MR BILLIONAIRE, NOT YOUR WAY!

PARTNERS

|Helena|

The envelope sat on the corner of my desk like a silent challenge. I had left it unopened for hours, unwilling to confront whatever was inside. I was still battling with the betrayal from Brian but I didn’t want it to weigh me down or eat too deeply into my emotions.

He had been calling and texting for the past two days but I didn’t pick up or respond. The more he did, the more furious I became. I couldn’t imagine my life being a toy in Brian’s hands. I felt so foolish and used.

Michael had delivered the package himself that evening, walking into my office unannounced and placing it there before leaving without a word. Ever since he went public with Steve, we haven’t discussed or talked. I left him to suffer the consequences of his action as the man he was.

I stared at the elegant handwriting on the front: Helena Mavis. It was infuriatingly formal, yet something about it made my pulse quicken. Whatever was in there, it wasn’t going to be simple.

Finally, unable to bear the suspense, I ripped the envelope open. A single sheet of paper slid out.

"Helena,

I need your partnership. Not as a favor, but because you are the best. Let's discuss this tonight. My place. 7 PM. —Michael"

I clenched my jaw. Was this his way of dragging me back into his world? After everything, he still thought he could dictate terms. Yet curiosity tickled me. Michael never asked for help unless he was truly cornered.

By 6:45, I found myself in his driveway, my hands gripping the steering wheel tighter than necessary. I needed something to clear my head and he came at the right time. The grand estate loomed before me and it reminded me of the life I had once shared with him. A life I had no intention of returning to, never!

***

|Michael|

Helena’s knock was sharp and deliberate, just like everything about her. When I opened the door, she stepped inside without waiting for an invitation, her heels clicking against the polished floors.

“I don’t appreciate cryptic invitations, Michael,” she said, crossing her arms as she faced me.

“I’m not trying to be cryptic,” I replied evenly, gesturing toward the living room. “I just thought this discussion deserved more than a phone call.”

Her lips pressed into a thin line, but she followed me. I couldn’t help but admire how composed she looked, even though I knew her well enough to sense the tension simmering beneath her exterior.

I poured her a glass of water, but she waved it off. “Get to the point. I don’t have all day.”

“Fine.” I sat across from her, meeting her gaze. “I’m starting a new venture. It is something separate from the Clinton Corporation. A fresh start. And I want you to be my partner.”

Her brows shot up, her surprise quickly masked by skepticism. “Why on earth would you want that?”

“Because you’re brilliant,” I said simply. “And because I trust you.”

She scoffed, leaning back. “Trust me? After everything? You’re either delusional or desperate.”

“Maybe a bit of both,” I admitted, a ghost of a smile on my lips. “But I mean it. The way you handled the evidence against Steve, the way you think, no one else comes close. This venture isn’t just about rebuilding my reputation. It’s about creating something bigger, something untouchable. And I can’t do that without you.”

Helena’s expression softened slightly, but her guard was still firmly in place. “What’s the catch?”

“There’s no catch,” I said, though I knew that wasn’t entirely true. “I need someone who can think ten steps ahead, someone who isn’t afraid to challenge me. And yes, I know I have no right to ask after the way I treated you. But this is about more than us. It’s about taking Steve down and ensuring he never gets a foothold in my world or yours again.”

Her eyes narrowed, and I could see the wheels turning in her mind. Helena was a strategist to her core, and I knew she wouldn’t agree without thorough consideration.

****

|Helena|

The proposition was tempting, but Michael’s sincerity made it almost unbearable. I hated how much I wanted to believe him, to trust that this wasn’t just another way for him to reel me back into his chaos. He had been a past item in my book and I have no interest in rekindling any affection. However, all I had was stolen from me by Brian. All the ideas I had in my head, hoping to implement them as soon as I fly out of Spain, had been nurtured into maturity by Steve. He had even gotten a patent for them; he was just waiting for the right time to go public.

Damn him!

“You realize this isn’t a small ask,” I said finally, breaking the heavy silence.

“I do,” he replied, his voice steady.

“If I agree, it will be on my terms. Non-negotiable terms.”

He nodded. “Name them.”

I took a deep breath, laying everything out. “First, I retain full control over my role. I decide what I contribute, when I contribute, and how I do it. Second, I am not to be publicly associated with this venture unless I choose to be. My independence is non-negotiable. Third, if I feel at any point that you’re jeopardizing my integrity or this business, I’m out. No strings, no guilt trips.”

Michael leaned back, his gaze never wavering. “Done. All agreed to.”

I blinked, caught off guard by his quick agreement. “You’re not even going to argue?”

“There’s nothing to argue about,” he said. “I trust you to do what’s best, and I’m willing to give you the freedom to do it. That’s what a partnership is.”

His words hit me harder than I wanted to admit. For once, he wasn’t trying to control the narrative or manipulate the situation. He was handing me the reins, something I never thought I’d see from him.

Still, I wasn’t about to let my guard down completely. “If I agree to this, it’s because dismantling Steve’s network aligns with my goals and not yours. Let’s be clear on that.”

Michael’s jaw tightened, but he nodded. “Fair enough.”

“And one more thing,” I added with a sharp voice. “This partnership doesn’t change anything between us. We are not friends. We are not rekindling old ties. This is business, nothing more.”

His eyes flickered with something I couldn’t quite read. It was a bit of disappointment but more than that. He nodded again. “Understood.”

*****

|Michael|

Helena’s terms were harsh, but I knew she was right to impose them. I had no right to expect anything less after how I’d treated her.

As we hashed out the details, I couldn’t help but admire her resolve. Every demand she made, every clause she insisted on, it was all meticulously crafted, it showed me the woman she had become.

When we finally shook hands, I felt a strange sense of relief. This wasn’t just about the business. It was a chance to rebuild something but certainly not the marriage we’d broken. It is a sense of mutual respect that had been missing for far too long.

“Thank you,” I said as she stood to leave.

“Don’t thank me yet,” she replied. “You have a lot to prove, Michael. I’m only here because I see an opportunity. Don’t make me regret it.”

“I won’t,” I promised, though I wasn’t sure she believed me.

As she walked out the door, I felt a surge of determination. This was my chance to not only redeem myself but to finally do something that mattered. And I wasn’t going to waste it.

*******

|Helena|

The drive home was a blur of conflicting emotions. Part of me felt empowered, knowing I had set the terms and forced Michael to respect my boundaries. But another part of me, the part I hated to acknowledge, felt something dangerously close to hope.

This partnership was a risk, and not just because of Steve. Michael had a way of getting under my skin and making me question things I thought were set in stone.

But I couldn’t afford to let my guard down. Not now, when so much was at stake.

When I reached my apartment, I opened my laptop and began drafting my plans. If I was going to dismantle Steve’s network, I needed to be two steps ahead of him at all times.

As I worked late into the night, a single thought lingered in the back of my mind:

This is just business. Nothing more.

But deep down, I wasn’t sure if I believed it.