The Billionaire's Little Princess

e Hudson River, its grandeur both timeless and intimidating. The kind of place whispered about in s

gates, her fingers clutching the

eeting the man who had not only crashed into your world like a supernova but then casually handed you his

that hinted at confidence rather than invited attention. She'd pinned her curls b

k and giving it a trial even though everything pointed towards mystery rather than reality, only a dullard wouldn't see the stark difference between her world and Alexan

ed by manicured hedges and statues that looked like they belonged

y a courteous nod-pulled up to the entrance like she was royalty. And now, there she stood at the f

ened before she cou

here

der Ki

ling forearms that looked like they could shatter glass and a silver watch that cost mor

gard a painting they'd commissioned but h

aid, his voice v

, lifting her chin with as mu

wasn't sur

sure I sh

Then it's a good thing

e, motioning fo

s, a chandelier that dripped crystals like starlight, a scent in the air that was all ced

o my home,

le as she stepped in. "Do all your..

llway lined with art and warmth. "Onl

"So I'm me

s meeting hers with a heat that ma

for a moment, her nerve

some exclusive rooftop restaurant or flash your

do that?" he

what billionaire

ready know I impress you.

rowed. "That

a set of tall glass doors that led

overlooked the river, the sky painted in streaks of lavender and gold. A table was set for two, lit

nearly as much as the man who now

he'd entered a fairytale... if fairytales came with a si

m?-poured champagne into crystal fl

with an intensity that made her feel like ev

is glass. "Tell me who y

des a struggling scholarship stud

t makes you tick. What keeps you up at night.

s... un

dang

ink to buy time.

s your surface. And I want

im for saying things like th

roject," she

replied. "I think you're a r

the edge of a cliff, the wind teasing her forward, and th

out the literacy center she volunteers in, she reveal her honest love for children and how much she wishes to be for them when she has the chance, amidst other things she me

ealing only what he wanted to. There's much to that that he i

evealing thing

y lis

dark chocolate drizzle-she found herself la

grew cooler, he offered her his jacket, drapin

lowly, reluctant to end something s

the car bri

ce him. "Thank y

nt it when I said I wa

don't usually cha

ed closer. "Because people lik

etween th

thought he might k

that, isn't it too early for some romance? She kn

ke he already had, then st

ght, Is

around her shoulders, her mind spinn

long time, she wondered, w

is was the

dn't sleep

re

d in through the edges of her curtains. But her mind kept replaying the way Alexander had looked at her, it was like he saw her, not as t

rls like her. Not really. And even when they did,

ed. The way he never once bragged about his money. The way he

most confusin

wrestling a dream. Her roommate, Ava, noticed the

ges," Ava smirked over her cereal

abella said groggily

ou look like someone ran over

ed, pouring coff

ifted. "Wait. Is

ant to tal

t Mr. Hot-as-Hell-Billionaire. You we

sabella muttered. "It

man like that, eve

nothing. Because Ava was right. An

guy? You need to be careful. You've got a future, a real one. An

Isabella s

on your face says you're

e part of her was already on fire, and she di

la tried to lose herself in lesson plans and the familiar chatter of

elation waiti

ething like that? How da

austed. She hadn't even made it past the front steps

eath c

ndow l

ame suited driver from

ed. "I didn't s

hoped you'd join him for a la

t the car, p

nt a ca

say no. Walk away. Pretend

... she ope

folded, staring at the tinted windows with a mixture of dread and anticipation. She didn't know what

ooftop with an exclusive view. But instead, the driver opened the

restaurant," s

s Kingsley Innovat

"He wants me to

ver onl

Which made it more dange

ng at the hem of her blouse,

ing, a receptionist, poised and

ouse suite," she said with a polished

curity guard in a dark suit appeare

was s

red one last time. Walk out n

an office and more like a Bond villain's lair: sleek marble floors, panoramic v

t all, behind a massiv

ile in front of him and stepping around the d

e," he s

e me a choice," she re

have a choice, Isabella. I'm j

A beat where the

smiled.

"You summoned me to you

e said. "I want to

rotest, he gesture

private conference room, except it wasn't. It was filled with s

ut working with children. Abou

d around,

ids for underfunded schools. We've been looking for someone to consult with

ed to f

at person

e. "You.

d I want to know you. I want to understand the things that matter to you.

e done with school. School's almost over, you'd have a spot at Kingsley Innovations waiting for y

sn't a game. He wasn't flirting. He wa

what to say,

y y

o think a

"Of course. Take al

ing certainty. The same one that made her feel like sh

ing in her head... Isabella was

ed food between them. The city skyline stretched endlessly behind him like a painting. But she could

long silence. "This program. It's not ju

of grilled salmon with practiced ease. "Do I

meone who gets ev

ere I am, still waitin

. "You're used to buying your way

hing in his eyes darkened, something o

said quietly. "Money makes the door o

, almost lonely-knocke

ork down, le

ing? Resources? A custom schedule so you can keep

she asked,

education professionals

ssing a beat. "But they

blin

ook like they'd glare at me for bringing

augh despite herself.

you're st

ut a reluctant smile

about it," s

h. But let me take you

se? A private jet? An

... no. Something a l

, Brooklyn Heights. Not far from her childhood haunts, but elevated j

, looking less like a billionaire and more like the boy nex

led her through the open gates o

holding the door. "Used to be falling apart. My moth

tly: children playing in a reading corner, volunteers manning table

't show

sn't ab

as abo

lionaire or a flirtation, but as a boy who had once sa

his," she

one," he said. "Bu

ked up

t people easi

kno

end to care when it served them. I can't affor

dn't

st me overnight. I'm askin

right away. But she stayed. For hours. Talking with volunteers. Listening to

cause she was convenient. He was chasing her because she grounded him.

eturned to her dorm, I

t wasn't anxiety

ating thought that maybe, just maybe,

weeks were

't be bought, and she wouldn't give up her goals. But Alexander kept his word. He n

brainstorming and development work, others with long coffees where they talk

t. Gentle in ways

ir chemistry simmered j

ccasional graze of fingers when he passed her a pen

a storm wait

d and the air took on a crisp ed

said, eyes glinti

m a wary lo

here q

achts or cast

o castles. Ju

guard. There was something fragile behind the

erthinking it,

ked like fire with their golden autumn leaves. It was simple, warm, and filled with things

breathe," Alexander said,

You have a whole world built around you. And

can buy a lot of noi

elax around him completely. They cooked together. Play

ng softly on the roof, they sat close on th

hand slowly, like s

di

t hers, it was tender. Unrushed. The kind of ki

ack, and in that mome

she wasn't just falli

falling

eak right away

y rhythm of his heartbeat as the fire crackled nearby. His hand stroked slow circles ov

emotions like a fortress. For once

elt like he neede

ch, wrapped in a thick sweater and watching the wind tease the trees. She heard Alexander step up beside

t I expected,"

ood thing or

fusing

he porch railing. "

se with which he asked, no h

what made her

ust need time. Space

you need," he said. "Just d

. "Not if you prom

way

them would understand the

hanged. There was still distance-respectful, thoughtful-but it was filled with a new

ér Isabella at work or anywhere, he calls her "Princess", it's more like saying he is a

they were just business partners or two souls romantically attracted to eacho

e something she can't really explain, if superpowers were real, she'd have chosen to be someone who can

eryone that this "Princess" was special to him, as a father would do to his daughter whom he greatly values and sees as his cute

-

just-volunteer would be, she was like his ears, his thoughts, his oracle. Whatever made him trusts her so much, she doesn't kno

ediately apart by class and status-she's just a girl, a hustling girl who happened to get to thi

zed constantly, friends from the education circuit, old mentors, even the dean of her gra

answers vague

falling for the man behind the empire

ingsley Innovations, and the following at Kingsley Enterprise. Kingsley Innovations was her home, but Alexander is giving her enough power to spr

ything she'

ye

it became to separate her growing love for t

ander caught her alone in the hallway. Everyone else had left.

today," he sai

's starting to feel like i

e said. "You've

ld have picked anyone, Alexander. Harvard grads.

toward h

used to be," he said. "Hungry. F

lowed. "

inches from her, "you remind

en them was thick

hing," he

id," she

f

I want it. How much I'

g her face like she was s

never be the man who takes your dreams away

actually deeper and, slower,

ersel

erything w

pering about their partnership, about the "rags-to-r

ring their growing relationship and wishing for their kind of chemistry in their own personal relationships or luck just lik

eal all the spotlight that countless others have been trying for years to get to, what has she done to a billio

g play out itself, rather than bothering herself

taken. Headl

fluence comes the war, o

tures c

ons to find an envelope waiting at her desk. Insid

re just temporary distractions for me

omach

nothing. But the words clung to her all da

Alexander's call. Or the nex

after a week of cold distan

eded space

w right t

d?" he asked.

e tight. "An anonymous letter. Pr

. "What di

m just a

hed. "And you

this goes, Alexander. Powerful men. Gi

ontrolled. "You thin

le like you a

back like s

sabella wondered if she'd

else was pulling strings behind the scenes. Someone who didn't like Alexander's

was already se