THE BILLIONAIRE ULTIMATUM

EY'S E

no one had opened in years, trophies of a man who built his empire on power plays and ruthless choices. Harrison Grey s

his voice low but edged with finality. "The futu

er with such brutal certainty. "I already told you," he shot back, heat rising in

art of this family. She has no standing, no name, no influence. She offers you

ess? Loving someone who actually g

love? You're a Grey. Your life isn't yours, Alexander. It belongs to this legacy. To what I bui

the words tasted bitter. He did owe the family, the

I'll strip you of your inheritance, every share, every right as heir, and I'll hand

er brother. Ethan, who had always been the second son, the backup. The idea

, but his voice lacked the con

l. "Try me. Keep seeing that girl, and

curled into fists at his sides. He wanted to shout, to overturn the desk, to tear down every reminder of the empire his father wo

RDIN RES

ight, and hushed conversations. The maître d' had personally led Avery Thompson to a private dining ro

he empty chair across from her. A flute of champagne rested untouched beside her plate. If anyone else had kept her waiting, she might have co

e of a woman who had grown up in boardrooms and banquets, a woman who underst

s finall

eared in headlines. Tall, sharp-suited, dark hair slightly mussed as though he had run a hand through it on t

id, his voice deep, smooth,

s without flinching. "Punctuality speaks of respect

ut not quite. "In my world, power sp

ery countered softly, lifting her glass

she had scolded him, plenty of people tried but because she hadn't raised her vo

he said finally, lean

"If that feels like preparation, pe

r thick with unspoken challenge. Finally, Alexander broke eye contact, scanning the list half-heartedly before

ander rested his elbows on the t

hy we're he

families. To see if the heirs of Grey Conglomerate and Thompson

at her bluntnes

e a case file she needed to analyze. "Are you planning to sabotage

le, shaking his head. "You

s union strengthens both families. But I'm not here to be a pawn. I'm here to see

ross from Alexander tried to impress him, to flatter him, to mold t

iage either," he said fin

isn't a matter of want. It's a matter of duty. And unlike you, Mr. Grey

d, his gaze darkening.

tion precedes you. Ruthless in business, u

voice dropped lower, edged with something dangerou

I'm the only one in this room who understands that thi

t of their words lingered. Plates were set, wine poured, and once again the

ll me, Avery Thompson. Do you plan to play the obedient heires

his gaze before answering. "No. I plan to be seen. I plan to lead. And if tha

slow smile spread across hi

at I expected,

ply, taking her bite.

dinner talk. Alexander pushed, provoked, tested her boundaries. Avery answered ever

food. The real feast had been in their exchange, the challenge, the sparks

on, his expression unreadable. "This isn't over, Avery

ng her dress. "I wouldn't wa

glance the lines were drawn between duty

this was only