CLAIMED BY THE BILLIONAIRE

pte

mond

. Calculating. The de

y polished shoes-each one has built this reputation. But as I sit at the head of the boardroom table, staring at the morni

sem

have no interest in women-none. They're deceitful, dangerous, and endlessly calculating in their

odile tears streaming, accuses me of ruining her precious niece's life. The headlines plas

tone careful, as though he's walking on glass. He adjusts his tie, avoiding my

the freeze-frame of the aunt's overly drama

visit?" Simon ventures, h

at the corner of

nowing how thin the ice is under them. But my mind isn't on the aunt or

where. Wide, frightened eyes. A quiet, undeniable beauty. She looks like someon

, here

s, clearly unnerv

ot convincingly enough to bother me." I pause, letting the tension

t, his brow furrowed.

my cuffs with deliberat

on his coffee

rd. "Announce it publicly. Tell the media I've clai

ssional mask slipping for the first t

her, but I will. And when I do, I'll make sure she

in a rare display of defiance. "

I say, my tone hardening.

yebrow, waiting f

he questions about my personal life? They've been circling like vultures for months

lization dawning. "You're

l plays right into my hands. By marrying Ariana, I s

e doesn't

y firmly. "She doe

skeptical but no

rrow," I add, my tone le

look at me as though I've gone ma

I say, already he

hispers of my staff trailing behind me like shadows.

blur. My mind races with the details of what needs to happen

the background, whispering amongst themselves. It's always the same: fear and cu

ning my tie as I go. Stripping down to

will be a

, I get

dful of people who need to be there. No big w

clinical, and leave

as been burned into my mind since the moment I saw it. Those wide eyes,

doesn't

power. My reputation. She has to pay t

Just ruined my reput

one like that, espe

want. And she'll have no