The billionaire's reckless heart

Chapter 3: The Arrangements

The next morning, I promised myself I would never see Alexander Blackwood again.

It was a comforting thought.

Unfortunately, life had other plans.

I had barely finished my coffee when my phone rang.

"Hello?"

"Is this Miss Emma?"

I frowned.

"Yes."

"This is Mr. Blackwood's office. Mr. Blackwood would like to see you immediately."

I nearly choked on my coffee.

"Tell Mr. Blackwood I'm busy."

There was a pause.

"He's aware."

My eyes narrowed.

"How?"

Another pause.

"He knows everything about the people who work for him."

Of course he did.

Alexander Blackwood probably knew what I had for breakfast before I even ate it.

"I'm not going."

The woman sighed.

"Miss Emma, if you don't come, he'll come to you."

I froze.

That sounded exactly like something Alexander would do.

"Fine."

I hung up.

---

Two hours later, I stood outside Alexander's office again.

I hated that my heart was beating faster.

I knocked.

"Come in."

That voice.

Deep.

Calm.

Dangerously familiar.

I opened the door.

Alexander was standing beside the windows with his back toward me.

He wore a charcoal suit today, his sleeves slightly rolled up.

He turned.

Our eyes met.

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

Then his gaze slowly travelled over me.

I crossed my arms.

"Why am I here?"

His eyes returned to mine.

"Sit."

"No."

One eyebrow lifted.

"You're still difficult."

"And you're still arrogant."

A small smile tugged at his lips.

"Good. I was beginning to worry you had changed overnight."

I refused to react.

"What do you want?"

Alexander walked toward his desk and picked up a folder.

"I want you to work for me."

I blinked.

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me."

"I already have a job."

"Not anymore."

My mouth dropped open.

"You fired me?"

"No."

He placed the folder in front of me.

"I bought the company."

I stared at him.

"You what?"

"The company you work for was struggling financially. I acquired it this morning."

My jaw nearly hit the floor.

"You can't just buy someone's company because you want to control me."

"I didn't buy it because of you."

"Then why?"

His expression suddenly became serious.

"Because I need someone I can trust."

I laughed.

"You barely know me."

"I know enough."

His eyes held mine.

"You don't lie."

I frowned.

"And how exactly do you know that?"

"Because yesterday, when you had every reason to flatter me, you insulted me instead."

I couldn't help it.

A small smile escaped me.

"Maybe I'm just rude."

"I considered that."

"And?"

"I decided I like it."

My smile disappeared.

He walked closer.

Too close.

I could smell his cologne.

"There's something else," he said.

"What?"

"I need you to accompany me to a business event tonight."

I stared at him.

"Why?"

"Because someone will be watching."

"Who?"

His expression hardened.

"I don't know yet."

A chill ran down my spine.

"What does that have to do with me?"

"Everything."

He stepped closer.

"You were seen with me yesterday."

My heart stopped.

"By who?"

"I don't know."

He reached into his desk and pulled out a photograph.

He placed it in front of me.

I picked it up.

It was a picture of me leaving his building.

Someone had taken it from across the street.

My stomach tightened.

"When was this taken?"

"Yesterday."

I looked up at him.

"Alexander..."

"I know."

His voice softened.

"For the first time, I don't think you're safe simply because you walk away from me."

I stared at him.

For once, there was no arrogance in his eyes.

Only concern.

Real concern.

And somehow that scared me more.

"What aren't you telling me?"

His jaw tightened.

"Nothing that concerns you."

"That's a lie."

His eyes darkened.

"You don't know me well enough to call me a liar."

"Then tell me the truth."

Silence filled the room.

Finally, Alexander looked away.

"Someone from my past has returned."

"Who?"

"I don't know."

"You said the same thing yesterday."

"Because I still don't know."

He turned toward me.

"But whoever it is..."

His eyes locked onto mine.

"They know how to hurt me."

I swallowed.

"And now they know about me."

"Yes."

My hands tightened around the photograph.

"So what exactly do you want me to do?"

Alexander walked toward me.

His voice dropped.

"Stay close to me."

My heart skipped.

"That's your solution?"

"It's the safest place you can be."

I stared at him.

"You're asking me to trust you."

"No."

He stopped inches away from me.

"I'm asking you to trust that I won't let anyone hurt you."

I didn't know what to say.

Because for the first time, I saw something behind the cold billionaire everyone feared.

A wounded man.

A lonely man.

A man who was terrified of losing control.

And despite every warning screaming inside my head...

I wanted to know his story.

I wanted to know what had broken him.

I wanted to know why Alexander Blackwood looked at me like I was the one thing he couldn't afford to want.

And that was the moment I realized something terrifying.

I wasn't falling for him.

Not yet.

But I was getting dangerously close.