The Billionaire's little secret

rself of it. The meeting with Ethan Blackwood had lingered in her mind all night, replaying in fragments she coul

y as she approached her desk. "We've got some updates on the Bla

into her chair, trying to suppress the nerve

ew the latest updates, a headlin

Rumored to Be in Talks

ial merger that would position Blackwood Enterprises as an even larger powerhouse in the tech world. But what struck

o invested in the campaign? Was there a bigge

Lisa poking her head around t

d to the conference room, pushing

pitch. But as they discussed Blackwood Enterprises, Claire found it harder to stay neutral. She kept recalling Eth

aligns with their branding?" Lisa a

reen. "But we might want to emphasize their forward-thinking appr

. Lisa raised an eye

s morning. Nothing confirmed, but it's worth co

tay ahead of this. If it's true, they'll expec

re couldn't shake the feeling that she'd just

in market research when a familiar voi

Par

sk, impossibly polished as always. His dark suit and confiden

ady despite the sudden spike in her puls

" he replied casually, though his eyes held the

r screen, then back

e of the floor. She followed, acutely aware of the

e door behind them, the nois

aning casually against the table. "But first, ho

s gaze. "I can handle pressure, Mr

doubt that. But I have to admit, I'm curiou

on? She chose her words carefully. "I've only heard whispers

her spine. "Perhaps. But let's just say... if there's a

aire couldn't help but feel th

this?" she as

simply. "And because I think you're the ki

hey also felt like a calculated move. Was he trying to

sion softening. "I should let you get back to work. But

relief and frustration. He had a way of le

ce had emptied out. She couldn't shake the feeling that she was

g, the cryptic comments Ethan had made, and the tension that se

she could remember about their conversations. There

things together, her phone buzzed.

trust. Blackwood

e, her mind racing. Who had sent it? And wha

ess it further, anoth

Same café. Noon.

her, empty and quiet, and felt a sudden chill. Was

than Blackwood wasn't th

o find out just how da