The Billionaire's Marriage Deal

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Billionaires | Ongoing

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Sebastian Hale is a man who gets what he wants-until his father, Gregory Hale, threatens to destroy everything he's built unless he agrees to a marriage of convenience. Trapped in his father's ruthless game, Sebastian's only option is to marry Ivy Collins, a fiery journalist with secrets of her own. For Ivy, the marriage is a means to an end. Marrying Sebastian gives her access to the Hale family empire-and the chance to expose their darkest secrets. But what begins as a cold business arrangement soon ignites into a fiery passion neither of them can resist. As the lines between love and betrayal blur, Ivy discovers the truth about Sebastian's family, including a devastating secret that could destroy them both. With Gregory pulling the strings, Ivy and Sebastian must decide whether to fight for each other-or lose everything in the process.

Betrayal CEO Scheming Arrogant/Dominant Billionaires

Chapter 19 19

03-04 18:20

Chapter 1 1

The low hum of conversations echoed through the polished glass walls of Hale Enterprises' boardroom, the atmosphere suffocatingly thick with tension. Ivy Collins sat stiffly in a leather chair at the far end of the long, gleaming table, her hands clenched around the strap of her bag. She hated the way this room reeked of power, money, and control-three things she detested most about the Hale family. But here she was, right in the belly of the beast.

Opposite her, Sebastian Hale leaned casually against the edge of the table, arms crossed over his broad chest. His charcoal-gray suit fit him like it was molded onto his body, exuding an air of effortless authority. His icy blue eyes, so sharp they could cut glass, remained trained on Ivy with a mixture of curiosity and disdain.

"You've been quiet for five minutes," Sebastian finally said, his deep, smooth voice breaking the silence. "That's a record for a journalist, isn't it?"

Ivy's spine straightened as his words sliced through her resolve. She wasn't about to let him intimidate her, not when she had come prepared for a battle. "I'm just wondering if you're actually going to say something of substance, or if I'm wasting my time listening to the most overrated man in San Francisco."

A muscle twitched in Sebastian's jaw, but he quickly masked it with a slow, deliberate smirk. "Overrated? That's bold coming from someone who works for a third-rate online gossip column."

Ivy leaned forward, her green eyes blazing with defiance. "It's not gossip if it's the truth, Mr. Hale. I deal in facts, and your family seems to have a lot of skeletons in their closet. Care to comment?"

Sebastian's smirk faded, replaced by a steely expression that could freeze over a heatwave. "You think you've cornered me, don't you? That you've stumbled on some grand scandal that will bring me down?" He straightened, towering over her as he walked to the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city skyline. "Let me save you the trouble-whatever you think you've found, it won't work."

Ivy stood, her movements deliberate and controlled, though her heart was pounding in her chest. She was here for a purpose, and she wasn't going to let him rattle her. "You're awfully confident for someone who's had three lawsuits filed against his company in the past year. Not to mention the whispers about your father's dealings."

Sebastian turned to face her, his expression now unreadable. "Let me guess. You think my father is the devil, and I'm his heir-apparent? That I'm complicit in every decision he's ever made?"

"You said it, not me," Ivy replied coolly, though her pulse quickened at the mention of Gregory Hale.

Sebastian's gaze darkened as he crossed the room in a few long strides, stopping just inches from her. He towered over her, his presence both infuriating and magnetic. "Let me make one thing clear," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "I'm not my father. And whatever agenda you think you have, you're playing a very dangerous game."

Ivy refused to back down, though her breath hitched at the intensity in his eyes. "And let me make one thing clear," she countered. "I don't scare easily. If there's something you or your father are hiding, I'll find it. That's a promise."

The air between them crackled with tension, their gazes locked in an unspoken challenge. For a moment, it felt as if the rest of the room had disappeared, leaving only the two of them in this battle of wills.

Before either could speak again, the door swung open, and Gregory Hale strode in, his presence as commanding as the man standing before her. His salt-and-pepper hair was perfectly styled, and his tailored suit screamed wealth and influence.

"Ah, Ivy Collins," Gregory said, his voice smooth and calculated as he approached. "The tenacious little journalist causing such a stir. Welcome."

Ivy turned to face him, masking the unease that prickled along her skin. "Mr. Hale. It's an honor to meet the man who built such an... interesting empire."

Gregory's smile didn't reach his eyes. "I've heard a lot about you. Smart, resourceful, a bit of a troublemaker." He glanced at Sebastian. "I see my son hasn't scared you off yet."

"Not for lack of trying," Ivy replied, folding her arms.

Gregory chuckled, but the sound was hollow. "Well, Ms. Collins, since you seem so interested in the Hale family, perhaps it's time we make you part of it."

Ivy blinked, her mind racing. "Excuse me?"

Sebastian stiffened, his jaw tightening as he turned to his father. "What the hell are you talking about?"

Gregory's gaze flicked between the two of them, a sinister gleam in his eyes. "It's quite simple. A marriage. You and Ivy. It solves a lot of problems-for all of us."

The room fell into stunned silence.

"Absolutely not," Sebastian said, his voice laced with fury.

"I'm not marrying anyone," Ivy snapped, her voice rising. "Especially not him."

Gregory's smile widened, his expression one of pure calculation. "Oh, but you will. Both of you. Unless, of course, you'd prefer the alternative."

Sebastian's eyes narrowed. "What alternative?"

Gregory stepped closer, his voice dropping to a chilling whisper. "I expose every secret you've worked so hard to bury, Sebastian. And as for you, Ms. Collins... I make sure your career is over before it even begins."

Ivy's stomach churned as she exchanged a look with Sebastian, who looked as furious as she felt.

"This is blackmail," Ivy said, her voice trembling with rage.

Gregory shrugged. "Call it what you like. But the two of you are more useful to me together than apart. So, what's it going to be?"

The silence that followed was deafening, the weight of Gregory's ultimatum pressing down on both of them.

Ivy's hands curled into fists as she glared at Sebastian. "You don't get to make this decision for me," she said, her voice shaking.

Sebastian met her gaze, his own filled with frustration and something else she couldn't quite place. "Believe me, I don't want this any more than you do."

But as Gregory's cold smile lingered in the background, they both knew they had no choice.