The Cold Billionaire's Unexpected Love

Chapter 2

Author’s POV

Thirteen hours ago…

The rhythmic thud of shoes against the treadmill filled the air as Aric Stone maintained his steady pace, his focus split between the screen of tablet in his hand and the rhythmic motion of his feet.

The wall clock in the room showed that it’s six in the morning.

The large TV mounted on the wall of his private gym broadcasted the morning’s breaking news, the anchor’s polished voice cutting through the background noise.

“Breaking news: The woman who recently claimed to be pregnant with billionaire businessman Aric Stone’s child has been exposed as a fraud. Investigations reveal that she lied about the pregnancy and was paid by an unidentified source to spread these allegations. Mr. Stone’s legal team has declined any settlement and announced their intention to take the matter to court, sending a clear message that anyone attempting to tarnish his reputation will face dire consequences.”

Aric’s gaze remained locked on his tablet as he scanned through his emails, his chiseled features betraying no hint of emotion.

He was used to being the subject of headlines, and this was just another ripple in the vast ocean of his life.

Finishing his emails and replying to some of the important ones, he placed the tablet on the console and adjusted the treadmill’s speed, increasing the intensity of his workout.

His powerful strides matched the machine’s rhythm, the sharp sound of his breathing filling the spacious room.

Drenched in sweat, he kept his stride steady, his piercing gray eyes fixed on the digital screen in front of him. The numbers climbed steadily—calories burned, miles completed—each one a small testament to his relentless discipline.

This was Aric Stone—a man whose name was synonymous with power and success.

At twenty six, he was epitome of power and control, a man who commanded respect without uttering a word.

The richest businessman in the country, he wasn’t just admired; he was coveted. Handsome, ruthless, and unattainable, he lived by a simple creed: perfection was non-negotiable. Whether in business or personal matters, he tolerated no mistakes, no threats, and certainly no gold diggers.

The woman in question was no exception. A pawn in someone else’s game, she had underestimated him.

His competitors thought they could smear his reputation with a cheap ploy, but they were mistaken. Aric Stone wasn’t a man to be outmaneuvered. He was the one who set the rules, and anyone foolish enough to cross him would learn that lesson the hard way.

The treadmill beeped, signaling the end of his morning run. Aric slowed his pace before stepping off, grabbing a towel from a nearby rack.

As he wiped the sweat from his brow, he allowed himself a fleeting glance at his reflection in the mirror-lined wall. His t-shirt clung to his sculpted physique, a body honed through years of disciplined effort.

Everything about him screamed success—the tailored gym wear, the precision of his movements, the cold determination in his eyes.

His piercing gray eyes, his God like face, and his AS Empire which he built with his own hard work, were the things that made him the most famous bachelor in the country. He was not only famous for his looks and money. His intellect and his work were equally appreciated.

After wiping his sweat and taking his tablet in his hand, Aric swung open the door and walked out of his gym. He came into his living room and it’s beauty screamed nothing but modern opulence.

Grabbing his freshly brewed coffee from his kitchen, he headed to his bedroom to prepare for the day.

As he strode through the marble-clad hallway, his phone buzzed in his pocket. He answered without breaking stride.

“Morning, Mr. Stone,” came the voice of his secretary, Blake, steady and efficient as always.

“Morning,” Aric replied, stepping into his room.

“The meeting with Kings has been rescheduled to 10 a.m. as per your instructions. I’ve also cleared your evening schedule for the event.”

“Good,” Aric said, placing his coffee mug on nightstand table. “Clear my schedule for tomorrow as well. I’ll be accompanying my sister to the hospital.”

“Understood,” Blake confirmed. “Is there anything else?”

“About hiring a new P.A.,” Blake began cautiously.

“Leave it to HR,” Aric cut in, his tone firm. “But make sure they don’t repeat last time’s mistake.”

“Of course,” Blake replied, sensing the finality in Aric’s voice. “I’ll handle it.”

The call ended, and Aric tossed the phone onto the bed, his jaw tightening at the memory.

Aric’s jaw tightened as his thoughts drifted to his previous personal assistant. It had only been two weeks since she’d joined the company, and she’d already crossed every line of professionalism.

A week ago, he’d walked into his office to find her sprawled across his desk in a state of undress, her intentions all too clear. Another gold digger trying to climb into the bed of a rich man, he had thought with disdain.

He has encountered many of them in past few years, since his business started seeing great results in the market.

And no matter how much time passes, his hatred for gold diggers does not decrease at all. If anything, it only increases with each passing day.

This girl had underestimated him, thinking she could manipulate her way into his life or his wealth. Without hesitation, he had fired her on the spot and had security throw her out of his premises.

That incident should have been the end of it. If it were up to him, he wouldn’t even bother hiring another assistant. But his sister, Stella, had insisted otherwise.

“Not everyone is the same, Aric,” she’d told him in her usual patient tone. “Because of one person, we shouldn’t look down on everyone else. There are good, honest people out there.”

Aric didn’t share her optimism. In his eyes, Stella was too trusting, far too willing to see the good in others. She believed in giving people the benefit of the doubt, while he operated in the opposite way. Trust, to Aric, wasn’t given—it was earned, painstakingly and over time.

Still, for Stella’s sake, he had reluctantly agreed to hire another personal assistant. But he’d made one thing clear: “This is the last time,” he’d told her firmly. “If anything like this happens again, I’m done. No more assistants, no matter what you say.”

She had smiled in response, clearly believing that things would work out better this time. Aric wasn’t so sure. But Stella was the only person in the world who could convince him to reconsider his decisions.

Standing in front of the mirror, Aric adjusted his tie, ensuring it was perfectly aligned. His reflection stared back, calm and composed, the very image of control and authority. With one last glance, he turned and left his house, ready to start another day.

***

Present…

“Find out who hired her, and this time I want positive results.” Aric said in a cold, cutting tone as he strode toward the changing room, his long strides echoing on the marble floor.

His secretary, Blake, kept pace just behind him, a tablet in hand, his expression unreadable.

“Already on it, Mr. Stone,” Blake replied, his voice steady despite the storm brewing around his boss.

Aric’s fury was barely contained. His hands were clenched into fists at his sides, and his usually composed demeanor was fractured by a seething rage. His entire body seemed to tremble with the effort to suppress it.

This was the third time one of his competitors or enemies had tried to use a woman as a weapon to tarnish his reputation. Each time, their schemes became bolder and more disgusting.

This time, it was an attempt to create a public scandal, by sending a woman to fall into his arms—right on the stage, in front of everyone.

Did he care about these stupid scandals? Not really.

There’s always hundreds of articles being published about his professional and personal life, on a daily basis. Some true but many of them just fake rumours.

But he doesn’t really mind them.

With the kind of fame he possesses, it’s almost impossible to avoid these kind of news.

But what’s getting on his nerves this time is that whoever this person is, they are trying to repulse him by sending these kind of characterless, money hungry women his way.

He despises gold diggers with his very being. Yet, someone is using this exact same method again and again.

He was sick of this ploy. It was pathetic, predictable, and infuriatingly persistent. It tested the limits of his patience and, worse, threatened to unravel the image of control and perfection he had spent years cultivating.

And what’s infuriating Aric even more is that, he hasn’t been able to find out a single clue about whoever is behind these schemes.

Usually, it doesn’t even take more than few hours for Aric and his team of private investigators to get to the root of such problems. It’s almost impossible for anyone to mess with him, and not get caught. His people are that skilled.

But surprisingly this time, his team failed to track the culprit.

It’s been about a week since the incident of the woman who claimed to be pregnant with his child occurred, and he hasn’t found anything, not a single clue.

He hates it when things don’t go his way. He likes to be in control in every situation.

But this situation is making him feel like he is being outsmart by someone else and he is not liking it at all. This is why he is so furious right now.

“Make sure not a single picture gets out of what happened on the stage,” he said through gritted teeth.

“Understood,” Blake replied crisply, already typing commands on his tablet.

As they approached the changing room, Aric gestured to the security stationed outside. “Unlock the door.”

If he hasn’t been able to get the clue by investigating those incidents, then he will get the answers from this girl who was probably sent by them.

The guard complied, stepping aside as the door clicked open. Without waiting, Aric pushed it open with a loud thud, the force reverberating through the room.

Inside, Selena flinched at the loud noise of the door slamming open. Her tear-filled hazel eyes darted to the entrance, and she froze for a moment before bolting toward the door, as if she couldn’t see anything or anyone else.

But before she could make it past him, Aric’s hand shot out, grabbing her arm. He pulled her back into the room with enough force to make her stumble.

“Not so fast.”