

In the end, Harper disregarded her appearance, kneeling on the ground and running her hands through the bushes repeatedly.

“Ah.” She caught a snail, its slimy sensation clinging to her fingers. Harper quickly let go, shaking her hand.

“Beep-beep.”

A piercing horn suddenly sounded, accompanied by two strong beams of light heading her way. Harper knelt on the ground, shielding her eyes with her dirty hands.

The horn abruptly stopped. Silence fell under the night sky.

The lights dimmed, leaving only the cool moonlight.

Harper blinked her uncomfortable eyes and looked ahead. Blaze’s flashy convertible was parked not far away, facing her. Blaze was sitting expressionlessly in the driver’s seat, staring at her.

‘He hadn’t left?’ Harper looked at him in astonishment.

Suddenly, Blaze pressed a hand against the car door, leaping out directly and striding toward her.Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

Harper tried to stand up, only to realize her legs were numb from kneeling and couldn’t support her. Blaze reached her, glaring at her fiercely.

‘Is he getting angrier and coming back to vent on me?’ Harper felt a pang of fear, tilting slightly backward and looking at him apprehensively.

The next moment, she was forcefully pulled up by Blaze. He hugged her tightly, his hands gripping her slender body firmly. She gasped for air, “Blaze…”

Blaze held her close, leaning down to her ear. His breath was heavy as he rasped, “Harper, I really want to just kill you!”

Harper’s heart was racing, about to say something, when Blaze whispered in her ear again, “But I can’t, Harper, I can’t!”

He hugged her and said in a nearly surrendering tone, “You win! Harper!”

“Blaze…”

“Listen carefully, I want you to stay! Even if you drive me crazy, I, Blaze, still want you!”

Though his words sounded domineering, there was a hint of surrender, a humble surrender.

What did he mean by this? Was he not angry anymore?

“Let’s go!” Blaze suddenly released her and pulled her into the hotel. He marched to the front desk, demanding, “Book the best and most expensive room!”

“Of course,” the receptionist nodded immediately.

Harper was dragged away by Blaze, straight up to the room. As soon as they entered, Blaze forcefully sat her down on the bed.

He went into the bathroom, the sound of running water filling the air. Soon, Blaze emerged with a damp towel in hand. He stood before her, his face serious, taking one of her hands and wiping away the dirt.

“I can do it myself, thanks,” Harper said, uncomfortable with being attended to.

“Don’t move,” Blaze glared at he r, continuing to clean her hands. After a few times, her hands were spotless. Then he ordered, “Lift your face.”

Harper hesitated, but before she could refuse, Blaze lifted her chin forcefully, not giving her any chance to resist.

Blaze held her chin with one hand, using the warm, damp towel to wipe the dirt off her face.

His expression was dark, but his actions surprisingly gentle.

Harper felt uneasy sitting there. She wasn’t used to this side of Blaze. She could handle him throwing tantrums and yelling at her, but this sudden tenderness was unsettling.

“Picking up a ring and getting your face dirty, are you stupid?” Blaze scolded her, his actions gentler than his words, as if afraid of hurting her.

“You saw it too? I thought you had left…” Harper kept her eyes down, avoiding his intense gaze.

“I came back to give you a beating!” Blaze snorted coldly.

Harper fell silent, then heard Blaze’s voice again, “If you don’t want the ring I gave you, why did you go pick it up?”

“The ring is too precious,” Harper replied honestly.

“You know I’m rich, tossing a few rings is nothing,” Blaze said arrogantly, gripping her chin, “Look at me and answer me!”

With her chin in pain from his grip, Harper reluctantly looked up at him.

Her throat choked up, unable to speak.

“Speak!” Blaze demanded.

The room was dimly lit, Blaze staring at her intently, refusing to relent until he got an answer.

“Blaze,” Harper met his gaze calmly. “I appreciate the gifts you gave me, but I really can’t accept them.”

“Reason.”

“You should understand.”

“I don’t understand!”

“I don’t love you,” Harper finally uttered the words, feeling a sense of trepidation. She didn’t know what to expect from Blaze, this obsessive man, whether he’d throw another tantrum or…

Blaze stood before her, his towering figure stiffened by her words. He looked at her expressionlessly, his breathing growing heavier in the quiet hotel room.

Suddenly, Blaze placed his hands on her shoulders, “Then why did you still look for the ring?”

“I don’t love you, but I don’t want you to suffer a loss either,” Harper said honestly.

“From today on, you’re not allowed to say those four words!” Blaze stared deeply into her eyes.

Harper sat on the bed, her face obscured by the dim light. After a while, she gathered her courage and reached out to touch his wrist. She pleaded, “Blaze, please let me go.”