THE BILLIONAIRE’S CHILDHOOD CRUSH

Eight Years Too Late.

ELENA’S POV

I spent the entire night telling myself that Alexander was not the reason I couldn’t sleep. It was the message, that was what I told myself. The words were still sitting in my phone when I woke up the next morning.

“You shouldn’t have come back into his life.”

I stared at the screen from beneath my duvet and I had read it so many times that the words had stopped looking real.

“Maybe it was a prank or someone had seen me speaking with Alex and decided to frighten me. Maybe it was Vivienne, someone from the Sterling family or maybe…”

I locked my phone.

No, I wasn't going to start inventing conspiracies. I had enough problems without adding paranoia to the list.

I threw the duvet aside and got out of bed. My apartment overlooked the Santa Monica streets, and the morning sunlight streamed through the windows, illuminating the small kitchen and living room.

It wasn’t a mansion. No private elevator or oceanfront infinity pool, no staff waiting to prepare breakfast. It was mine, every piece of it, I had worked hard for this life and I like it.

That was why I couldn't allow Alexander Sterling walk back into it and turn everything upside down.

My phone rang and I glazed at the screen to see Mia calling. I answered.

“If you’re calling to discuss Alexander, I’m hanging up.”

“Good morning to you too.”

I smiled despite myself.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing is wrong.”

“Then why are you calling at seven in the morning?”

“Because I have information.”

I paused. “What kind of information?”

“The kind that will make you want to sit down.”

I sighed. “I’m already sitting.”

“Good.”

“Mia.”

“Sterling International bought a controlling interest in our company.”

I stopped breathing. “What?”

“You heard me.”

I sat upright. “When?”

“Yesterday.”

“That can’t be right.”

“That’s what I thought.”

My mind immediately returned to the ballroom. Alexander, his eyes, his questions, why didn’t anyone tell me? My stomach tightened. “Are you sure?”

“I checked three times.”

I got out of bed. “Send me the details.”

“I already did.”

I opened my mail and there it was, a message from the company.

IMPORTANT CORPORATE ANNOUNCEMENT

My fingers trembled slightly as I opened it. The announcement confirmed that Sterling International had acquired a controlling stake in Hartwell Strategic Solutions, the LA-based consulting firm where I’d worked for the past three years.

I stared at the screen. Sterling International, Alexander, my company. No! It couldn’t be a coincidence.

“Mia?”

“Yeah?”

“When was this acquisition negotiated?”

“Apparently months ago.”

I closed my eyes. Months. That meant Alexander could have known. He could've known where I worked, could’ve deliberately arranged everything and he could’ve known I was there.

“I’m going to work.”

“That’s what I was afraid you’d say.”

“I need answers.”

“Please don’t confront a billionaire before breakfast.”

“I’ll try.”

“That’s not reassuring.”

I ended the call.

Twenty minutes later, I was driving through Santa Monica toward downtown LA. my mind wouldn’t slow down. Months, the acquisition had been in progress for months which meant there was a possibility that Alexander had known about me before last night.

The thought made my chest tighten.

Why would he do that? If he wanted to see me, why not simply find me? Why buy my company? It was absurd, manipulative and just the kind of thing a billionaire could do when money had stopped meaning anything to him.

I arrived at the office just before nine. The lobby was already buzzing with employees standing in small groups, whispering. Phones were ringing and managers were rushing through the building. Something about the atmosphere felt wrong

I stepped toward the reception desk. “What’s going on?”

She looked at me. “You haven’t heard?”

“Heard what?”

“Sterling’s taking over.”

“I know.”

Her eyes widened. “Oh.” She lowered her voice. “Apparently Mr. Sterling himself is coming today.”

My stomach dropped. “Alexander?”

She nodded. “He’s meeting with senior management.”

Of course he was. I forced a smile. “Wonderful.” I walked away before she could see my expression.

The executive conference room was already crowded when I entered. My supervisor, Daniel Brooks, stood near the window with several executives. He looked relieved when he saw me.

“Elena.”

“What’s happening?”

He gestured toward the table. “Sterling International is restructuring the company.”

“Meaning?”

“We’re going to be operating as a Sterling subsidiary.”

I crossed my arms. “And Alexander Sterling is coming?”

Daniel hesitated. “Yes.”

My stomach tightened.

“Why?”

“Because he’s the CEO.”

“That doesn’t answer my question.”

Daniel sighed. “Apparently, he’s taking personal oversight of the transition.”

My heart sank. Personal oversight? Of course.

The conference room doors opened and everyone turned to watch Alexander walk in. He wasn’t wearing a tuxedo this time; instead he spotted a dark charcoal suit, white shirt and a black tie. No unnecessary accessories nor visible arrogance just quiet authoriy.

The room fell silent and his eyes moved across the executives until they found me. For a second, something warm flickered across his face, then his professional expression returned.

“Good morning."

Everyone greeted him. I didn’t.

His gaze lingered on me. “Elena.”

“Mr Sterling.”

His jaw tightened. “Alexander.”

“We’re at work.”

“So we are.”

He took his seat at the head of the table and I deliberately sat as far away from him as possible. The meeting began and I listened carefully to all the numbers, acquisitions, expansion but there was one question I couldn’t stop thinking about, why my company?

Eventually, I raised my hand and Alexander’s eyes moved toward me. “Yes?”

“Why did Sterling International acquire Hartwell?”

Silence.

Everyone looked at him while Alexander himself leaned back. “Hartwell has strong infrastructure and a talented strategy team.”

“That’s the corporate answer.”

A few executives exchanged uncomfortable glances. Alexander’s mouth tightened. “What would you like?”

“The real one.”

His eyes held mine. “You’re looking at it.”

My pulse jumped and I frowned. “That isn’t an explanation.”

“It is.”

“Why us?”

“Because you’re good at what you do.”

“That doesn’t justify a controlling acquisition.”

“Perhaps not.”

“Then what does?”

Alexander was silent for several seconds. Finally he said, “growth.”

I stared at him. He was lying and I knew it and he knew that I knew it. The meeting continued. When it ended, everyone began leaving while I gathered my papers.

“Ms. Hart.”

I stopped.

Alexander’s voice came from behind me. “Stay.”

I slowly turned. The room emptied, doors closed and now we were alone. I crossed my arms before asking, “why did you buy my company?”

“I already answered that.”

“No, you gave me a rehearsed corporate statement.”

He walked toward the windows.

“I don’t owe you an explanation.”

I laughed.

“That’s convenient.”

He turned.

“It’s business.”

“Then keep it business.”

“I intend to .”

“Good.”

He studied me.

“Are you angry?”

“No.”

“You’re lying.”

“I’m not.”

“You’re angry because you think I bought this company because of you.”

I stared at him.

“Did you?”

His silence answered before he did. Then he said, "I knew you worked here.”

My heart stopped. I felt as though someone had struck me.

“You knew?”

“Yes.”

“How long?”

He didn’t answer immediately.

“How long, Alexander?”

“Three months.”

The room seemed to tilt. Three months, he had known for three months. The realization made my voice drop.

“You knew where I was.”

“Yes.”

“You knew where I worked here.”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

His expression softened.

“Because I was trying to find you.”

“You found me.”

“I know.”

“Then why didn’t you contact me?”

“Because I didn’t know what to say.”

I stared at him and for the first time, the billionaire disappeared. I saw the boy again, the boy who used to sit beside me on the beach and talk about the future.

“You could have said hello.”

His eyes darkened. “I was afraid.”

I almost laughed.

“You?”

“Yes.”

“Alexander Sterling was afraid?”

“Of you.”

I didn’t know what to say while he stepped closer.

“I was afraid you’d hate me.”

“I do.”

He flinched and I regretted it immediately. But it was true, at least partly.

“I deserved that,” he said.

I looked away.

“Why did you buy the company?”

His voice became quiet.

“Because I couldn’t get close to you any other way.”

I stared at him.

“That isn’t romantic.”

“I didn’t say it was.”

“It’s controlling.”

“I know.”

“You could have asked to see me.”

“I didn’t know if you’d agree.”

“So you bought my company?”

“Yes.”

I laughed bitterly.

“You’re insane.”

“Probably.”

“Do you realize how inappropriate this is?”

“Yes.”

“Then why?”

His eyes held mine. “Because I lost you once.” He took another step. “And I wasn’t going to spend the rest of my life wondering whether I could have done something differently.”

My heart hurt.

“It’s too late.”

“Maybe.”

“You don’t get to come back after eight years and decide you want me again.”

“I don’t expect you to forgive me.”

“Good.”

“I don’t expect you to trust me.”

“Good.”

“I don’t expect you to love me.”

I froze.

His voice softened. “But I’m going to spend as long as it takes proving that I never stopped loving you.”

I couldn’t breathe. The silence between us became unbearable.

I turned away.

“You need to stop.”

“Why?”

“Because I’m trying to move on.”

“Have you?”

I closed my eyes.

“No.”

The answer slipped out before I could stop it. Alexander inhaled sharply and I regretted the honesty. He didn’t move and neither did I.

Then he said quietly, “neither have I.”

My phone rang and i grabbed it to see Mia calling.

“Hello?”

“Elena, where are you?”

“Work.”

“There’s something you need to know.”

I glanced at Alexander.

“What?”

“Sterling International didn’t just acquire Hartwell.”

My stomach tightened.

“What do you mean?”

“There was another offer on the table.”

“From who?”

Mia hesitated. “Damien Cross.”

I looked at Alexander, his expression had changed. He had heard the name.

“Apparently Damien’s company offered more money.”

I frowned.

“Then why did Hartwell choose Sterling?”

Mia’s voice lowered. “Beause Sterling offered something else.”

“What?”

“A condition.”

My heart began pounding.

“What condition?”

She paused.

“They wanted control of the company.”

I stared at Alexander and he didn’t look away.

“And apparently,” she continued, “Alexander Sterling personally insisted on the acquisitions.”

The line went silent and I slowly lowered the phone.

“You insisted.”

Alexander didn’t deny it.

“Yes.”

“Why?”

His gaze held mine. “Because I wanted you where I could see you.”

My mouth fell open.

He took another step toward me. “But now that you’re here…,” his expression softened, “I don’t know if keeping you close will be enough.”

I swallowed.

“What do you mean?”

He smiled faintly. “I think I’m going to have to earn my way back into your life.”

I stared at him then my phone buzzed again.

UNKNOWN NUMBER

“You should ask Alexander what happened the night he left you.”

My blood ran cold. I looked up to meet Alexander watching me.

“What is it?”

I couldn’t answer, because suddenly, the acquisition didn’t seem like the biggest problem, someone knew about our past, someone knew what had happened eight years ago and whoever it was wanted me to start asking questions.

I turned my phone toward Alexander. His eyes moved over the message and the color drained from his face. For the first time since I’d seen him again, Alexander Sterling looked genuinely afraid.

He whispered one word. “Impossible.”

“What?”

He looked at me then at the message again.

“That number…” his voice was barely audible, "I haven't seen it in eight years.”

I felt a chill crawl over my skin.

“What number?”

Alexander didn’t answer. He simply stared at the screen as though it contained the ghost of a life he’d spent years trying to bury.

Then he looked at me.

“Elena…”

“What?”

His jaw tightened.

“I think someone knows what happened to us.”