The Billionaire's Secret Deal

ghts tumbling over each other in an endless loop. She had barely slept the night after their meeting with Nat

gaze. His calm demeanor was unnerving. How could he be so c

floor if you keep that up," he sai

you so calm about this? He could be plotting

e that's how this works. It's a game of patience. You push, yo

o the surface. "But what if we're waiting for not

is hands gently on her shoulders, grounding h

Tina forced herself to focus. She had always prided herself on being stron

e asked quietly, her voi

hardened. "Then w

willing to do whatever it took, and that both scared and reassured her. She wasn'

ver," she muttered, runni

ered in a wry smi

ck at the door. They both turned toward th

e low. He moved toward the door, ev

nking feeling settling in her stomach. This

n, a burly figure dressed in black. The man n

Nathaniel. He wants a sec

atch in her throat. An

ion remained un

night. S

As the door closed, he turned back to Tina, hi

process the informatio

walking back toward her. "He wouldn't

more space to breathe and prepare. But it seeme

?" she asked, her

touch was soothing, but it did little to calm the storm inside her. "Now

es to turn the

ned. "Then we turn

couldn't shake the feeling that they were walking i

his men, going over the logistics of their plan, while Tina did her best to keep

en for her as a symbol of power, he had said. It felt strange, wearing something so glamorous when her mind was

Jesse said as he adj

gh it didn't reach her eyes. "Tha

in his. "You'll be fine. Just remember,

heart was still racing.

dy seated at a private table in the back. He looked up

tanding to greet them. "I didn'

s a beat. "We're

Tina, his smile widening. "Tina

k everything in her not to slap th

movements calm and measured. Tina sa

glinting with amusement. "So, what's this

ing a partnership. You get a piece of the

w, clearly intrigued. "And

angerous. "Because if you don't, we'll make sure y

ith tension. Nathaniel studied Jesse, his smil

you?" Nathaniel aske

ity. "Control. We keep you in check, and

ad always been calculating, always looking for a way to manipulate thos

spreading across his face. "You've got guts, I'

This isn't a negotiati

in the air. Tina could feel her pulse quickening, her mi

ing colder, more calculating. "You think you can just come in here

rous edge to it. "No. I think you're smart en

els turning in his mind, the calculations running behind his eyes. He was weighing

ckle. "Alright, Jesse. You've got yourself a deal. But don't

a satisfied smile. "Would

ut there was a sense of relief that washed over her. The firs

e knew this was o