The Billionaire Second Chance

let me in." "You decide things, Santiago. You don't

her. However, she retreated, and now there was m

, "I can't do this." "It's obvious that I do

hastily, in a panicked tone.

her eyes meeting his. "Sho

rs he had erected around himself were too strong and lofty. He was unsure of how to le

time, and she never receiv

g breath. With a shaky but determined voice, she stated, "That's what I thou

nusual tenderness as he said, "

d. He briefly believed that she might cha

door and entered, gently

e had played that night over and over again, wondering what he might have said or done. Howeve

after five years, she continu

y streets and dazzling lights stood in sharp contrast to the emptiness he

nd of his phone buzzing on the desk. His jaw t

a different actio

a heavy breath. There was no time to think back on the past or harbor regre

ed and unexpected thought occurred to him: What

e of his phone. Glancing at the screen, he saw Clara's name gleaming

ing incentives to important shareholders so they can use them as leverage ag

underestimated Manuel's level of ambition. His younger brother was learning how to pla

ialed Clara's line. The firs

she said, "Sir, I thought you'

ice and said, "Spare me the preamble

e disenfranchised shareholders to support him. Torres controls a sizable portion of the v

repeated, his tone tinted with mockery. "Under my leadership,

with the inheritance clause. He is presenting himself as the more relia

of disdain. For a man who has never comple

She wasn't the kind to provide platitudes, and San

ut Torres' terms? Santiago's

I've marked it for additional research. By tomorr

e movements and countermoves. Torres was an experienced opportunist who flourished in tur

a meeting with Torres." "I would li

may use the meeting to pressure Manuel into making co

tiago murmured, "Let him try." "He'll discov

f his most recent gamble. He had been the company's savior for years, turning Alvarez Industries from a faltering family e

n his desk. He was running out of time, and each day he was getting closer to a deadline that would ruin all he

away. She had charged him with being aloof and excluding her. She hadn't been mistaken either. The pressure he experienced, however, was something

when his phone chimed once more. It

rumors about your private life to damage your reputa

ke use of the clause, of course. A personal duty that was turned i

nock on the door. Santiago's face ha

"There's more," she stated without introducing herself. "Manuel is presenting himself as Alvarez Industries' possi

tterly. "They're pu

, he is sowing doubtful seeds. If you don'

olve as he straightened. "We'll

answered, "Sir, there is another pos

ebrow. "I'm pay

e." "Look for a companion. Hold onto your position. It wo

ting. Marriage is a business tactic, a partnership created out of necessity rathe

ly one who had viewed him as a guy rather than a CEO or a strategist. It was poi

about it," but it was obvious from hi

ible to read her face. "I'll ma

on looking back at him with a stern determination. The war

nuel had made his move. On his terms, he woul

f that means br