The Startup Queen

The Billionaire Investor

Maya reached Blackwood Capital fifteen minutes early. She couldn’t stand being late. To her, punctuality showed respect in business, and she wasn’t about to give anyone a reason to dismiss her. When she stepped off the elevator, she took in the reception area. It was nothing like NovaLink. Everything looked costly. Polished marble stretched across the floor, enormous abstract paintings covered the walls, and a huge glass sculpture stood beneath a chandelier that probably cost more than her entire office.

Maya tugged at the sleeve of her navy blue blazer. She had picked her clothes with care: professional, but not desperate; confident, but not arrogant. In her hand was a leather folder filled with NovaLink’s financial projections, growth strategy and product information. Her entire future was in that folder.

A receptionist glanced up. "Ms. Sterling?"

"Yes."

"Mr. Blackwood is expecting you."

Maya nodded. "Thank you."

The receptionist pointed toward the elevators. "He’ll see you on the forty second floor."

Maya stepped inside. As the doors slid shut, an unfamiliar feeling crept in. She was nervous. Honestly, that almost never happened. She had pitched NovaLink to dozens of investors and spoken before hundreds of people. She had even presented to government officials without losing her composure. But today felt different. She had no idea why. The elevator rose in silence. When the doors opened, Maya found herself in another reception area. A man stood by the windows. For a second, she didn’t recognize him. Then he turned, and Maya forgot how to breathe. Adrian Blackwood was taller than she’d imagined—much taller. His black suit fit perfectly, and he wore no visible tie. His dark hair was neatly arranged. His expression was calm, but somehow that felt more threatening than anger. Their eyes met. Everything in Maya went quiet. A strange warmth spread through her chest, and her heart began to race.

Then she caught his scent. Clean and warm, with something like cedar after rain. Her fingers closed more tightly around the folder. Adrian watched her. His face stayed composed, but something shifted in his eyes. For one fleeting moment, Maya thought they looked almost animalistic. Then it was gone. "Ms. Sterling." His voice was deep. Maya made herself breathe. "Mr. Blackwood." They shook hands. The instant their palms met, an electric jolt ran through her. She pulled away at once. Adrian did too. Neither of them said anything. Maya studied him with suspicion. "Is everything okay?" "Perfectly." He answered too fast. Maya didn’t believe him. Adrian motioned toward the conference room.

"Please." She followed. The meeting room looked out over the city. A long black table filled the middle of the room. Adrian took one end, while Maya sat across from him. He opened the file with information about her company. "I’ve gone through your business model."

Maya gave a small nod. "And?"

"Interesting."

She nearly smiled. "Interesting isn’t usually what investors say when they’re planning to offer someone money."

"I never said I planned to give you money."

Her smile vanished. Adrian lifted his gaze. "I said your business model is interesting."

Maya settled back in her chair. "Then why did you ask me here?"

"Because I want to understand the woman who built it."

The answer threw her. "I’m not sure that matters."

"It matters to me."

"Why?"

Adrian studied her. Because you’re my mate. He couldn’t tell her that. Not yet. So he shut the file instead. "You’ve turned down several investors."

"Investors who wanted controlling ownership," she said. "I turned them down."

"Most founders would take those offers."

"I’m not most founders."

Something close to amusement flickered in Adrian’s eyes. "No. You’re not."

Maya narrowed her eyes. She didn’t like the way he watched her. It was as if he knew something she didn’t. Adrian opened another document. "NovaLink has potential, but you’re seriously undercapitalized."

"I know."

"You’ve been keeping it afloat with your own money."

"Yes."

"Your company has less than two weeks of cash left."

Maya’s expression hardened. "I know that, too." "You have seven employees." "At the moment." "Your biggest competitor has more than four hundred." "I know." Adrian held her gaze. "And you still believe you can beat them?" Maya didn't pause.nn"Yes." "Why?" "Because they have money." She leaned in. "I have vision." Adrian said nothing. Maya went on. "They're focused on building another platform. I'm focused on fixing a real problem. Small businesses need technology that isn't made only for corporations with enormous budgets. NovaLink gives them tools they can actually use." Her voice grew firmer. "I don't have to become the biggest company overnight. I need to become the company customers trust." Adrian studied her. There was something in her confidence. Something he recognized. His wolf was nearly impossible to restrain. Mate.nnMaya caught his silence. "What?" "Nothing." "You've been looking at me for thirty seconds." Adrian lifted an eyebrow. "Have I?" "Yes." "Maybe I'm assessing you." "Then assess the business plan." The corner of his mouth moved. "You're difficult." "That's what I've been told." "I believe it." Maya shut her folder. "If you don't want to invest, I'd rather not waste either of our time." Adrian's expression shifted. "I do want to invest." Maya stopped. "How interested are you?" "I'll invest." She blinked. "Just like that?" "Yes." "No negotiation?" "I have a few conditions."

"There it is." Adrian pushed a document across the table. "Blackwood Capital will provide the funding your company needs for eighteen months." Maya glanced at the figure, and her eyes widened. It was far more than she'd asked for. "Why that much?" "Because you'll need more capital than you think." "And what do you expect in exchange?" "Twenty percent." Maya read through the document again. Twenty percent was a lot, but it didn't give him control. She raised her eyes. "Only twenty percent?" "Only twenty." "Why?" Adrian met her stare. "Because I believe in your company." Maya didn't buy it. Not entirely. Something else was behind this. She could sense it. "There's another condition." "Of course." "You stay on as CEO." Maya frowned.

"That sounds more like a benefit than a condition." "It is." She watched him carefully. "Why are you doing this?" Adrian leaned back in his chair. "Because I think you're going to be very successful." Maya nearly laughed. "That's an unusual way to invest." "Maybe." Their eyes locked again, and that strange feeling came rushing back. Maya's heart started to pound. Then a sudden, stabbing pain hit the back of her head. She gasped as the room dissolved into a blur.

For one terrifying second, she saw blood. A forest. A woman screaming. A huge wolf beneath the moon. Then she saw herself—not as she was now. Something else. Something immense. A silver crown of light formed above her head. Maya blinked, and the vision disappeared. Adrian had risen. "Are you all right?" Maya touched her temple. "Yes." "You don't look okay." "I'm fine." Adrian stepped nearer. As soon as his hand touched her shoulder, heat surged through Maya. She pulled back. "Don't."

Adrian stopped at once. His face grew tense. "I'm sorry." Maya snatched up her bag. "I need some air." She headed for the door. Behind her, Adrian stood utterly motionless. His wolf was howling inside him. Her fear, her power, and the scent of her blood had spread through the room. At last, he understood why the ancient records had terrified his brother. Maya wasn't merely a surviving Sterling. She was something much more dangerous—something his family had spent decades trying to erase. Adrian turned to the document she had left behind.

He turned his gaze toward the shut door. For the first time ever, the Alpha King felt afraid of the fate waiting for him. Outside, Maya entered the elevator and pressed one shaking hand against her chest. She had no idea what was happening. Still, somewhere deep within her, something had stirred—and it was growing stronger.

As the elevator sank, a whisper slipped through her thoughts. A woman’s voice. Gentle. Ancient. Terrifying.

Run, little queen.

Maya went still. Then a second voice replied. This one was not human. It rose from somewhere deep inside her.