Bound By The Cruel Billionaire's Deal

we are do

ument stopped inches from Aida Ruiz's hands. Aida looked down at the rejected proposal. She pressed her fingerti

rom the empty chair next to her. She let out a soft, b

's chair. She leaned down, her expensive perfume thick and suffocating. "But the market doesn't run on charity.

thin. She forced the corners of her mouth up, stretching he

y against the hardwood floor. She leveled her gaze, looking Penelope dead in the eye. H

ft of her narrow shoulders. She tu

gal team, and the three men in tailored suits followed her o

e rigid tension holding Aida's spine together snapped. Her shoulders slumped forwar

closed vested interest in one of our direct competitors. She never intended to fund us; this was just a fishing expedition to look at our financials," Emmet said, his

," Emmet sa

er the rim, spilling cold drops onto her knuckles and the cuff of her silk blouse. She stared at

et said, his voice dropping to a harsh whisper. "After that

arkness behind her eyelids immediately filled with the faces of her engineering team

nic in her chest hardened i

get a bridge lo

very venture capital firm in Manhattan has already pas

rom the back of her chair. She slid her arm

Walls,"

. He reached out and grabbed

alls isn't an investor. He's a predator. He gu

her arm. She reached over and firm

pital to wire five million dollars by tomorrow morning

ference room, and walked out into the corridor. She moved fast, her heels

tion in the brushed metal doors, smoothing down a stray piece of dark hair and ad

n to the lobby. She walked briskly past the security desk, pushed through the he

. Aida stepped off the curb, raised her a

door and slid onto t

tel," Aida to

Aida turned her head and stared out the rain-streaked window. The neon signs of stor

ont of the iconic entrance of the Plaza Hotel. A unif

plastic partition. She stepped out of the cab, her heels

mbossed invitation card Emmet had secured for her, and wal

suit with an earpiece. He looked at the card,

velvet rope an

lowed the sound of a jazz band, her footsteps muffled by the thick rugs, until she

g was blinding. Aida squinted, blinking rapidly as her eyes adjusted t

iters carrying trays of champagne, her eyes scanning the

center of the room. S

dered silhouette against the dim lighting of the upper level, holding a crystal glass of bourb