Xander Wolfe has everything-power, wealth, and an empire built on ruthless ambition. But beneath his cold exterior lies a man who believes love is nothing more than a transaction, a game where women only want him for his fortune. To him, trust is a weakness, and emotions are a distraction. Elena Mercer has nothing-except her determination. Struggling to support her sick mother and younger brother, she juggles long shifts as a waitress while taking on small delivery jobs. Life has taught her that survival means fighting for every scrap of dignity she has left. When a chance encounter at Wolfe Enterprises leads to an explosive confrontation, Elena does the one thing no woman has ever dared-she talks back. Xander is furious. But more than that, he's intrigued. She's not intimidated by his wealth. She doesn't fall at his feet. And for the first time in years, he feels something other than cold indifference. But in a world where money rules and secrets run deep, can a man who refuses to love open his heart to a woman who has never had the luxury of trust? A story of passion, power, and an unexpected love that refuses to be tamed.
Chapter 1 The Collision
Xander Wolfe stared out of his office window, the skyline of the city stretching endlessly before him. From this height, everything looked insignificant-people, cars, even problems. That was how he preferred it. Detached. In control. Unbothered.
His assistant, Jordan, stood near his desk, shifting uncomfortably. "Sir, the board meeting is in fifteen minutes."
"I don't need a reminder." Xander's voice was clipped, cold.
Jordan nodded but hesitated. "Also, the delivery service called. The contract files you requested are on their way up."
Xander barely acknowledged him with a glance. Paperwork, meetings, business-his entire life revolved around transactions. There was no room for distractions. No room for love.
He had learned the hard way that women only saw his wealth, not him. They whispered words of affection but had price tags hidden behind their smiles. He had stopped believing in genuine love a long time ago.
Downstairs, in the bustling lobby of Wolfe Enterprises, Elena Mercer clutched a sealed package tightly. She was running late-again. The restaurant she waitressed at had been short-staffed, and her delivery shift had been moved up unexpectedly. Now, she had exactly five minutes to get to the top floor.
Her heart pounded as she hurried across the polished marble floor, dodging sharply dressed executives who barely spared her a glance. They all walked with the confidence of people who belonged. Unlike her.
Elena wasn't supposed to be here-not in a place like this.
She had grown up watching her mother struggle to put food on the table, fighting against the weight of medical bills and unpaid rent. Life had never been easy, but she had never let it break her. She worked two jobs to support her family, refusing to let poverty define her future.
She reached the elevators and frantically pressed the "UP" button. The doors slid open, revealing a nearly empty cabin except for a man in a dark suit standing inside. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and radiated an air of quiet dominance. His sharp, chiseled features were impossible to ignore.
Elena stepped inside, her gaze focused straight ahead.
As the doors closed, the silence between them thickened. The elevator began its ascent, and she shifted nervously, adjusting her grip on the package.
Then, suddenly the elevator jolted.
A sharp gasp escaped her lips as she lost her balance. The package in her hands slipped, and before she could catch herself, she collided into the man beside her.
Hard.
Her elbow jabbed into his side, and the package slammed against his chest.
"What the" The man staggered slightly before catching her shoulders, his grip strong and steady. Elena's eyes widened as she realized who she had just crashed into.
Xander Wolfe.
She had seen his face in business magazines, headlines, and news reports. The billionaire CEO of Wolfe Enterprises. The man she had just rammed into like an idiot.
She stepped back immediately. "I'm so sorry," she stammered, her face flushing red.
Xander scowled, straightening his already perfect suit. "Watch where you're going." His voice was deep, laced with irritation.
Elena bristled. Seriously? It was an accident, and he was acting like she had deliberately attacked him.
"I said I was sorry," she snapped, standing her ground.
His brows furrowed slightly, as if surprised by her defiance. Most people, especially women, apologized profusely when they upset him. But this girl? She looked him straight in the eye, challenging him.
Xander's lips curled into a smirk, amusement flickering in his gaze. "Do you always crash into people and then get defensive about it?"
Elena folded her arms. "Do you always talk down to people like they're beneath you?"
Jordan, who had been standing silently in the corner of the elevator, looked between them, eyes wide. No one spoke to Xander Wolfe like that.
The tension in the small space was palpable.
Xander tilted his head slightly, studying her. She wasn't like the polished socialites who threw themselves at him, nor the corporate executives who groveled for his attention. She was different.
The elevator dinged, signaling their arrival at the top floor. Elena exhaled sharply and bent down to retrieve the package, shoving it into Jordan's hands.
"Here," she said shortly. "Maybe next time, you should install seatbelts in your elevators."
With that, she strode past Xander and out into the hallway, her heart pounding.
Xander watched her go, a slow smirk forming on his lips.
Interesting.
Back at the delivery office, Elena slumped into a chair, exhaling loudly.
"Rough day?" her coworker, Sarah, asked, sipping from a coffee cup.
Elena groaned. "I think I just yelled at a billionaire."
Sarah nearly choked on her drink. "Wait, what? Which billionaire?"
Elena buried her face in her hands. "Xander Wolfe."
Sarah gasped. "Xander Wolfe? The ruthless, terrifying CEO?"
"The very one," Elena mumbled.
Sarah stared at her like she had grown two heads. "Girl, do you have a death wish?"
"I didn't plan it!" Elena protested. "He was being rude, and I just... reacted."
Sarah shook her head, still in shock. "Well, let's just hope you never run into him again."
Elena nodded in agreement. That was the last time she wanted to see Xander Wolfe.
But fate had other plans.
Meanwhile, back at Wolfe Enterprises, Xander sat at his desk, lost in thought.
Jordan cleared his throat. "Sir, should I blacklist that delivery company?"
Xander frowned. "Why would you do that?"
Jordan blinked. "Well, that girl she was disrespectful, and"
Xander waved a hand dismissively. "Let it go."
Jordan hesitated, then nodded, leaving the office.
Xander leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers against the desk. Elena Mercer.
She had looked him in the eye without fear. She had challenged him, defied him. And for the first time in years, he felt something other than cold indifference.
Amusement. Intrigue.
He wasn't done with her yet.
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