Bought by the Billionaire

air. Her heels clicked against the pavement, the sound oddly soothing in the stillness. The con

e tangled mess of her father's legacy. But she couldn't ignore the sinking feelin

hailed a cab, and she glanced

? You've been

to explain the turmoil she was feeling, the way Damien

don't kno

at the city lights blurring past. By the time she reached her a

nd of her phone ringing. She groaned, r

mumbled, her

er best friend's voi

Elena sat up, im

ked. "There's something about Da

opped. "What are y

phone," Mia said.

ly opened a news app. Her hear

ckwood Under Fire for

nting Damien as a ruthless, power-hungry tycoon who would do anything to get ahead. It wa

le. Was this who Damien really was? Had she been foo

n, this time from

He's not who he seems. Ca

age, her mind racing. Who had sent it? And ho

happening, her phone rang again.

but edged with tension. "I a

wavering as she replied, "I

Someone's trying to discredit me, and they're us

back, her frustration bubbling over. "H

ll explain everything. But not over the phone. Come to my of

gged any deeper into his world. But there was a part of her that needed answers, that neede

aid finally, her voice

tone firm. "And Elena? Don't

, leaving her alon

was waiting for her, standing by the floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked the city. His suit

rning to face her. "

, crossing her arms. "I want answ

ou need to know that this isn't just about me. Whoever's behind t

widened.

"They see you as a vulnerability, a way to get to me. That'

ther manipulation, another way to pull her deepe

e said, her voice steady. "But how

e that. I made mistakes, and I've done things I'm not proud of. But I don't lie about who I am

or a moment, she felt as though she could see the man beh

t you," she admitted, her v

ession softening. "Then

ay would change everything. Whether she walked away or stayed, her life would neve