Billionaire ultimatum

CHAPTER 1 Jessa Damien White was living proof that evil existed. He had to be. Jessa Lowe sat at the opposite end of the room with a stiff smile on her face. That was what she referred to as her business smile, because let’s face it, business did not mix with pleasure whenever Mr. White came around. Almost everyone who ever did business with him said that. She just did not expect to see the reason so soon. “A merger you say?” he asked in that condescending tone of his, as if it should already be clear that said merger was not going to happen. Jessa did not like being the center of attention, but being the CEO of Lowe Inc., there was hardly anywhere to hide. Especially when the fate of her family legacy rested pathetically in her hands. She smiled now, even though doing so felt like a strain. “Yes. Is there a problem?” He beamed again. Scratch that: smirked. Damien White smirked. The fact that he was across the room did not deter the damn smile from getting on her nerves. What was so funny? Mr. White was the CEO of the international conglomerate Elpher, a chain of tech subsidiaries. He was tall, buff, and more often in a custom-made suit. Just like right now. When he first entered her company this morning, Damien already took his sweet time pissing her off. She could tell he was good at that. Leaning on the cupboard by the wall, Damien had run his fingers through his brown locks of hair. The man had a tall and commanding presence, his broad shoulders and well-defined chest giving him an air of authority. He moved with a sense of purpose and confidence, and his impeccably tailored suits accentuated the powerful frame beneath them. Damien had been talking to the company’s COO initially and even a blind man could have seen how much she enjoyed the conversation. The huge blush creeping from Miss Williams’ rosy cheeks to her slender neck said it all. It was not until he delayed her for forty-five minutes did he deem it fit to grant her an audience here. With that egotistical grin still in place, Damien rested in on the glass table separating them now. “I wouldn’t dream of it. Go on.” The boardroom was a modern, sleek space bathed in the soft glow of the city lights filtering through the floor-to-ceiling windows. She and Damien sat on opposite sides of a glossy, high-tech conference table. Damien possessed the kind of striking handsomeness that could turn heads in any room. With a square jawline that oozed arrogance, his chiseled features were accentuated by a perfectly sculpted nose and deep-set, piercing blue eyes that seemed to hold a world of secrets. His strong, expressive brows framed those eyes, adding a touch of intrigue to his gaze. Jessa bit her lip and looked away. Go on with what? “That’s the proposal. A merger.” Damien's pomposity was unmistakable, a smug grin playing on his mouth. “What makes you think I would want to merge with you?” “Mr. White, it will bring a unique synergy to your company's operations, with our innovative technology and extensive market reach. I believe a merger between Lowe and Inc. and your company can be mutually beneficial. ” “You mean one of my companies? Because I own a conglomerate, woman,” he told her with another smirk. Jessa resisted the urge to glare at it. She failed when he went further to mansplain, “Meaning I have several companies. You do know what a conglomerate means, don’t you?” “I know what a conglomerate means!” It came out a little louder than she planned. Jessa cleared her throat, forcing herself to regain some composure. “That is not why I went quiet.” It only seemed to fuel him, because the irritating curve of his lips widened. “Touchy, are we?” There was only one other person in the room and before now, Jessa could have sworn Anna faded into the background all through the conversation. How could she not? Mr. White’s ego was large enough to fill the entire floor and still have leftovers. “Forgive me, honey,” he told her now. “Perhaps we got off on the wrong foot. Let’s backtrack, shall we?” Her teeth bit into the edge of her lips in thought. Jessa knew that was pretty much the best apology she was ever going to get from someone like him. “Yes. we should get back on topic.” Everything about the man was magnetic but his eyes were on a whole new level. His dark, wavy hair had an unruly charm, often falling just slightly across his forehead, giving him a casual, yet well-groomed look. It was the kind of hair that hinted at a man who effortlessly exuded charisma. She was sure he’d never had a bad hair day in his life. He chuckled so she focused on his words instead. “Anytime today would be alright, sweetheart.” She winced. “Right.” “I'm aware of your company's current situation.Lowe and Inc. is on the brink of disaster, isn't it?" he told her, hitting the nail on the head. Jessa grimaced so hard she nearly reeled off her chair. He did not beat around the bush; that much was obvious. "That might be an exaggeration. I will not deny that we have faced some challenges. But we believe that merging with White & Sons (under Elpher) is the best way to ensure a bright future for both our organizations." "Why should I take on the burden of a sinking ship? It's not worth my time." "With the right resources and investment, Lowe and Inc. can flourish once more. We have valuable patents, and our team is second to none." "Valuable patents? Your little tech startup isn't exactly a game-changer, sweetheart." "We are not a startup. Our patents are worth a fortune. Imagine the possibilities." Damien did not look convinced. This was going horribly once again. “We could be partners.” "A partnership, huh? All I hear is you asking me to tango with a shipwreck of a company. Tell me: is this a desperate plea for help?" Jessa's voice trembled slightly as she replied, "We have valuable assets, and I believe a collaboration can help us both thrive." "Assets, what assets? It seems to me that you’re already drowning those assets in debt. Is that what you're trying to hide?" “We are not trying to hide anything. We are just not giving up.” "Determination. I can appreciate that. But let's not pretend this is anything more than a plea for a lifeline." Damien bent farther on the glass, a sly look on his face. "You're quite the optimist, Miss Lowe. Tell me, how much is Lowe and Inc. in debt? It's always good to know what kind of mess I'd be stepping into." "Debt can be managed. The important thing is that we have something valuable to offer, and with your support, we can rise above our current issues." “I'll need to see some concrete figures before we proceed." Jessa tore her gaze away from the reason she was currently having a bad day. The man in the immaculate blue suit. Anything— literally anything —would be better than staring at that man right now. Her scowl focused on Anna Bailey and how she sat cooped up in her seat as though stuck between a rock and a hard place. “Anna!” She jumped. “A little help here?” Anna looked frozen in place. Then she snapped out of it. “I don’t think it’s my place…” She trailed off and at that moment Jessa felt so helpless, that she almost turned back to Damien in panic. Luckily she stopped herself just in time. His eyes, however, were still fully trained on her. Jessa could feel it burrow into her skin. “Of course it’s your place. You’re the Business Analyst of Lowe and Inc. That is literally why you’re here.” Anna was a sweetheart but Jessa did not need her silence right now. She could use a helping hand here. The man was still staring. It bothered her, yes, but Jessa refused to give him the satisfaction of knowing that. “This is a negotiation. So—” “Leave the poor lady alone,” said you-know-who, butting in again. “You’re the Lowe here, aren’t you? The last time I checked it’s Lowe Inc. So talk to me.” “With all due respect, I was talking to my employee.” There was something in his eyes when she finally dragged her gaze back to him. Damien White sat clad in a navy blue suit, looking all high and mighty as if he were God’s gift to the earth. He had a few days’ worth of stubble on his chin and his dark hair was swept back lazily. Her scowl returned tenfold. “I’m aware. But I am talking to you.” The tension in the room was palpable as the two of them faced off, each holding their cards on the table. The fate of Lowe and Inc. hung in the balance, and Jessa knew that her company's survival depended on Damien's willingness to take the plunge into this uncertain merger. Only problem? Someone must have already tipped him off that they were knee-deep in bankruptcy. ~~ Jessa The air in the room was so thick you could slice it with a knife. Jessa fidgeted in her chair, desperately trying to hide her unease behind a stack of folders and a forced smile. She felt like a fish out of water, struggling to navigate the treacherous seas of business negotiations. This was not her first rodeo but this man certainly had a knack for making her feel like it was. "The uncertainty in your eyes is positively delightful, Jessa. But don't you worry, we're just getting started." Damien’s eyes gleamed with amusement, no doubt savoring every moment of her discomfort. His grin could have put a Cheshire cat to shame. Her fingers tapped nervously on the table, and she had to fight the urge to pull her hair out. “Fine. I’ll admit this company needs you. Tell me what I can do to make that happen.” The words burned her tongue as soon as she uttered them. Little did she know she’d live to regret them. CHAPTER 2 Damien It was a wrap the second he saw that buttoned-up outfit. Jessa Lowe was the quintessential working-class damsel in distress. And Damien meant that in the nicest way possible. There was a unique blend of vulnerability and resilience in that jittery demeanor of hers. It was as if she was both nervous and pissed off, yet struggling to hide either. A fascinating mix of contrasts, her fiery red hair cascaded in loose waves, a stark difference from the no-nonsense, professional demeanor she was trying to feign. Those emerald-green eyes held a hint of mischief, and her freckles added to her an endearing quality. He glanced at her from his end of the conference table. His tone dripped with amusement. “Do you mean that?” Damien kept his voice low and sultry. “You’re willing to do anything?” “Within reason, sure.” Her glasses were more duct tape than frames, her work desk was an organized chaos. Damien knew that because he’d stopped by her corner office before coming to the meeting. He liked getting a layout of what a person was like before going into business with them. What better way was there to do that besides observing where they often worked? It had been empty but Damien learnt a thing or two about her. He just didn’t factor in getting caught by the COO lady halfway. He’d been stuck in a tedious conversation afterward. “I’m sure you’re a busy man,” Jessa was saying to him now. “Surely you have better things to do than stare at me.” Despite knowing she just wanted to get this meeting over with, he told her, "Who can blame me? I can't help but enjoy our little detours. It's like a scenic route to our final destination. “I’d like to discuss the reason for your reluctance to warm up to me first.” "I'm not reluctant, Mr. White. I'm focused on saving my company. We still need to discuss the merger terms." Her lips were still doing that nibbling thing. The way she skipped right past the fact that the said merger was only going to happen when hell turned cold made him chuckle again. “Something funny?” “Yes. You.” She had a slender, delicate frame. Jessa’s fair skin had a slight, almost ethereal translucence, which made her appear fragile, almost otherworldly. Dressed in muted colors, her hair framed her face like a soft halo. Damien could not look away. Jessamine Lowe was everything the blogs described, however few of those articles seemed to be about her. She was lowkey, that much Damien could tell. In the present, Jessa’s jaw was halfway on the floor in shock. The sight was so amusing, that Damien almost broke character. Come on, it was a struggle keeping a straight face when she resembled a flustered pufferfish caught in a tangle of headphone wires. ~~~ Damien “Is there a reason you already hate me? Forgive me if I’m wrong, but don’t you need my help here?” “That is correct.” There it was again: that librarian diction, as though she just fell out of a Bridgerton movie sequel. Was she really going to act as if she did not snap at him only a couple of minutes ago? “I don’t hate you,” she quickly added. A blush crept up in her cheeks when she said it. “I mean—yes—no.” She sighed. “Yes, I need your help. But I do not hate you.” “Really?” Her teeth bit into her lower lip again. Damien knew she did that whenever she got flustered. Deciding to cut her some slack, he looked away. “What do you think?” he asked the other woman in the room. “Anna, was it?” Damien had never seen somebody turn red in the face so fast. She looked from him to her boss, then back to his face. "You remembered," she muttered, tucking a strand of hair behind one ear. "Yes, my name's Anna. anna Bailey" "Don’t you agree with me? Your boss does not like me very much." At first, she just stared. Two seconds later, Jessa snapped her fingers in her face till she jumped. "I—” She looked ready to air out whatever was in her mind before stopping herself short. “Of course not, sir. Who wouldn’t like you?” “Your boss doesn’t,” he answered flatly, looking straight into Anna’s eyes. She melted again. He stood up and went over to their end of the room. “I consider myself a good judge of character, Anna.” It was a large room. Clean, pristine, and well-furnished. His polished, black leather shoes tapped against the pristine, polished floor with purpose. The muted light fixtures overhead cast a warm, golden glow on the conference table, illuminating the organized clutter of documents and folders. Damien waltzed past the row of chairs by Anna’s right, heading straight for Jessa who was by her side. However, he made sure to drag the movement out, his slowness no doubt grating on Jessa’s nerves. “The first look your boss gave me this morning was one of derision. Why don’t we start with that?” Jessa snorted, before rushing to cover it up with a cough. “I wasn’t laughing.” Once again Anna blurred into the background. “I was speaking with your COO and you were glaring from across the room, for Christ’s sake. At that time, we had not even met yet.” She winced. “Glare is a strong word.” “It’s the right word though. Why were you glaring?” “I was not” Jessa's mouth pursed in a thin line, her fingers tapping nervously on the stack of folders in front of her. The seemingly composed demeanor was unraveling bit by bit, and Damien found it utterly entertaining. “Don’t do that, sweetheart. We both know you were glaring.” He was three feet from her seat now. Looking down at the side of her face, Damien noticed the tiny glint in her eyes. He was getting under her skin and boy, did he love it. Jessa shot him a look that could melt steel.“We can also agree that that is not the reason for this meeting. So why don’t we get back to it?” “I disagree. I think this is right on track.” “How do you figure that?” He kept that direct eye contact as he moved even nearer to her. “There’s something that I don’t quite understand here. I’m trying to get to the bottom of it. That’s all.” “See? That’s exactly what I—” “Nope. It’s important, alright. I can’t focus on what you’re saying if I’m confused, Miss Lowe.” “Fine.” “Tell me: why are you so hellbent on coming together with the company of someone you dislike so much?” Her mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water. “I told you. I don’t dislike you, Mr. White.” He was very near now. The proximity fueled his desire to tease her more. From this angle, he couldn't help but notice the subtle, unconscious shivers that betrayed her reaction to him. Jessa's breaths had become shallower, her chest rising and falling in a rhythm that mirrored the erratic fluttering of her gaze. He saw her green eyes dilate. “Your face is saying one thing, but those beautiful lips are saying something completely different. That’s the problem.” “So what do you say?” she asked ignoring his remark. “You won’t regret taking Lowe Inc. on.” Her mouth, slightly parted, had taken on a more inviting curve. Her body, which had initially stiffened in response to his presence, began to relax, albeit subtly, as if her defenses were slowly melting away. And then there was the way she kept shifting her weight, gently moving closer and then farther, as if caught in the magnetic pull of a certain chemistry. Her fingers occasionally brushed against her thigh or smoothed the fabric of her skirt. Almost as soon as he came close, Damien retracted his body from her side. In one smooth motion, he stood upright, then made to leave. “It’s not you, sweetheart. But it’s going to take more than a gorgeous face to make me merge with a dying company.” Damien strode out of the room before either of them could say anything else. “The answer’s no.” CHAPTER 3 Jessa She stormed into the open-plan office at Lowe Inc. the next morning with a certain queasiness gnawing into the pit of her belly. It was one of those days, and Jessa’s employees could practically feel the tension radiating from her. She was not an irate person, but Damien White managed to dig that side of her out within a couple of hours. Jessa could recall the day before clearly: his taunts, his jokes, and his arrogance. Without even noticing, her lips fell into a deep frown. His smugness alone was out of this world. As Jessa made her way past cubicles and rows of workstations, her usually warm smile was nowhere to be seen. She approached Brian, a software engineer deep in thought at his desk. Without a word, Jessa snatched a forgotten coffee cup from his desk, her irritation evident as she took a sip. Brian flinched, but he knew better than to ask her about it. Even the usually chatty receptionist, felt the shift in the air. Jessa's curt nod and clipped response made her rethink any conversation she had planned as she hurried past them all. On the flip side, Anna has been right behind her since she stepped out of her Cadillac. The glass door gently hitting its frame behind her told her that Anna was still there. She ignored all her random outbursts. Spinning around, Jessa faked a smile. “Hey, babe.” “You look like shit.” Jessa felt so wound-up already that she could not even react to the insult. “Gee, thanks,” she muttered dryly. Anna was a sharpshooter; said exactly what she was feeling all the time. That was why yesterday’s shitshow was such a shock. It was unlike her friend to be that timid: that was usually Jessa’s forte. “Don’t shoot the messenger,” she exclaimed, putting both palms up in mock surrender. “Just telling it how I see it.” “Of course you are.” Jessa laughed for the first time in over twenty-four hours. Being stuck in a meeting with an asshole for hours would do that to a person. There was no reason to get upset. This was just Anna being Anna. That thought lasted only five seconds before Jessa’s face reverted to a scowl. “But damn, girl! That man was fine!” Anna suddenly yelled as if she’d been waiting for the right moment all day. She made sure to emphasize the last word. Jessa’s friend might as well be on cloud nine, if that irritating grin dancing on her face was any indication. The man was not even in the room and she was back to being the Blushing Jane from yesterday. “What the hell is wrong with you? He’s a client. The only person that can save us from this mess.” Jessa did not have to turn back to know Anna would be rolling her eyes. In the office or otherwise, the latter never cared that she was her boss and the CEO of her workplace. However, now that she glanced at the stupid smile on Anna’s face, she quickly corrected herself. Timid was not the right word. Smitten was more like it. Anna looked neurotic. “You don’t need to remind me, boss,” she quipped. “I’m just saying—” “He is arrogant and very annoying. Why are you smiling?” “Smiling is a crime now?” Jessa gave her a deadpan look. It was a crime when he was the reason. “You need to relax. He didn’t even do anything, damn.” “Are you serious? He taunted me throughout and you, instead of helping me out, just sat there blushing.” “Easy, tiger. It was hot in the room. I wasn’t blushing! What do you take me for?” It took everything in Jessa not to hiss in irritation. Who in their right mind could be attracted to that self-serving jerk? Of course, Jessa also willfully ignored the memory that popped up in her head: her yesterday. All but leaning into Damien’s embrace, yearning for something other than his breath to touch her body. “You were practically drooling, Anna. It was embarrassing.” Like the entire situation was not bad enough, Anna folded again, blossoming all over like an over-tan lovestruck schoolgirl. Jessa shook her head. “Give me a break, Jess. I know you like to act so innocent all the time, but I’m sure you were thinking the same thing too.” This time around, Jessa did hiss in her face. That was ridiculous. “In your dreams, girl. Some of us actually have some self-respect, you know.” It did not help her argument that her mind decided to remind her of him at that moment. Jessa remembered how a faint blush had tinged her cheeks when her body shifted in response to his presence. Her posture became just a touch more rigid, a subconscious attempt to maintain her composure in the face of her libido putting her to shame. “In that case, I’m sure you wouldn’t have any problem with my news,” Anna told her as she stood up. “What news?” “Damien White, the smoke-show, has asked to see you again today, boss. I hope you’re ready to flaunt that sexy self-respect once more. I’m sure he’ll be blown away.” Jessa froze. Wait, what? CHAPTER 4 Jessa The day turned worse at precisely 2 pm. Damien walked into the Lowe Inc. office building, his presence immediately catching everyone's attention. The ladies around especially, were smiling even wider than Anna had the day before. On a normal day, Jessa would reprimand a guest for not making an appointment beforehand, but this was no ordinary visitor. Her fate, quite literally, rested in his hands. "Mr. White, this is a surprise. I didn't expect to see you again so soon." The binder of the merger proposal was still clenched in her hands as she stood up to receive him. Anna was not here today— Jessa already learned from her mistake the first time. “Call me Damien. Something tells me I’ll be seeing a lot more of you.” Damien came up behind her. Gingerly, of course, because how else could he make it clear that he was annoying? Jessa could not decide whether that was a good thing or not. "I apologize for the sudden visit,” he continued, taking a seat opposite her. “I've been thinking about our previous meeting." "You have? That's... unexpected." "Indeed. I must admit, you intrigued me. That doesn’t happen often." “Am I supposed to be flattered?” came out before Jessa could bite her tongue. The edge of Damien’s mouth curled up for the first time today. “Mr. White—” “Damien. I insist.” “Damien.” Tight smile. “Why do I intrigue you?” “I don’t think you want to know that.” Damien shamelessly raked his eyes up and down her figure— at least as far as the desk allowed —and that was all Jessa needed to know. “That’s inappropriate, Damien,” she told him, rolling her eyes. The subtle innuendos in their conversation only intensified the atmosphere. Damien's gaze remained locked on Jessa's, and he seemed unrelenting in his pursuit of pissing her off. The smirk widened. “I didn’t even say anything yet.” The glint in his eyes turned into one of fake innocence. “What were you thinking?” Jessa's heart raced. She ignored it. "Are you here to give us a second chance?" "Precisely. I believe Lowe Inc. has a little potential to thrive. Perhaps I could to explore the possibilities of a collaboration." Damien was saying the right words, but his eyes were amused. Jessa hated that it got her flustered. It was like there was something underlying what he was saying— something only he knew. As Jessa and Damien sat in the boardroom, the s****l tension between them was undeniable, lingering just beneath the surface like an electrifying current. They both tried to focus on the business at hand, yet their mutual attraction simmered in the background. His gaze didn't waver as he focused on her. His voice lowered before growing more intimate. "I appreciate your willingness to reconsider. Our software uses a unique natural language processing algorithm, allowing it to understand and respond to customer inquiries with unprecedented accuracy. “It can adapt to various industries, making it highly versatile. A collaboration with your company would be a significant opportunity for us. It’s a win-win situation." His eyes remained on her, not wavering once as she spoke. "Interesting. Innovation is a key factor in today's business landscape. What kind of projects are you currently working on?" "We're focused on a new AI-driven software that has the potential to revolutionize customer service in various industries. It's a project we believe could be a game-changer." The boardroom seemed to shrink around them. There was a charged atmosphere, an unspoken tensity that simmered beneath the surface. Their eyes locked across the table, as the air crackled with an energy that neither of them could ignore. Damien's eyes lingered on her, his tone suggestive when he muttered, “I like it when you get all bossy.” He couldn't help the surge of desire as he recognized these unspoken cues. It was a living, breathing entity, and it was clear that Jessa was not immune to its pull. Damien was tempted to see just how far this dance would go. Her voice was steady, but she couldn’t help getting lost in his deep blue eyes. Jessa could have slapped herself. What the hell was wrong with her? “We've worked hard to improve and refine our operations since our last meeting.” "I can see that, and it hasn't gone unnoticed. Lowe Inc. seems to be in a slightly better position that a couple of months ago. Keyword: slightly." Her eyes narrowed. Didn’t they already discuss all this in length the day before? There was no way not to pick up the hidden meaning in his words. He was making fun of her. Jessa felt a flush of heat rise to her cheeks, but she refused to back down. “We spoke yesterday. My company is suddenly a safe bet within that 24-hour difference?” “Let’s just say I’m willing to take the risk.” That annoying grin was still firmly in place. “You managed to convince me. Congratulations.” She was over all his