My Billionaire's Secret

ch

egistered the sounds of wind and rain lashing against the windows. My entir

n Pe

agreed to this interview out of grudging respect for her tenacity, fully intending to reveal just enough to satisfy her curiosity

storm raging around us, I found myself inexp

to drown in their whiskey-warm depths. To let that lush pou

his woman would be a dangerous proposition - one I couldn't afford. Not only was she a journalist, she had to be

. Of stripping away every last one of her secrets and making her mine. And while my intense focus was one of

. Instead, it only stoked the flame

McInt

staring at her with unrestrained intensity for God knows how long. Pulling back, I stra

ling to regain my customary control. "The s

king up on the shift in my demeanor. To her credit, she didn'

kground. Your rise to power seems almost...meteori

command. "I had a...unique perspective from a young age, you could say. I came from nothing, and I

as holding something back. "But you didn't come from 'nothing' in the typical sense, did you? There h

careful boundaries I'd established around my histo

background are just that - rumors. I'm a self-made man who c

t she seemed to sense she'd hit the limits of wh

ose first business ventures? How did you go from a young, ambitious

captivating creature - the delicate heart-shaped face, the wide, expressive eyes. Tha

lead to ruin. I was in control here - of the interview, of my own impulses. I had to remain vigilant.

rder edge. "I had the intelligence and instincts to spot opportunities where others

epths at my words. Curiosity? Or a hint of

playing dirty in order to get ahead," s

he rules of the game from a young age, Miss Pearce. That in order to atta

s remained locked on mine. "And what, exactly, did

s. She wanted the truth - all of it, no matter how ugly or unsavo

rge to give it to her. To let her glimpse the darkness lurking bene

could threaten to unravel everything I'd

hose beautiful eyes go wide with scandalized fascin

chl

snapped the moment of tension between us. I blink

coming out far more brusque than I'd intended. "This

es, but she gave a slight nod of assent. "

om my chair and moving t

s this strange effect she seemed to have on me? This unsettling ability

ed it. Craved letting her see the truth, no matter how sho

repulsed me. Instead, it

her. "I'm afraid you'll have to remain on the island until this storm passes a

l. But something in my expression must have warned her against

y, Mr. McIntyre. I look forwar

she shot me before turning on her heel fairly smolder

ear my name on her lips

sor

ed to face her again, tra

into a small smile. "Okay. Thank y

efore Sims thankfully arrived to save me from m