Arranged to Love You: A SLOW BURN BILLIONAIRE ROMANCE

New York City The city never really slept, but Ariana Jones had learned to. Her small apartment window opened to the symphony of New York distant car horns, the hum of subway trains beneath the street, and the occasional siren cutting through the night. She pulled her cardigan tighter around her shoulders as she sat on the edge of her bed, staring at the unopened letter resting on her nightstand. She had moved into this medium-sized apartment only six months ago, determined to start over. Independent. Untethered. Unseen. It wasn’t glamorous, but it was hers her own little sanctuary away from the chaos of her past. The kitchen was small but cozy, the living room big enough for one person, and the bedroom held a softness that felt safer than any place she had lived before. Still, the memories lingered. Her fingers brushed against the envelope. She knew the handwriting sharp, deliberate strokes, cold and precise. Xavier Williams. Even three years later, the name could unravel her. Ariana pushed the letter away, forcing herself to stand. She had a shift early in the morning at the café down the block before heading to her interview at Gregory Vance’s company. The thought of working in an actual office again made her chest tighten, but she needed the stability. She needed something steady something that wasn’t haunted by a man like Xavier. She crossed the room, turning off the light. In the dark, she whispered to herself like a ritual. “You’re free now, Ariana. You’re free.” --- London The Williams Tower penthouse overlooked the Thames, city lights shimmering against the river like scattered diamonds. Inside, the air smelled faintly of smoke. Xavier Williams sat on the balcony, cigarette balanced between his fingers, a glass of whiskey untouched beside him. The smoke curled upward, blurring the edge of his profile in the moonlight. His suit jacket hung over the chair, his tie loose around his neck, but even in disarray, he carried an aura of untouchable power. For three years, he had buried himself in work, drowning in endless meetings, acquisitions, and boardroom wars. To the world, he was ruthless an empire-builder who turned everything he touched into gold. But in the quiet hours of the night, when the city was still, he was a man haunted by a woman’s absence. Ariana. The name echoed like a ghost in his chest. He inhaled deeply, the nicotine burning his lungs, and exhaled with a low chuckle that held no humor. “You always did know how to disappear, didn’t you?” He had searched. God, he had searched. Across countries, through every connection, he had tried to find her. But she had vanished, slipping through his fingers like smoke. And it infuriated him, because Xavier Williams wasn’t a man accustomed to losing. Especially not her. He downed the whiskey in one swallow and crushed the cigarette in the ashtray. Somewhere deep inside, he knew the world wasn’t finished with them. Fate was cruel like that. --- New York City Morning light painted Ariana’s apartment gold. She stood at her mirror, adjusting the collar of her blouse. Today was important. Gregory Vance’s company wasn’t just another job; it was her chance to prove to herself that she could stand on her own again. Her phone buzzed with a reminder: Interview, 10 AM. Ariana took a deep breath, slipped her heels on, and grabbed her bag. She locked the door behind her and stepped into the hum of New York’s morning rush. The air was crisp, filled with the smell of roasted chestnuts and strong coffee from the vendor on the corner. She didn’t notice the man across the street staring at her with narrowed eyes. He tapped his phone, murmuring into it quietly. “She’s here. Just like we thought.” --- London Xavier’s phone vibrated against his desk as he reviewed a set of contracts. He almost ignored it until he saw the message. She’s been spotted. New York. Working under Gregory Vance. The pen in his hand stilled. His jaw tightened, and a storm gathered in his gaze. Three years. Three years of silence, distance, unanswered questions. And now, Ariana Jones was working for one of his newest business partners. Xavier leaned back in his chair, a slow smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. It wasn’t amusement it was something sharper, darker. “Running again, Ariana?” he muttered. “We’ll see how long you last this time.” The city outside his glass walls moved on, unaware. But for Xavier Williams, the game had just begun.