Alexander Wolfe is a man who wins. So, when Isabelle Laurent forces her way into his office, believing she is the one who is entitled to justice for her family, he knows he has an opportunity to settle an old score once and for all. He offers her one thing in return - marriage. Alexander is cold, calculative, and ruthless. He controls everything and everyone - including his new wife. But as their arranged marriage begins to unravel secrets about them both, Isabelle finds herself caught in the middle of a battle that is much larger than either business or family. The danger closes in from all sides - and a betrayal lurks closer than they both realize. When it is all said and done, will they come to find their love in the end - or find it was their undoing?
Chapter 1 One
Isabelle's POV
The numbers were what they were. They wouldn't lie to me.
I glanced at the screen, my breath constricting as I flipped through my financial reports one last time, hoping-praying-we had made a mistake somewhere in our calculations. But, for the seventh time, even double-checking the math left me in the same predicament.
Laurent Enterprises was going under.
I pushed back from my mother's desk, my disbelief turned into thumping pressure against my skull.
Cecelia Laurent, my mom, built this company from the ground up. She clawed her way up through the ranks in a world of men in pricey suits, until it grew to be respected in the luxury fashion space over many years, blood, sweat, and tears.
And now, after all of that hard work, it was falling apart in front of my eyes.
I pulled at some of my hair, still confused by the numbers.
The losses were significant. Unpaid bills, supplier cancellations, and lawsuits. Something worse than mismanagement was going on.
This wasn't just misfortune.
This was sabotage.
The door creaked open, and in walked my mother.
No matter what this time brought, she still seemed to maintain her poise, every move purposeful. I noticed the exhaustion in her eyes, the weight resting on her shoulders.
"Isabelle," she said softly. "What are you still doing here?"
I moved the screen toward her. "Mom, what the hell is happening?
I was looking at the financials, and it is a disaster. Why didn't you ever tell me?"
She let out a slow breath and went to the window, looking out at the skyline of the city. "Because I didn't want you to worry."
"Not worry?" My voice crackled.
"Mom, our company is bleeding out! The accounts are basically drained, the investors are pulling out, and the board-"
"The board is preparing to vote me out." She said this casually, and I thought it should be anything but a casual death sentence.
I jumped to my feet. "What?"
She faced me; her expression was unreadable.
"They think I am too much of a risk. The recent losses, the scandal with the suppliers, the lawsuit--everything!"
"They want to bring in someone who can take control and they would believe is stronger."
I felt sick to my stomach.
"Someone stronger? That's such bullshit. You built this company! For the sake of god, who the hell can run it better than you?"
She took too long to consider. A heartbeat too long. That's how I knew.
"You know already don't you?" I whispered. "Who?"
A shadow crossed her face. "Alexander Wolfe."
The name struck me like I had been slapped. I stumbled backwards, catching myself against the desk.
"Alexander Wolfe." I said again with disbelief in my voice. "The billionaire?"
"The one and only."
I swallowed, trying to clear the bitter taste from my mouth.
Everyone in the business world knew Alexander Wolfe. He was vicious and brilliant in his ruthlessness. And he didn't simply buy companies; he consumed them, disassembling them part by part and leaving nothing left when he was finished.
My mother's company, my family's legacy, and he wanted to take it all.
"Mom, this can't happen." I said with panic rising in my chest. "We have to fight."
My mother offered me a small, sad smile. "I appreciate your enthusiasm, Belle, but we don't have a lot of options left."
I would not accept that. "Then I will find one."
Her smile faltered. "Isabelle -"
"I'm not giving up, Mom." I took my coat off the back of the chair, grabbed my purse from the desk and was headed out of the office. "I will go to him."
She blinked. "What?"
"I will make an appointment to talk to him." I said firmly. "I will make him listen."
A hollow laugh fell from her lips.
"Honey, Alexander Wolfe doesn't listen to reason, he listens to money and power - neither of which we have."
"Then I will make him listen." I hiked my chin. "He hasn't met me yet."
My mother sighed, her eyes reflecting an emotion I couldn't identify. "Be careful, Belle."
I chose not to respond. My brain had already moved on to what I would do next.
Because if Alexander Wolfe thought he could take everything away from my family, he was in for one hell of a fight.