Jaxon Steele is the epitome of power and ambition-a ruthless billionaire who dismisses love as a weakness. His world is one of high stakes and sharp edges, with no room for tender emotions. That is, until he crosses paths with Freya, a soft-spoken and spirited florist whose warmth is as undeniable as it is disarming. When Freya's quaint flower shop gets tangled in Jaxon's plans, he initially views her as nothing more than an amusing distraction, a pawn in his game. He hires her for his grand events, secretly plotting to acquire her shop to further expand his empire. But as Freya's talent and professionalism captivate Jaxon's influential investors, he reconsiders his strategy. He proposes she work for him directly, pushing her to the limit with impossible tasks and icy disdain. Despite his harsh treatment, Freya's gentle strength begins to stir something deep within Jaxon-something he has long buried under layers of ambition and emotional walls. Her kindness slowly chips away at his defenses, revealing cracks in his armor and a heart that still knows how to feel. As Jaxon grapples with the unfamiliar territory of vulnerability, he must decide if he's willing to let love in and risk everything, or keep his heart locked away forever. Can a man who once believed love was a weakness find redemption in the woman who embodies it?
Chapter 1 Icy billionaire
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The small bell above the shop door jingled as Freya placed the last tulip into a bouquet. The delicate pink petals curved perfectly against the white lilies she had carefully arranged. She stepped back, a sense of satisfaction Washing over her as she admired her work. The scent of fresh flowers filled the air, a calming balm to her often hectic thoughts. It was moments like these that made her love her little flower shop, an oasis of calm in the heart of a busy city.
Her phone buzzed with a notification, pulling her attention away from the arrangements. Before she could check it the bell rang again, but this time, the atmosphere shifted. The lightness of the morning was replaced by something colder. Freya turned, her smile faltering as she saw a tall, brown haired man in a sharp black suit standing in the doorway. His blue eyes shown brightly highlighting his intimating yet charming features, Freya felt like he must have fallen from the sky, polished and stainless, Behind him, a well dressed woman, his assistant, Freya guessed, stood.
The man's gaze swept across the shop with disdain, barely registering the beauty of the flowers around him. Freya's heart skipped a bit as she recognized him from the business pages of the newspaper, Jaxon Steele, CEO of blackwood enterprise. The icy billionaire known for his ruthless takeovers and his indifference to anything that didn't involve money or power.
He approached the counter with long, purposeful steps, his face expressionless, Freya wiped her hands nervously on her apron and stepped forward, forcing herself to smile.
"Good morning and welcome to Collins floral where we deliver the best and aesthetic flowers, how can I be of help to you today?" she said in the most welcoming tone she could ever feign.
Jaxon didn't return her smile, instead his piercing blue eyes fixed on her, making her feel as if she were under a microscope.
"I'd like to speak to the owner"
Freya said taken aback. But then she exhaled and replied. "That would be me, the name's Freya"
"You're the owner? I was expecting someone....more....experienced?" he said, his eyes narrowing into a flicker of surprise as she glanced at her petite figure from head to toe.
"Yes" Freya said abruptly, refusing to be shaken by his comment. "I'm the owner, actually my grandmother started this shop but I've been running it excellently since she passed away almost a decade ago"
Sensing the tension, Jaxon's assistant, a stern looking woman in her 30's with her hair pulled into a tight bun stepped forward.
"Mr Steele here needs floral arrangements for an event he's hosting, it's an exclusive charity gala for the city's elite"
Freya's heart sank, she had heard of Jaxon's lavish and grand events where only the wealthiest attended. The pressure of such a high-profile event was already exciting but combined with Jaxon's cold demeanor, it felt suffocating. Still she needed the business. Her shop had been struggling ever since the larger floral shop started crowding local businesses. An event like this could bring in the exposure and financial support she desperately needed, but then why did he choose her shop though?
"I'd be happy to help" she said, keeping her voice steady. "What kind of arrangements are you looking for?"
Jaxon didn't bother to glance at the flower surrounding them.
"elegant sophisticated nothing too...sentimental"
He glanced around the shop again, his expression hardening "this arrangement, for example, is far too whimsical for what I have in mind".
Freya followed his gaze to the bouquet she had spent hours creating. They were light, colorful, full of soft petals and gentle curves, a reflection of her own personality. She realized the sudden sting of his disapproval hit her harder than she expected but she didn't let it show.
"I understand" Freya replied, her voice calm. "I can create something more understated if that's what you prefer"
"Understated?" Jaxon's lips curled slightly, though it wasn't quite a smile. "I don't deal in understated miss Collins, I deal with perfection"
Freya's cheeks flushed but she stood her ground, "you can count on me to deliver, sir"
There was a pause, a flicker of something unreadable passing through Jaxon's eyes. He glanced at his assistant who nodded curtly. "Fine" he said as his tone clipped. "You have one week to deliver a proposal, if it doesn't meet my standards I'll find someone else"
Freya swallowed the lump in her throat feeling the weight of his word sink in " I will"
Jaxon's gaze lingered on her for a moment and for just a second, Freya thought she saw a flash of curiosity in his eyes but it was long gone as quickly as it had came replaced by the cold calculating stares she has seen when he first walked in.
"See that you do" he said, turning to leave his assistant followed him out,the doorbell jingling again as they disappeared.
As soon as they were gone, Freya let out a breathe she hadn't realized she was holding. Her heart was racing and her mind spawn with anxiety, Jaxon Steele was not the type of client who gave second chances. If she messed this up, not only will she lose the opportunity of a lifetime but her reputation might suffer irreparable damage and that was something her struggling business couldn't afford.
Freya looked around her shop at the colorful flowers that had always brought her peace and for the first time they felt like a burden, could she really pull this off? could she create something cold, elegant and perfect enough to satisfy a man like Jaxon?
Just as she was about to return to her work, her phone buzzed again. This time she picked it up, her fingers trembling slightly. It was a message from a close friend who worked in the city's business cycles.
"Freya, I heard Jaxon Steele was in your shop today, be careful word is, he's planning something big in that area, might not be good for small businesses
Freya's heart dropped her stomach twisting in a knot, could that be why he had come to her shop, was this just the beginning of something bigger, something that could threaten everything she had worked for?
She stood there, phone in hand staring out the window as a dark cloud settled over her once peaceful day. Something told her Jaxon wasn't just another demanding client, he was a man with an agenda and she was caught right in the mirror of it.