The Billionaire I was Never Meant to Love

Bella had never been more desperate in her entire life. Her resume was crumpled in her sweaty hands, her cheap heels were killing her feet, and the air conditioning in the Sterling Tower was so cold it made her shiver. This was her last chance. "Miss Bella Reyes?" The receptionist called. Bella stood up so fast she almost tripped. "Yes! That's me!" "Mr. Sterling will see you now. 48th floor. Don't be late. He hates late." Bella nodded and ran to the elevator. Her heart was pounding like a drum. Everyone in Pagadian knew who Blaine Sterling was. The youngest billionaire in the city. Cold. Arrogant. Handsome like a Greek god but with a heart of ice. And he was engaged to a supermodel. Why would he hire her? She was just a small-town girl trying to pay her mother's hospital bills. Ding. The elevator opened to the most luxurious office she had ever seen. And there he was. Blaine Sterling was standing by the window, his back to her. Tall, broad shoulders, in a perfect black suit. He didn't even turn around. "You're late by 2 minutes," he said, his voice deep and cold. Bella's mouth went dry. "I'm sorry, sir, the elevator—" "I don't accept excuses. If you are going to work for me, you will learn to be perfect." He finally turned around. Bella forgot how to breathe. He was more handsome in person. Sharp jaw, piercing gray eyes that looked like they could see through her soul, and lips that were pressed into a hard line. He looked at her like she was nothing. Like she was dirt on his expensive shoes. "You are Bella Reyes? The applicant for the temporary secretary position?" "Yes, sir!" He walked closer, each step making her more nervous. He picked up her crumpled resume from his desk with two fingers like it was trash. "College dropout. No experience in a corporate setting. Your last job was a waitress in a diner." Bella's face burned. "I... I had to stop school for my mom. She is sick. I can learn fast, sir. I am very hardworking." "I don't need hardworking. I need perfect," he said coldly. "My fiancée recommended you?" Bella was shocked. "Your... fiancée?" "Yes. My assistant is on maternity leave and my fiancée, Vanessa, said you were... pitiful enough to need a job. So she told me to interview you. As charity." The word charity hit Bella like a slap. So this wasn't even a real interview. This was pity. Tears stung her eyes but she held them back. She needed this job. Her mother needed the operation. "Please, sir. I will do anything. I will work 24 hours, I will not complain. Just give me a chance." Blaine stared at her. His gray eyes traveled from her tired eyes to her trembling lips, down to her cheap blouse that she had ironed three times this morning. Something flickered in his eyes, something dark and possessive that made Bella shiver for a different reason. "Anything?" he whispered. Bella nodded. "Anything." He leaned down, so close she could smell his expensive cologne, so close she could see the small scar on his eyebrow. "Then you start tomorrow. 7 AM sharp. One mistake and you are fired. One tear and you are fired. Do you understand, Bella?" It was the first time he said her name. And the way he said it made her knees weak. "Yes, Mr. Sterling." He smirked, a cold, arrogant smirk. "Good. And call me Sir. You are mine for the next 3 months. Remember that." Bella walked out of that office with a job, but she didn't know she had just made a deal with the devil himself. She didn't know that one night, one mistake, would change everything. And that this cold, arrogant billionaire who was never meant to look her way... would become obsessed with her. And he would never let her go.