The CEO's Rose

Gwendolyn’s POV

There were very few things that Gwendolyn Stuart the fourth, loved more than looking at her own reflection, and seeing all of the perfection that was herself. One of those things was seeing strong men cut down to size. There was just something about seeing men reduced to a shadow of their former selves that gave her a thrill. When she had gone at Ryan the first time, she had used his brother, that had worked wonders in devastating him. But now Gwendolyn had gone and outdone herself, having Vivian Rose killed, had truly broken the man. After the initial announcement of Vivian’s death things had gone silent, and she had been forced to do nothing but wait and watch Bryce hobble around as he healed.

But now, three weeks later, Ryan was finally speaking out in public, and she was all for it, she could not wait to watch him lose it and cry for the whole world to see, ( which was exactly what he deserved for leaving her).

Looking at the face of her ex on TV Gwendolyn wished that she could be in the front seat at the press conference that he was currently holding.

"Good day, everyone. We would like to thank all of you for the kind words and well wishes," Smiling softly, Gwendolyn licked her lips. Goodness even his voice sounded exhausted. Grief had to be really heavy on the soul, but she had to admit, he looked positively stunning. There was just a hint of dark circles around his eyes, and his cheekbones were even more pronounced than usual. Those two changes making him look like a tragic hero in an epic drama...what a gorgeous man Ryan Terrell was.

In addition to his face, it was also obvious that he had recently lost a bit of weight, which had made him leaner. Really, the man should be thanking her. Sure she had taken away his girlfriend. But in exchange she had made him even hotter than usual.

The grieving broken hearted man was truly a good look on him. Or at least Gwendolyn thought so until Ryan continued with his little speech.

"As appreciated as all of your kind words have been over the past few weeks, I see it fit to correct a misunderstanding that is currently circulating. My girlfriend, Vivian Rose was indeed attacked, but she is alive and on her way to a full recovery," Right as he said that, the unattractive stuff of Gwendolyn’s nightmares walked on to the stage. The woman was wearing a green turtle neck for crying out loud!

How was that possible?! Bryce had said that he was pretty certain that she was gone, and then reputable news sources had even gone around broadcasting her death. How in the- she cut herself off as the pieces suddenly clicked into place.

A lie.

Ryan had sold a lie to the whole world in order to protect his ugly girlfriend. Just like everyone else, Gwendolyn had fallen for it. Had she known that Vivian Rose was still alive, she would have been in a different country. Preferably one that did not have an extradition treaty with their own, but thanks to the fake news she was still in the city. Getting to her feet, Gwendolyn switched the TV off and began to pace. As angry as she was, she could appreciate that she had been out-maneuvered.

...Well played, Ryan, well played.

***

Vivian Rose was alive...that was a problem.

Not so much for Gwendolyn, but for Bryce. She had already decided that the man had to go, he was far too sloppy for her liking. And even worse, he actually thought that he had a brain beneath all of his muscles. She could not have that, but she had been planning to hold off before getting rid of the man. Now though, her schedule had just gotten tighter, she could not afford to be caught with him and have the man blab. The only way he would be useful to her now would be for him to become a silent partner. Once she sealed his lips for good, she would no longer have to worry about keeping him under control.

The dead kept secrets way better than the living afterall.

***

A pillow in her hands, Gwendolyn stared down at Bryce’s sleeping form. Thanks to the beating that Ryan had given him, the man still looked awful. Where he going to live a little bit longer, Gwendolyn would have already suggested that he look into plastic surgery. But since his looks were going to fade pretty soon once she was done with him, she had not done that.

Moving away from the bed, the pillow still in her hands, she went to stare outside the window, and into the backyard. There was a spot near the flower garden that the man would easily fit into. Looking at it, Gwendolyn started doing the math in her head.

Biting at her bottom lip she took into consideration her own physical strength, Bryce’s weight, the distance to get him there, as well as obstacles that would be in her path once she began dragging the body. It would be a lot of work, but maybe if she-

"Gwendolyn?" The soft sound of his voice made her jump.

Annoyance immediately settling deep in her gut, she whirled around, but by the time she met his eyes, she had a smile on her face, it would not do to let the prey know that it was being hunted.

"Bryce, hey, how are you feeling?"

"Sore," He managed, and she fought the urge to roll her eyes...what a cry baby.

Tutting softly, she moved over to his side, and placed the pillow that she’d been holding beneath him( it would have been better held over his face, but she chose not to think on that at that particular moment). As she helped him sit up he did not moan and whimper as he’d done in other times, proof that his ribs were slowly but surely on the mend.

Still smiling at him, Gwendolyn reached down and caressed his cheek, keeping still as the idiot leaned into the touch. In a way she was glad that he had broken her concentration. She had not been thinking clearly, she could not kill him there. It would be far too much work, plus her father was very against killing people. So if he were to find out that a body had been discovered on the premises, there was a very small chance that he would rat her out. Tiny as that possibility might be, she did not wish to risk it. So Bryce would keep breathing until she had another plan to get rid of him.