Billionaire’s Beloved: Handle With Care

Boardroom Showdown

The morning sunlight poured through the towering glass walls of the boardroom, glinting off the polished table.

Lin Xia paused at the entrance, taking a deep breath. She could feel the weight of the room before stepping inside. Her heels clicked sharply on the marble floor, each echo louder than the last—a rhythm that matched the frantic thumping of her heart.

Before entering, she had ducked into the restroom to practice her expression. The mirror reflected the slightly pale, exhausted face of a woman who hadn’t slept a full night in days. Her dark circles reminded her of the relentless demands she faced, yet Lin Xia squared her shoulders and whispered to herself: No mistakes. Not here. Not now.

The Stage Is Set

The boardroom was already buzzing with quiet murmurs. Yan Fei sat smugly, the faint scent of her expensive perfume floating in the air like a subtle attack. Lin Xia caught the way she glanced at her, eyes flicking to the faint bruise on her ankle from yesterday’s stumble, the ever-present reminder of her vulnerability.

Lin Xia’s tablet lay before her, screen glowing with the carefully corrected report. Each number was a calculated response to the trap Yan Fei had set overnight. Across the table, the board members exchanged subtle glances, some curious, some skeptical. A couple of the older directors leaned back in their chairs, arms crossed, scrutinizing her with the practiced coldness of men who had seen countless assistants stumble.

Gu Tingche arrived last. He didn’t announce himself; the room seemed to contract around him as his dark eyes swept across the table, eventually resting on Lin Xia. She felt a shiver—not of fear, but of awareness. Every thought, every heartbeat, every subtle reaction of hers had become his observation.

Predator in the Open

“Lin Xia, the financial review,” the chairman prompted.

Her fingers danced across the tablet, presenting each correction with precision and clarity. She could sense Yan Fei’s growing agitation, every subtle smirk faltering as Lin Xia countered trap after trap with meticulous reasoning.

Under the polished table, Gu Tingche’s knee pressed against hers. The contact was deliberate, intimate, and possessive. The heat from his leg, the firmness of muscle beneath the suit, seared through the thin silk of her gown. Lin Xia’s breath hitched; her rational mind screamed to focus, but her body betrayed her, trembling slightly at his silent claim.

Verbal Sparring and Boardroom Drama

Yan Fei raised her voice, attempting to regain control.

“You’ve overlooked the projected loss in Q3. Are you confident in your adjustments?”

Lin Xia met the board, not Yan Fei, her voice calm but sharp.

“I’ve accounted for it in the revised cash flow allocation. The strategy mitigates risk without sacrificing liquidity. Please refer to page four.”

A ripple of approval moved around the table. Yan Fei’s smirk faltered entirely. Lin Xia’s heart pounded—not from victory, but from the weight of Gu Tingche’s gaze, a silent predator behind her. Even the oldest directors shifted uncomfortably under his attention, as if reminded that this was no ordinary meeting.

The Alpha’s Public Claim

When the meeting adjourned, most attendees trickled out. But Gu Tingche lingered. Instead of letting Lin Xia gather her things, he approached, brushing a hand along her shoulder—a subtle gesture visible enough to claim her presence in front of Yan Fei and the board.

He straightened the slightly wrinkled collar of her blouse with slow, deliberate movements. The board members noticed, their eyes widening at the dominance and intimacy of the act. Lin Xia felt heat rush to her cheeks. She couldn’t tell if the gesture was meant to protect her or to assert ownership, but either way, it cemented his claim in the open.

Black Envelope and Foreboding

As she began to leave, an assistant placed a black envelope on her desk. Lin Xia hesitated. The wax seal bore an intricate crest—an unfamiliar emblem etched with precision, sending a shiver through her fingers as she broke it open.

Inside was a single card: “Tomorrow, at the gala. Your skill will not be enough.”

Lin Xia’s pulse spiked. The test wasn’t over. It had merely shifted into a public, high-stakes arena where everything would be scrutinized, and every move could be used against her.

Cliffhanger

Walking toward the elevator, Lin Xia felt a strange thrill beneath the fear. Gu Tingche’s eyes were always there, even when he wasn’t physically present. Every decision she made, every glance she exchanged, every faltering breath—he claimed it all.

She tucked the card into her bag, trying to steady her racing heartbeat. The real game—the one that would determine her place by his side, in both power and desire—was only just beginning.