CEO Cole, Stay Away

I thought coming back home would be simple—hide from debt, find a job, stitch my life back together.
I didn’t expect that on day one, I’d crash straight into the one man you do not want to cross in this city—CEO Ethan Cole.

He’s cold. He’s ruthless. He’s the kind of expensive that doesn’t feel real.
And to my best friend Claire, he’s the guy she’s never quite gotten over—the one she keeps tucked away as her perfect what-if.

And it gets worse.

To get myself out of trouble, I signed a “fake marriage agreement” like it was nothing.
The groom on the contract?

Ethan.

After that, the headlines wouldn’t shut up:

“Who forced the CEO into marriage?”
“Why does he only protect that new girl?”

But I know the truth.
He wasn’t pushed into anything.
He came to collect.

To collect what I owed him—
that kiss,
that night I ran,
and the words I threw over my shoulder: “Don’t look for me.”

This time, he only says one thing:

“Mia, stop hiding. You owe me— and I’m taking it back, piece by piece.”

Chapter 1

It was our third wedding anniversary, and my husband went to JFK to pick up the one he never got over.

When Ethan Cole walked through the front door with a tall, polished-looking woman at his side, I was in my brand-new Teddy pajamas, curled up on the couch with Buddy, bingeing a show and eating ice cream.

The air went a little weird. I had no idea what was happening, but I lifted the hand that wasn’t holding my spoon and gave her a small wave.

“Hi.”

She reached out gracefully and shook my hand. Her rose perfume hit me like a soft punch, sweet enough to make my head spin.

“Nice to meet you,” she said, her smile flawless. “I’m Claire Bennett, Ethan’s friend. I just got back from overseas today.”

So that was her.

The one he’d been hung up on for three years.

The legend.

I was just about to introduce myself when I heard her voice again, only this time her lips didn’t move.

[That is the cutest Teddy outfit. Ethan eats pretty well for a guy who acts like he doesn’t care.]

I blinked and looked up. Claire still wore that untouchable, goddess-level expression.

[And now he wants me to help him make Mia jealous, what is wrong with him. If you can’t get the girl you want, maybe start by taking a long look in the mirror.]

[Someone this adorable should be treasured, blink wrong and she’ll be gone.]

[Come stay with me, Mia. I’ll treat you right.]

My scalp prickled.

Was I hearing her thoughts?

Was the ice-queen’s inner monologue always this unfiltered?

I instinctively edged closer to Ethan.

My husband in name only dropped his usual lazy vibe. He glanced at me, cool and flat.

“Mia Harper, Claire’s staying here tonight. Her parents are out of town, and I don’t feel good about her being alone.”

I didn’t even process it. I just nodded like an idiot.

Ethan turned slightly, blocking my line of sight to Claire, then spoke to her in a voice that sounded almost gentle.

“The guest room isn’t ready. You can take Mia’s room tonight.”

So he could be serious when it came to her. I barely had time to feel impressed before a furious male voice exploded right by my ear.

[What are you staring at. That’s my wife. Don’t you have your own wife.]

I let out a startled “Huh,” without thinking.

Ethan looked back at me. “Don’t be petty. It’s one night.”

Then his thoughts tumbled in right after, bright and way too pleased with himself.

[Heh. Claire sleeps in Mia’s room, that means Mia has to sleep in mine.]

[Three years. Three whole years and I finally get to sleep next to my soft, sweet wife. That’s me, Ethan Cole.]

[I’ve suffered long enough. Do you know what these three years have been like. I’m gonna cry.]

To keep both families off our backs, Ethan and I had been married for three years, polite as roommates, careful as strangers. We never crossed lines.

One, we were both slammed with work. Two, we’d been honest from the start, we each had someone we couldn’t quite let go of.

And now this happened, hearing thoughts like it was the most normal thing in the world.

But even so, I wasn’t ready to share a bed with Ethan. Not yet.

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