Should I quietly walk away from this opportunity or say something?

I (20F) am an architecture student and recently applied for a position at what I considered my dream architecture firm.

I didn’t pass the technical test, but the CEO told me he still wanted to work with me and help me improve because he saw potential in me. I admired him a lot professionally, so I was very excited about the opportunity.

A few days ago, I met with him to talk about work, architecture, future projects, and ways I could improve my skills. At some point, the interaction became physical in a way I was not expecting and did not go there for. He grabbed my waist, tried to lift my shirt, and got very physically close to me in a clearly sexual way.

I became uncomfortable and eventually said I had to leave. He stopped when I did that and later drove me home.

Since then, I’ve felt confused, disappointed, and honestly disgusted. The hardest part is that he continues to contact me normally about projects, ideas, content creation, and professional opportunities as if nothing happened.

What makes this difficult is that he is the CEO/founder of the firm, is well connected in my field, and I originally admired him a lot. I feel like I lost respect for someone I looked up to.

I am not looking to ruin his career or start a public conflict. My main concern is protecting myself and my future opportunities. I don’t want to work there anymore, but I am worried about burning bridges with someone influential.

Has anyone been in a similar situation with a boss, mentor, professor, or industry leader? How did you handle it professionally while protecting yourself?