Chapter 1Marrying The Boss Who Bankrupted You

I stepped off the plane, ending three years of grueling expansion in Europe, carrying a signed ten-billion-dollar contract in my hands.

My four partners, who had promised me a grand homecoming celebration, hadn't even bothered to send a low-level assistant to meet me.

Suddenly, a sleek, glowing virtual screen floated in the air before me:

[Talk about a tragic founder. While she was half-starving in London, building their empire from scratch, her four male co-founders were back home in New York, playing prince charming to a brainless intern.]

[The moment she lands, they’re going to kick her off the board to clear the way for their sweet little darling.]

[That’s what she gets for being too strong. Men only want soft, weeping damsels in distress these days.]

I stared at the panel, a dry, cold laugh escaping my lips.

Perfect. It saves me the trouble of dividing my shares.

I turned on my heel toward the airport's VIP lane, tilting my chin toward the man waiting for me. "Let’s go, Mr. Miles."

The virtual screen flashed a violent red:

[WARNING! PLOT DEVIATION! Who is the woman clinging to?!]

[Are we insane?! That’s Nicholas Miles, the ultimate predator of the financial world. Those four boys wouldn't survive a single day in his arena!]

* * *

I slipped my hand through Nicholas’s arm, feeling the solid warmth of his muscles and the faint, grounding scent of silver fir that always clung to his expensive tailoring.

Nicholas Miles was a titan of Wall Street. I had met him in London while securing the funding for our ten-billion-dollar venture. In the city's elite circles, he was known as a ruthless, cold-blooded executioner. Getting an appointment with him was harder than pulling teeth.

Yet here he was, quietly letting me lean into him, even gently carrying my battered, overstuffed leather briefcase in his free hand.

"Lola, are you really just going to use me and run?"

Nicholas leaned down slightly, his dark eyes catching mine, carrying a look that was almost pouty, though his low voice remained dangerously smooth.

"Who said I'm running? I'm bringing you home to show you the sights," I teased, giving his hand a reassuring pat.

During those three years abroad, I had practically stripped off a layer of skin to secure that massive multinational project. Nicholas had appeared right when I was at my breaking point. He didn't just provide the financial backing; he had attached himself to me like a shadow I couldn't shake.

I had always assumed he was just a wealthy, persistent playboy. It wasn't until this strange screen started glitching into my vision that I realized he was the most powerful shadow player in the entire city.

[What the hell?! Why is this financial predator acting like a needy golden retriever around her?!]

[This is the man who can bankrupt those four idiots with a flick of his wrist! How does she dare treat him so casually?]

[I don't believe it! Nicholas Miles must be playing with her. Once the novelty wears off, she's going to crash harder than anyone!]

I ignored the hysterical text scrolling across my vision.

Playing with me?

I wondered who it was that had insisted on holding me all through last night, mumbling in my ear about making things official the moment we touched down.

"Where are those four useless partners of yours?" Nicholas asked, his eyes sweeping over the empty arrivals gate, his tone dripping with jealousy.

"Didn't you say they were throwing you some grand homecoming dinner?"

"They're probably dead to me," I replied, my voice flat.

Right then, my phone buzzed in my pocket. It was a text from Jared, one of my co-founders.

"Lola, Daisy accidentally cut her finger today, and we're all at the hospital with her. We have to postpone the dinner. Just grab an Uber back to the office."

Daisy.

The clumsy, fragile intern the screen kept talking about.

I let out a soft, humorless laugh, turned my phone off, and tossed it into my bag.

"Let’s go, Mr. Miles. I'll show you what a disaster looks like."

Nicholas’s eyes lit up. He turned his hand, locking his fingers tightly with mine.

"I’ll clean up any mess you want," he murmured, leaning closer, his voice dropping to a gravelly whisper. "But you can't back out on your promise. You said the moment we landed, I’d get to be your official boyfriend."

Looking at his handsome face—which practically had "make me yours" written all over it—I couldn't help but smile.

"We'll see how you behave."