Wounded Heart.

f the hotel window, trying to calm my racing thoughts. Of all the employees Alex could have chosen for this trip. In a few hours, we'd be meeting

been stuck sharing his suite due to a booking error-at least, that's what his

ng from the window. "The media calls him the 'King of Eur

more than my yearly rent, his dark hair slightly damp

y words carefully. "His reputation...

ped closer, too cl

e need this deal. DuPont's backing would op

ot what I

ctically French royalty in the business world. His family had been shaping European economics since

oking the Seine-a building his great-grandfather had commissione

ld bend to his will. His handshake with Alex was firm, calculated. Wh

ey and privilege. "You've brought such an exquisite companio

t," Alex's correction was sharp enough to cut gla

company's market expansion last quarter was remarkable, Mr.

urope's most powerful men, but his eyes kept straying from my p

ze hadn't touched the screen in minutes. "We should continue o

ex cut in. His voice was calm, but I s

urely you understand how business is done in Europe. Th

fore I could respond,

id quietly. Too quietly. It was the

him that way. Not to the man who could

rdo

in that same deadly tone, "this merger

ont's influence could destroy us in the European mark

ng coldly. "You're so dramatic

do you know who I am? Because if this gets out-how you treat women in m

atening me, A

world is changing, DuPon

aterials. "Your reputation may rule Eu

o tight I worried he might crack teeth. When we reached the lobb

you o

x, his influence... he could de

earched my face. "To hell with his in

our co

make me choose between my company and your

tone made my ches

bby. Anyone could see us. One photo of this moment cou

worth billions

e wort

's most powerful tech mogul, with morning sunlight streaming

cleared b

nt's secretary staring at us

. He says... he's impressed by American bo

mine, squeezing

is hand tighter. "L

e for a long mome

get

of my hand. And I realized that somewhere between New York and Paris, between professi

nd reputation ruled everything, were we re