Wager of the Heart: The Rejected Mate

tor

ane's smug face stared back from a grainy photo: some tech conference last year, him shaking hands like he owned the world. I sneered, swirling the bourbon

taurant books balanced under pressure, bilingual, no bullshit. She'd be Kane's type: a challenge, not another simpering assistant. Three months to make her fall for him

estate. Black car dropped her at her apartment. Want us to tail? I smirked. Not yet.

nt a decade ago, left him rotting in prison, left me to claw my way up alone. Every deal I lost to Kane since was a knife twist. This

head in, all nervous efficiency. "Your 2 p.m. with the board is

"Tell him to wait

years ago. Their restaurant's collapse wasn't an accident, I'd nudged Frankie to offer that loan, knowing they'd default. Now, Elena's desperation w

y: You're on, Lang. Prepare to lose. Idiot. He didn't know I'd hacked his assistant's hiring portal, cherry-picked Elena to make it personal. Her file had everything: debt records, hospi

rankie. I answered, keep

gravel and greed. "Her mom's coughing up a lung. Kid b

n: dark eyes, defiant jaw. "Not yet. Keep the press

d. "Fine. But

e game." I hung up, my pulse steady.

d hired her yesterday, probably had her sorting his life by now. I pictured her in that glass palace, out of place in her cheap clothes, catching his eye. H

the mansion's gate, duffel in hand, looking like she'd conquer the world. I laughed. Poor girl. Sh

How's your new toy working out? Hope she's wor

tearing down the man who'd torn down my family. Elena was the key: his weakness, my weapon. I'd push her to the edge, let her discover t

at. Three months. Ninety days to break Alexander Kane. Elena