The billionaires pawn

through the heavy curtains, my head pound

oth for what I could afford. Blinking rapidly, I

pped me i

What happene

rolled over me. Bits and pieces of the previous night surfaced,

one-night sta

n I saw I was still fully dressed. But the fear

, praying no one would recognize me. When I got home,

she teased, raising an eyebrow

ng to shake off the pa

n. "You didn't come home last night, Le

psing into a chair. "I woke up in a ho

"Are you okay? Did

anxiety in my chest said otherwise. "I just need to f

zzed; the message on the sc

unning out, Lexi

e quickening. Victor wasn

nge in my expression.

f glass shattering came from the l

tching a bottle of whiskey. His eyes were bloodshot, a

grabbing the bottle from his han

"I'm just trying to get u

feeling the heat of my anger surge through me. "You're digging

t, but I had no sympathy.

y up," I added, my voice shaking with fury. "

way, her face pale. "What

ealization made my chest feel like it was c

as I sat with Kayla at the kitchen ta

ing a glance with me

ously went to the door. The momen

uestioning look as I approached the door.

other side was J

an hi

cles and seen his face on the cover of magazine

s the billionaire. The one everyone

helming. His tailored suit clung perfectly to his broad shoulders, a

They weren't just cold; they were calculating, like he was already

voice deep, smooth, and unse

an eyebrow but said nothing, retreating quietly from the room

xygen had been sucked out. I could feel the tension as Juli

ituation," he said, his voice so composed it

everything. But the fact that he was standing

urn?" I asked, my voice sharp, tryin

eyes boring into mine, unre

re I'd mishea

e year. Be mine-completely. Bear my child. In exchange, I'l

till, and I couldn't breat

red, taking a step back, my mind spin

intense, predatory gaze. "You heard me. This is a business arrangement. I

l. But at the same time, I couldn't deny the flicker of heat that

was drawn to him, to t

ered, shaking my head. "I

epped closer, closing the distance between us. "You're much more t

me to pull away, I stayed rooted to the spot, my skin tingling under his

, Lexi. After that, the

f the room, leaving me standing there, breathl

appened. Julian Blackwood had just ent

Blackwood; everyone i

ed, "but I need to help my family, espe

w, my head filled with though

er and save my famil