Money comes first before love

Money comes first before love

Jennybliss

5.0
Comment(s)
View
17
Chapters

Elena Monroe has always believed that ambition trumps emotion. As a rising star in the world of financial journalism, she's built her career uncovering the secrets of the wealthy elite-without ever getting too close. But when she's assigned to investigate Nicholas Hastings, the enigmatic billionaire known for his ruthless business tactics, her carefully constructed world begins to crumble. Nick Hastings doesn't let anyone into his life, and for good reason. His empire was built on grit, sacrifice, and an unshakable focus on success. Love? That's a distraction he can't afford. But Elena's sharp wit and fierce determination chip away at the walls he's built, leaving him questioning everything he thought he knew about power and control. As Elena delves deeper into Nick's world, she uncovers a dangerous secret-one that could either save him or destroy everything he's worked for. Torn between her duty to expose the truth and her growing feelings for the man behind the mask, Elena faces an impossible choice. In a world where money always comes first, can love find a way to rewrite the rules? Or will ambition and betrayal tear them apart forever?

Money comes first before love Chapter 1 1

It was a crisp November morning, the kind that carried a bite in the air sharp enough to make even New Yorkers hustle a little faster. Elena Monroe adjusted the scarf around her neck as she pushed through the revolving doors of the Empire Financial Times building. The familiar scent of coffee, paper, and ambition hit her as she stepped into the bustling lobby, the click of her heels swallowed by the hum of phones and murmured conversations.

The elevator dinged, and Elena slid inside, catching a glimpse of herself in the mirror-lined walls. Hazel eyes framed by thick lashes stared back, her hair twisted into a neat bun that screamed "professional." But professionalism was just a veneer; underneath it was a woman hungry for more. Today wasn't about her usual assignments-profiles on hedge fund managers or exposés on shell companies. No, today she was walking into the lion's den.

Her editor, Jack Greer, had sent her a cryptic email at 6:00 a.m.

Subject: Hastings. You're up.

She knew what that meant. Nicholas Hastings. The golden boy of Wall Street turned kingmaker. A man whose name was synonymous with power, control, and scandal.

Elena stepped off the elevator and made her way to Jack's glass-walled office. He was leaning back in his chair, a cigar he wasn't allowed to smoke clamped between his teeth. When he saw her, he waved her in without preamble.

"Elena, sit."

She dropped into the chair across from him, folding her arms. "Hastings? Really? Isn't he untouchable?"

Jack grinned, the kind of grin that made her stomach sink. "Nobody's untouchable. Not even him. We've got a tip. Something big. And you're the best we've got."

Elena arched a brow. "Flattery, Jack? What's the catch?"

"No catch." He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his desk. "We've been hearing whispers. Shady deals, hostile takeovers, maybe worse. I want you to get close. Find out what he's hiding."

"And how exactly am I supposed to get close to someone like Hastings? He doesn't do interviews."

"That's why I hired you, kid. You're resourceful. You'll find a way."

Elena opened her mouth to protest but stopped herself. This was what she wanted-a chance to prove she could handle the big leagues. But Hastings wasn't just big; he was a storm, and anyone who got too close usually got swept away.

"Fine," she said, standing. "I'll take it. But don't expect miracles."

Jack smirked. "I never do."

Two days later, Elena found herself standing in the lobby of Hastings International, clutching a notepad she didn't need and wearing a blazer that suddenly felt too tight. The building was a monolith of steel and glass, towering over the city like a fortress.

She had managed to secure a meeting with his PR team under the guise of writing a feature on corporate innovation. It was a flimsy excuse, but it was enough to get her foot in the door.

A sleek-haired assistant escorted her to a conference room, all marble and chrome. "Mr. Hastings will be with you shortly," the assistant said before disappearing.

Elena took a seat, her heart beating faster than she liked. She hated waiting-it gave her too much time to think.

The door opened, and she looked up, expecting to see another assistant or perhaps a member of his team. Instead, Nicholas Hastings himself walked in.

He was taller than she'd expected, with broad shoulders that filled out his tailored suit perfectly. His dark hair was swept back, and his piercing blue eyes locked onto hers with a confidence that was almost unnerving.

"Elena Monroe," he said, his voice smooth and commanding. "I'm told you're here to talk about innovation."

For a moment, she couldn't find her voice. He wasn't just attractive; he was magnetic, the kind of man who could make you forget your own name if you weren't careful.

"Yes," she said, recovering quickly. "Thank you for taking the time. I wasn't expecting to meet you personally."

He sat across from her, his movements deliberate. "I don't usually. But your name came across my desk, and I was curious. You've made a reputation for yourself, Ms. Monroe."

Her pulse quickened. Did he already suspect something? "I like to think my work speaks for itself."

He smiled faintly, but it didn't reach his eyes. "It does. Which is why I'll make this brief. I'm not interested in fluff pieces, and I don't have time for nonsense. If you want to discuss innovation, we'll do so on my terms. Otherwise, you can leave now."

Elena's instincts flared. This wasn't just a power play-it was a test. "I don't do fluff, Mr. Hastings. If I did, I wouldn't be sitting here."

For the first time, his expression softened, just a fraction. "Fair enough. Let's begin."

The next hour was a verbal chess match. Elena probed with carefully crafted questions, trying to peel back the layers of the man sitting across from her. But Nick deflected with the ease of someone who had spent years under scrutiny. He was charming but guarded, revealing just enough to keep her interested without giving anything away.

When the meeting ended, she felt both exhilarated and frustrated. As she gathered her things, Nick stood, watching her with an intensity that made her pause.

"Ms. Monroe," he said, his voice low. "I have a feeling we'll be seeing each other again."

She met his gaze, refusing to back down. "I wouldn't bet against it."

As she walked out of the building, her mind raced. Nicholas Hastings wasn't just a story-he was a mystery. And if there was one thing Elena couldn't resist, it was uncovering the truth.

Continue Reading

Other books by Jennybliss

More

You'll also like

Marrying My Runaway Groom's Powerful Father

Marrying My Runaway Groom's Powerful Father

Temple Madison
4.6

I was sitting in the Presidential Suite of The Pierre, wearing a Vera Wang gown worth more than most people earn in a decade. It was supposed to be the wedding of the century, the final move to merge two of Manhattan's most powerful empires. Then my phone buzzed. It was an Instagram Story from my fiancé, Jameson. He was at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris with a caption that read: "Fuck the chains. Chasing freedom." He hadn't just gotten cold feet; he had abandoned me at the altar to run across the world. My father didn't come in to comfort me. He burst through the door roaring about a lost acquisition deal, telling me the Holland Group would strip our family for parts if the ceremony didn't happen by noon. My stepmother wailed about us becoming the laughingstock of the Upper East Side. The Holland PR director even suggested I fake a "panic attack" to make myself look weak and sympathetic to save their stock price. Then Jameson’s sleazy cousin, Pierce, walked in with a lopsided grin, offering to "step in" and marry me just to get his hands on my assets. I looked at them and realized I wasn't a daughter or a bride to anyone in that room. I was a failed asset, a bouncing check, a girl whose own father told her to go to Paris and "beg" the man who had just publicly humiliated her. The girl who wanted to be loved died in that mirror. I realized that if I was going to be sold to save a merger, I was going to sell myself to the one who actually controlled the money. I marched past my parents and walked straight into the VIP holding room. I looked the most powerful man in the room—Jameson’s cold, ruthless uncle, Fletcher Holland—dead in the eye and threw the iPad on the table. "Jameson is gone," I said, my voice as hard as stone. "Marry me instead."

Sexy Behind The Mask

Sexy Behind The Mask

Ellie Wynters
4.7

She hides behind ugly suits and fake names. He's done trusting women. When they meet in a masked sex club, neither realizes they've been fighting each other across boardroom tables for eighteen months. At Taylor Industries, she's Joy Smith-the frumpy CFO who drowns her curves in shapeless polyester and wearing a wig. At home, she's the forgotten wife of a cheating lawyer who hasn't touched her in so long she's starting to wonder if she's broken. When she finds hot pink lace panties stuffed in her couch cushions...definitely not hers, it's not heartbreak she feels. It's freedom. Grayson Taylor doesn't do relationships anymore. Not after walking in on his actress fiancée with another woman. Now he channels everything into hostile takeovers and board meetings, especially the ones where his overcautious CFO fights him on every goddamn acquisition. Joy Smith is brilliant, infuriating, and funny when he pushes all her buttons. But Honey is tired of being invisible. Tired of never having felt real pleasure. So, when her best friend gives her the details of The Velvet Room-Manhattan's most exclusive masked club-she promises herself just one night. One night to find out if her husband's right, if she really is frigid, or if she's just never been touched by the right hands. She doesn't expect the masked stranger who claims her the second she walks in. Doesn't expect the chemistry that ignites between them, the way he makes her body sing, or the orgasms that leave her shaking. Doesn't expect him to hand her an email address with one command: "Only me. No one else touches you."

Chapters
Read Now
Download Book
Money comes first before love Money comes first before love Jennybliss Billionaires
“Elena Monroe has always believed that ambition trumps emotion. As a rising star in the world of financial journalism, she's built her career uncovering the secrets of the wealthy elite-without ever getting too close. But when she's assigned to investigate Nicholas Hastings, the enigmatic billionaire known for his ruthless business tactics, her carefully constructed world begins to crumble. Nick Hastings doesn't let anyone into his life, and for good reason. His empire was built on grit, sacrifice, and an unshakable focus on success. Love? That's a distraction he can't afford. But Elena's sharp wit and fierce determination chip away at the walls he's built, leaving him questioning everything he thought he knew about power and control. As Elena delves deeper into Nick's world, she uncovers a dangerous secret-one that could either save him or destroy everything he's worked for. Torn between her duty to expose the truth and her growing feelings for the man behind the mask, Elena faces an impossible choice. In a world where money always comes first, can love find a way to rewrite the rules? Or will ambition and betrayal tear them apart forever?”
1

Chapter 1 1

17/11/2024

2

Chapter 2 2

17/11/2024

3

Chapter 3 3

17/11/2024

4

Chapter 4 4

17/11/2024

5

Chapter 5 5

17/11/2024

6

Chapter 6 6

17/11/2024

7

Chapter 7 7

17/11/2024

8

Chapter 8 8

17/11/2024

9

Chapter 9 9

17/11/2024

10

Chapter 10 10

17/11/2024

11

Chapter 11 11

17/11/2024

12

Chapter 12 12

17/11/2024

13

Chapter 13 13

17/11/2024

14

Chapter 14 14

17/11/2024

15

Chapter 15 15

17/11/2024

16

Chapter 16 16

17/11/2024

17

Chapter 17 17

17/11/2024