Undercover billionaire and the bakery bandit.

e financial heartbeat surging with energy and ambition through its arteries, no different from his own. For t

out behind him now, tablet in hand. "They're getting anxious. T

the window. "Let them

weight. "Time is not exactly at your side, shall we say, Jackson Rhodes is out for blood, and un

p-a snake that had slipped through the cracks of Alex's business years ago. Now he

ant, his assistant lit up; a mixture of relief and curiosity flashed

he asked, dying to

e city. We've been reviewing investment opportunities in small b

confusion upon his face. "I don't see how a baker

unning bakery that could've been successful, owned by a woman named Addie Parker-her family's bakery had been in existence for generations, whi

is bakery will somehow help y

I said working from scratch and actually built something real again. Of course, it is how I am to be at the top of Rhodes; of course, I can be close with Addie, knowing exactly how her business is doing-whether I can even

the plan? You're just going to walk in and introduce yo

rcover. For the next few months, I am no longer Alex Bishop. I am Alex Byrne, a starving ar

by the plan. "You.you're goin

he knows who I am, there's automatically going to be a perception in place that I'm some corporate suit and won't get the re

in. "And you're certain this i

g to sit in a conference room arguing over shares while Rhodes snakes his way into my

can pull it off, it is you. Still, it is not going to be easy. Addie's just

eople are real when they're under pressure. Tha

's agenda. "Alright, I'll handle things here while you're undercover,

acts again, inform me, but really, I just can't see how that'd be a problem.

walked back over to the window, looking out over the city that had created him. He wasn't w

-

d but historic letters on a wooden sign atop the door read "Parker's Bakery". Delicious smells of newly bak

such a modest, family-run business, he was still struggling to piece together an empire fro

come in to scope out this location. Here came Addie, behind the counter, her dark curls piled into a messy bun,

new role. He wasn't Alex Bishop here; he was

d out to them, keep

e in recognition. "Oh, hey! You're bac

And I have news. Actually, I'm here about the a

"The apartment? Yeah, it's still available.

against the counter. "Needed something more permanent, and when

t's not much, but it's affordable and quiet. Let

f freshly baked bread wafting through the air. A grin spread a

e keys with a grin. "Follow

carrying. It was a small apartment above, modestly furnished with simple pieces that had seen better days.

urning to face him.

n smiled warmly at her.

t. The rent's due at the end of each month. It includes utilities, and

nds good to me. W

" Addie said, ex

Now all he had to do was play his part, and if luck was on his side, he would so

he small apartment. Already his mind worked on the possibilities. It was more than a stay; it was