Bought by the Billionaire

in the room. Elena Carter sat in the back row, her heart pounding in her chest as she scanned the crowd of polished men and wom

bling hands. There was no point trying to calm herself; the letter crumple

ctors had been kind enough to provide the figure in bold red

Mia whispered, nudgi

ss the room, near the fro

r yearly rent, his dark hair perfectly styled, and his sharp, angular jaw clenched in concentration. He stood out not just

na whispered back, he

is he's buying up distressed busines

n like Damien Blackwood didn't step into place

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome. Today's proceedings are unique, as we're n

iness empire were paraded in front of the room-equipment, contracts, even the building itself

he final lot that the

ing shares of Carter & Co., including exclusive intellec

er had spent his life building, everything sh

housand," some

another bid

ckly, the voices blendi

p, commanding voice c

d toward the front

aned back in his chair, complet

ood," the auctioneer said, his voice a

le

someone was willing to pay off the debt, but all she felt was dread

ioneer's gavel s

h a slow, deliberate motion. His gaze

said, his voice low

m went

na's arm. "You

nd. Her legs felt like jelly, but she squared h

smooth and confident. When they were alone, he tu

like him," he

ked, her voice sha

r fa

ap. She clenched her fists.

to make yo

. "An offer? You've al

ot everything. You're st

unned into sile

ut I need you to stay involved. You know the business better tha

he echoed. "What d

ork for me," Dam

her arms. "And

erything-including the parts of the business that employ the people

hurned. "That

, his tone icy. "Think of it as a

lessness warring within her. "You

His voice softened, but his gaze remained intense. "You have

ing Elena standing alone in the empty corridor