Owned by the CEO

The Fire Beneath the Ice

♥ Jethro ♥

The Sovereign Heights penthouse looked flawless. Crystal glasses gleamed under the soft golden lights, floral arrangements in deep reds and gold lined the marble counters, and the distant sound of a string quartet floated through the air. It was elegant, expensive, and completely under control. Just how I liked it. And all of it, every calculated detail, was because of her. Chloe Samuel. From the moment I arrived, I saw her everywhere. Not in person at first, but in her touch on the space. The way the staff moved with quiet efficiency. The meticulous placement of tables and seating arrangements. Even the scent of fresh lilies mingled with citrus candles felt deliberate, chosen to set the perfect tone for tonight’s investors. She had done exactly what I asked. No, more than I asked. And now I wanted to see her. It didn’t take long. As I stepped into the main room, I caught sight of her across the space, standing with Sara near the central display. She was in a deep emerald dress that brushed her knees, her hair pinned back loosely at the nape of her neck. She was holding a clipboard and speaking calmly, her expression focused and professional. Sara, meanwhile, looked like she had swallowed something sour.

“Is everything ready?” I asked, my voice cut through the quiet murmur of the staff. Both women turned to me immediately.

“Mr. Jotham,” Chloe said, her tone steady. “The final checks are complete. The guests will begin arriving in twenty minutes,” I let my gaze sweep over the room, taking in the polished silverware, the flicker of candlelight against glass, the way the entire space felt alive.

“You have done well,” I said simply, as I let my eyes rest on Chloe.

“Thank you, sir,” she said softly. Sara’s lips pressed into a thin line, but she didn’t speak. Not in front of me. Victor hadn’t fared much better this week. He and Sara had both attempted to undermine Chloe during planning, but they had learned quickly enough that I didn’t tolerate pettiness, not when I had put someone in charge. I was the CEO. The owner. Sovereign Heights was mine. I didn’t need to explain my decisions to anyone, not Victor, not Sara, not the board. And I had no regrets about putting Chloe in charge. Just then, the first guest arrived, although it was my younger sister, Mandy. She swept into the room like a breeze in silk and diamonds, her laughter rang out before I even turned to greet her.

“Jethro!” she exclaimed, as she pulled me into a quick, uncharacteristic hug. “Why didn’t you tell me you were throwing this little soirée?”

“Because then you would have arrived two hours early to give me advice I didn’t ask for,” I replied dryly. She grinned and waved off the comment, her eyes already moving past me.

“And who’s this?” she asked as her gaze landed on Chloe.

“This is Chloe Samuel,” I said. “My assistant,”

“Assistant?” Mandy’s eyes sparkled mischievously. “And gala coordinator, by the look of it. This place is stunning,” Chloe flushed slightly, while Sara looked as if she was about to lose her s**t. I shot her a warning look. I would not tolerate her behavior.

“Thank you. It’s all part of the job,” Chloe then said. Mandy leaned closer to her, lowering her voice conspiratorially.

“Don’t let him fool you…Jethro is impossible to impress. You have done well, Chloe,” she said, and Chloe smiled faintly. And for reasons I didn’t care to examine, I felt an unfamiliar heat bloom in my chest at the sight. Sara, on the other hand, excused herself. Mandy glanced over at me, but I shook my head once. I would deal with Sara and her jealousy later. Juliette arrived next. As always, she made an entrance. Tall, statuesque, dressed in crimson silk that clung to her like a second skin, she drew the attention of every pair of eyes in the room as she glided through the door.

“Jethro,” she said warmly, as she brushed a kiss against my cheek.

“Juliette,” I replied, my voice cool. She linked her arm through mine as if she had done it a thousand times before. She had.

“Hello, Mandy…you look lovely as always,” she said to my sister.

“Juliette,” my sister said, her voice soft, but no longer held the same tone she had moments ago. Instead, she turned to Chloe. “Why don’t you show me around?” Juliette’s eyes flickered briefly toward Chloe, who nodded at my sister.

“Who was that?” she asked as we watched them walk off.

“My new assistant,” I replied.

“Perhaps you will introduce me to her later,”

“Perhaps,” I said flatly.

“Hmm,” Juliette hummed. I didn’t quite care what she thought. More guests trickled in until the room was full. Twenty people in total, not counting Chloe, Sara, and myself. Investors. Socialites. A few carefully selected members of the press. Each of them mingled over champagne, laughing and trading stories under the soft music. I watched it all with quiet satisfaction. And yet, my gaze kept straying to Chloe. She moved gracefully through the crowd, checking in with staff, smoothing over details, ensuring everything flowed seamlessly. She was calm. Confident. She belonged here in a way she hadn’t on her first day, when she had stood in my office clutching her tablet like a shield. And I couldn’t stop imagining what it would be like to peel away that calm, professional mask. The sudden sound of a glass being tapped brought the room to attention. I noted that it had been Chloe who had tapped the glass. I stepped forward to the center of the room, every conversation falling silent as eyes turned toward me.

“Thank you all for joining me tonight,” I began, my voice steady and commanding. “Sovereign Heights has always been more than a property. It’s a vision. A place where innovation meets luxury. And tonight, I’m proud to share that vision with all of you,” I raised my glass. “To partnership, progress, and the future,” the guests echoed the toast, their glasses clinked softly as the room came alive again with conversation and music. But even as I smiled faintly and let Juliette pull me toward a cluster of investors, my thoughts were elsewhere. Because, of course, I was more focused on the woman in an emerald green dress, who stood across the room. A woman who didn’t even realize how dangerous she was to my control. Tonight was going to be a battle of wills, and all I could do was hope that I would be able to control myself. I tore my gaze away from Chloe and did my best to concentrate on the conversation.

♥ ♥ ♥