The Billionaire's Little Princess

ad never fel

morning light spilled across the Manhattan skyline. The golden hues danced over her face, but insi

the company had ever seen. The education initiative had been splashed across media outlets, praised for its in

at was

the l

between them like a wall neither s

between them, she just wanted to forget about everything f

en to Alexander

nal acknowledgments during press briefings. But the glances that once lingered now darted away. The tension that h

d her fingertip

letter anymore. It was

ealousy.

aking a difference was as simple as showing up and doing the work.

s a k

cs, its secrets, its silent wars

e'd thought. And someone

ass door to her of

ve me a second, I'll

Then a voice, lower and more

wed you a real

fr

his face, casting his eyes into a deeper shade of stormy blue. His suit was immaculate, as

" he asked, his voic

Then she nodded on

d

to echo louder than expected, sealing

ze steady, but not pressing. He di

feet away and simply asked

eath c

to dodge the question asked with the faintest edge in her

to her. Alexander has proven himself more than needed that he's not ready to treat her just like a fleeting thing

dn't waver. "I know the kind of impact a few well-placed words c

s wrapping around he

as being used. That this whole thing between us was some

er's ja

You should never have h

sked, lifting her eyes to his.

space. "It would have mattered to me. I would've kn

retched be

it's someone in

just a jealous note from some bitter socialite. This wa

n they're probably watch

lowered.

a looke

d her, infuriated her, admired her. The man who held more power than anyone she'd ever kno

aid softly.

, Alexander allowed the corner

as it had come, replaced by that hard glint in his eyes, the

ating somethi

estion. It was a declaration. One he was already fo

ng to ignore the jolt in her chest that cam

But you didn't say yo

rself. She felt like the ground beneath her was shifting constantly, like

r. Not to be some pawn in a corporate

r, his tone sharper now. "You're a threat.

ked. "A

Presence. People listen to you. And you have my a

as infuriating and strange

make me feel better?" sh

make you fe

art th

them. Like power wasn't something she had to ea

up at him. "I don't want to become someo

on't let them chase you out either.

er harder than

lo

it been since

oked at her and saw more than ambitio

saw

est of the bu

itting a little str

a moment longer, t

n his expression now, prid

ne buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out, glan

she asked, i

. Emergency b

. "Is somet

he answer didn't come immediatel

door, he paused, his hand on the handle. "Keep your he

n he wa

d with the ghosts of their conversation, the possibi

again. The city hadn't change

just surviv

o understand the ru

st time, she wa

carefully veiled conversations that made Isabella feel like she was constantly bei

n of the office, something ste

so

going anywh

e sealed white envelope that still sat in the drawer of her desk. She hadn't thrown it away. Not ye

e words again. They were e

esn't care

ability he's too distr

safe here

nce

al buried inside the nickname. Whoever wrote it knew exactly what they wer

herself. She hadn't grown up behind gates or attended prep schools. She'd come from a modes

words could scare her away,

errupted he

glanced u

ant, Tami, peeked in. "There's someone

nked. "My...

ip. "Do you want me to tel

's fine. Se

little by age stepped inside . Dressed in clean but modest clothes, he looked compl

eart," he s

hug him. "What are you doing here? I thought yo

ou really think your mother and I wer

ild all week, speculating about her sudden rise in Kingsley

ad

taking her hands. "I'm here to remin

oat tig

firm now. "If he doesn't treat you with respect, if this place tries

odded, eye

e continued, softer now,

ted. "Some days I feel like I'm fly

t's how you know you're

You always say

ant to hover, but maybe you and I can get dinner tonight? Your mom

tension in her shoul

'd love

d back. "We'll meet you at seven. Just don

her heart fuller tha

ity was a b

had he

n ever, she would fight to stay i

se she de

ner was exactly

nothing fancy, but charming enough to feel like a slice of home. The woman who

e felt and experience is just like from biological parents, it wouldn't be an overstatement if it is said that the love was more than that that biological parents co

er etched in her, she concluded that perhaps fate knows best and has decided to console her by providing her with a replica of her own biological parents. She would leave the

d a mug of tea in front of her mother. The mom

anding and pulling Isabella int

, M

nd gentle teasing. For a while, Isabella forgot about the company politics, t

a pawn, a threa

simply

an with the chiseled jawline and brooding e

e asked, a lit

hey used, the chemistry was practically melting the

r eyes, laughing.

ame boss who came to your defense in

uttered. "Ho

said with a shru

ust be careful, sweetheart. Not eve

ella said. "Bu

eted and the surgery was successful too, although she's still resting due to the effects of the surgery. Her paren

your free time," Her mother further added

g too: the politics at work, the weight of responsibility sh

thing too. She could have taken some time off, but taking "some time" would mea

, both how cruel and amazing life has been and also about men, yes that gist was one of the girls' major interests. They would laug

pany of family. Unlike her parents who'd come and leave anytime, she can't do that, quality time with

ses to visit more often. By the time Isabella ret

er window, staring out

threats we

games woul

as, and she wasn't going to

ss. And not w

-

rprise awaited her the mome

her desk,

, but a sleek, black box with her na

stared at

te. N

she opene

icate and glimmering in the morning light. It wasn't gaudy o

ing...

esitated as s

d again.

d to wonder wh

xan

hone

oing to need that today. Boa

eath c

warning he

ng her into t

was arm

-

executives, shareholders, and more sharks in suits than she could count. Her hair was

n't introduce

n't ne

ke for

every rebuttal: measur

ed to undermine her analysis, she smiled sweetly and

ting, no one question

Alex

't spea

anced his way, she fo

an observing

who'd just dis

d in the private elevator on their

re bril

er arms. "I

he repeated, stepping

lifted. "

room who thought they

nged, but neith

oice quieter now. "They'll c

e. "Then I'll h

real smile, rare

oo

ot before brushing his fin

't an a

s a p

between them, Isabella re

st playing hi

arning how

the cool wind threading through her hair. She stared at the skyline, towers of power and

differe

t a bystander.

t both thrilled

e her, a familiar name

der Ki

ted before

el

voice velvet and low, laced with exhaustion... and

er legs beneath h

se. T

oud of yo

he expected to hear. Wa

t," she replied, thou

you walked into today. The kind of people you

ly. "I didn't fe

And that unnerved them more th

, the air between them cha

y me, Alexander? Why bring me

ough that she wondered

you see through the smoke. And because somewhere along t

art sk

ot a con

the closest

away. Instead, she whis

put you in that r

not what

le

"No. N

ht it would. Because in that moment, she rea

was shifting

reful. I

the hairpin," s

eplied. "It reminded

who's

her

tle pri

ne wen

hun

words

the call ended, her fingers brushing the

it as a mock

like it w

rea

lt it again, that giddy, t

in d

in p

into

ake or the beginning of s

't going

anym