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A billionaire Bargain

A billionaire Bargain

Isabella Monrez

5.0
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113
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Lily Winters is a fiercely independent woman, determined to live life on her own terms. But her world is thrown into chaos when Damien-a charming, enigmatic man with a dangerous aura-enters her life with a marriage proposal that seems too calculated to be genuine. Caught between cryptic threats and Damien's relentless pursuit, Lily agrees to marry him, not out of love but with her own hidden agenda: to uncover his secrets, his motives, and the lies he's spinning around her. She is determined to untangle the web of deceit and leave the marriage unscathed. But Damien has plans of his own. For him, keeping Lily by his side is more than a desire-it's an obsession. As the two engage in a silent battle of wills, their motivations clash, and the line between manipulation and genuine emotion blurs. What begins as a game of control and strategy soon spirals into something neither of them expected. As Lily delves deeper into Damien's world, she finds herself questioning everything she thought she knew-not just about him, but about herself. Will Lily uncover the truth about Damien's intentions without losing herself in the process? Or will their hidden agendas give way to an unexpected connection neither of them can deny? In this gripping tale of love, lies, and power, one question looms: can two people so intent on outsmarting each other find a way to surrender their hearts instead?

Chapter 1 One****Coffee stains

Lily winters never had grand plans for her life, but she also never imagined starting her morning wrestling with a stubborn coffee machine. Steam hissed aggressively as she pressed the button for what felt like the fiftieth time.

"Come on, you piece of junk," she muttered, smacking the machine's side. It gurgled, spat out half a shot of coffee, then died. She stared at the pitiful puddle in her mug. "Perfect. Just the motivation I needed for today's thrilling schedule of mediocrity."

Grabbing her coat, Lily made a mental note to finally replace the ancient machine-right after she paid rent, settled her credit card bills, and figured out why her heater sounded like a dying walrus. Balancing her bag, a notebook, and a half-empty thermos, she bolted out the door, narrowly avoiding her nosy neighbor.

---

Across the city, Damien Cross was having a much more productive morning-or so he thought. He stood in his sprawling glass-walled office, scrolling through reports on a sleek tablet. His assistant, Greg, cleared his throat, cautiously stepping into the lion's den.

"The merger with Harrow Corp is on track," Greg said, glancing at Damien's sharp profile. "But... there's a complication."

Damien's icy blue eyes flicked up, cutting through Greg like a laser. "Complication?"

"Yes, sir." Greg shifted uncomfortably. "Harrow's chairman is insisting on, uh, a family-centric partnership. He believes it would solidify the merger's... optics."

Damien raised an eyebrow. "Family-centric? Are we merging companies or planning a wedding?"

Greg hesitated. "He's specifically... suggested that you appear more settled. Married, to be precise."

The room went quiet, save for the distant hum of the city below. Damien tapped his fingers against the desk, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

"Well," he said, leaning back in his chair, "if Harrow wants a fairy tale, I'll give him one."

---

Lily's day wasn't getting any better. The ad agency she worked for was hosting a brainstorming session, which, as usual, was code for "Let's throw ridiculous ideas at the wall and see which one sticks." She spent most of the meeting doodling in her notebook, only half-listening to her boss's monologue about "synergy."

As the meeting dragged on, her phone buzzed. It was a message from her best friend, Mia.

Mia: Don't freak out, but someone's asking questions about you. Some guy in a suit. Real intense.

Lily frowned, typing back.

Lily: What kind of questions?

Mia: No idea, but he looked like he stepped out of a billionaire romance novel.

Lily rolled her eyes. "Yeah, right. More likely a debt collector or someone I accidentally cut off in traffic last week," she muttered.

But the unease settled in her stomach like a stone.

---

By the time Lily got home that evening, she was exhausted and ready to collapse into bed. She barely had time to kick off her shoes when there was a sharp knock at her door.

Opening it, she came face-to-face with the last person she expected: a man who looked like he belonged in a magazine ad for luxury watches. His tailored suit fit perfectly, his dark hair was slicked back, and his piercing gaze locked onto hers.

"Lily winters ?"

"Depends. Who's asking?" She folded her arms, leaning against the doorframe.

"I'm Damien Cross."

The name didn't register, but his self-assured tone grated on her nerves. "Okay, Damien Cross. What do you want?"

He stepped closer, his presence almost suffocating. "Your cooperation."

She laughed, a short, incredulous sound. "You knock on my door like you're auditioning for The Godfather, and that's your opening line? Try again."

His jaw tightened, but his expression didn't falter. "We need to talk. Privately."

"Listen, Mr. Cross-if that's even your real name-I don't know who you think I am, but-"

"It's about your father," Damien cut in, his voice low and deliberate.

The air shifted. Lily's casual defiance faltered, replaced by a flicker of unease. "What about him?"

"I'd prefer to discuss this somewhere less... public." He gestured toward the hallway, where Mrs. Grady, her elderly neighbor, was blatantly eavesdropping.

Lily hesitated, then reluctantly stepped aside. "Fine. But if you try anything funny, I'm calling the cops."

Damien smirked. "Noted."

---

Inside, the tension was palpable. Lily crossed her arms, watching as Damien surveyed her small apartment with an expression that was impossible to read.

"Nice place," he said, though his tone suggested otherwise.

"Cut to the chase, Mr. Cross. What do you want with me, and why are you dragging my father into this?"

Damien turned to face her, his expression unreadable. "Let's just say your father made a deal he couldn't keep. And now, I need your help to clean up his mess."

Her stomach twisted. "That's impossible. My father doesn't- he wouldn't-"

"Believe what you want," Damien interrupted. "But the fact remains: you're the only one who can fix this. And before you refuse, you should know that I always get what I want."

Lily stared at him, her heart pounding. Whoever Damien Cross was, he wasn't just some rich guy playing games. He was dangerous.

And somehow, she was caught in his web.

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Chapters
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A billionaire Bargain
1

Chapter 1 One****Coffee stains

11/01/2025

2

Chapter 2 Two****The unraveling game

11/01/2025

3

Chapter 3 Three**** tangled lies

11/01/2025

4

Chapter 4 Four****unspoken truths

11/01/2025

5

Chapter 5 Five****Whispers and Roses

11/01/2025

6

Chapter 6 Six****The confounding Agreement

11/01/2025

7

Chapter 7 Seven**** Terms of Engagement

11/01/2025

8

Chapter 8 Eight****Shadows of power

11/01/2025

9

Chapter 9 Nine****Unspoken desires

11/01/2025

10

Chapter 10 Ten****Escaping the silence

11/01/2025

11

Chapter 11 Eleven****The silence That follows

11/01/2025

12

Chapter 12 ***** The cold return

13/01/2025

13

Chapter 13 ****A Gentleman's proposal

13/01/2025

14

Chapter 14 ****A weekend to Remember

13/01/2025

15

Chapter 15 ****unraveling threads

14/01/2025

16

Chapter 16 ****The Return to Reality

14/01/2025

17

Chapter 17 ****A Night of confessions

15/01/2025

18

Chapter 18 ****The weight of Unsaid words

15/01/2025

19

Chapter 19 ****Tensions unspoken

15/01/2025

20

Chapter 20 ****The waiting Game

15/01/2025

21

Chapter 21 ****In Each Other's Arms

15/01/2025

22

Chapter 22 ****Morning Tensions

15/01/2025

23

Chapter 23 ****A step towards Clarity

16/01/2025

24

Chapter 24 ****A Quiet Resolve

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25

Chapter 25 ****A Tangle of Secrets

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26

Chapter 26 **** Monday Decisions

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27

Chapter 27 **** The turning point

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28

Chapter 28 ****Unraveling Ties

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29

Chapter 29 ****A Taste of Luxury

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30

Chapter 30 ****Bridges and Shadows

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31

Chapter 31 ****The Final details

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32

Chapter 32 ****A Night to Remember

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33

Chapter 33 ****The Engagement

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34

Chapter 34 ****A Proposal to Move in

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35

Chapter 35 ****The last day

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36

Chapter 36 ****Whispers of the Unknown

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37

Chapter 37 **** Adjustment and Unexpected Moments''

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38

Chapter 38 **** Dancing in the Shadows

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39

Chapter 39 **** '' A Line drawn in Sand

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40

Chapter 40 ****Bridging the Distance

17/01/2025