MISTAKEN RUTHLESS TYCOON FOR LOVER

y, late autu

k clouds, leaving only a few pale rays

r desk for hours, cold sweat f

ly amidst the mechanical clatter of keyboar

Emily from The

herself upright and responded, trying to s

bout a month ago, your magazine scheduled an interview wi

areness, instinctively s

e, she r

ad been on every

being the son of Bill, the founder of Universe Grou

ope, Aiden took over Universe Bank, the

his half-defunct company to his son to let him "play CEO" for fun. Cri

n deposit-lending operations and its increasing risk exposure. He focused

media outlets scrambled to secure interviews. But despite his fame, actual interviews

of effort and strings pulled b

nded to Emily, the whole n

ship-and the reporter who got to inter

stomach in knots. She asked carefu

AM tomorrow has to be postponed. President Campbe

l he be available i

possible on your end, we'd like to

ouldn'

delay would mean the article might not make it to print

uickly. "Would there be any way to sque

plied. "I can't disclose the exact schedule,

hat about tonight? Just thr

tion leaking into her voice. "Even just one hour. Plea

Campbell is attending an important event tonight. But-may

ed out. "Just give me th

e a waiting area, but I can't guarantee you'll see President

s ears. She collapsed back onto the desk, nerves slowly sett

should've been a

of her period-was making the letdown hit even ha

boyfriend Carl

ay celebration tog

a cozy evening. But now Emily wouldn't be there. Instead, she'd be dragg

ide, took a few deep breaths

looked up from her own

t a wave of pain. Then she said, "The inter

oked. Her normally lively expression had du

ing over to the printer and gathering a stack of doc

tly, neatly stacking th

nearby. Emily blinked and sl

rlos to explain, but jus

pick you up. What t

ine with her finger. "I'm really sorry. I have a last-minute int

lso not feeling great, so I might

end. "Okay. I'll just hang

softly. "I'll make it

ang up, twirling her pen. "

Emily said, hauling her documents

day with you and he lo

to Aiden's birthday i

your boyfriend's okay

ily replied, after a pause. "He di

asonable. Mine's super clingy. If I ba

aced out

finger snapped her back. She yanked her

ngered-and seeme

for a few seconds,

Are yo

rl

Work comes first. We ha

id you weren't feelin

y ex

just being ove

erious. Just pe

s,Poo

interview? I'll com

arner Estate, far out on

s and took a mix of subway, bus, and

itated. Und

uet hall. Spacious, luxurious-and completely empt

e with the ticking clock. She looked around

d repeatedly, eyes drooping-unti

bolt u

wasn'

verse Group's second-in-command. Emily had i

r expression lit up. Then she realized it was

ing his phone. "What

Campbell. I had an inte

ering on her pale face. He didn't say mu

ed another

de, a cold, steady drizz

hatter floated up from the ba

the battle against slee

hoed through the empt

et just ended, but President Campbell

cou

several seconds. "U

iew wasn't

She held onto the sofa, took a moment to s

e Warner Estate's gates,

utside in freezing wind and rain. Her legs were bare under

e beginnin

ing some familiar faces-ma

ad been a high-pro

iden. But then remembered-she did

searched online while prepping, but could only

w offered her a ride. Emily d

. One hour left

wanted to say "Happy

d slowly. Tail lights

y?" a man

ly-a finance exec who of

rly drunk. "Alone?

d back. "No,

arm. "Come on

eriously, my boyfrien

a long look, realized she wasn't bluff

oments later-another famili

y. Same r

normal finance

ted. Her mood was already frayed. T

leaving the banquet with Aide

r girl's been waiting all night. I'd take her, but t

looked

er face, pale under the harsh lights, looked doll

ul, r

er phone as a sleek bl

pproached f

locked eyes w

ed. "Mis

't recog

re all these rich guys

you," she s

behind gold-rimmed glasses,

ing quietly inte

oyfriend is on his way."Word by word, she

sage was clear,I

..

t the corner of Aiden's lips. One hand i

door. He got in with a slight