Eidan Valen

The sound of her heels echoed loudly on the marble floor. The boardroom was silent. Everyone was watching her: older men in suits, sharks accustomed to devouring anyone who showed weakness. But she wasn't afraid.

—The contract is clear. Ten percent stake. No more. If you don't like it, there are ten investors waiting for my call.

A pause.

A murmur.

And then, silence.

The meeting ended as usual: with her winning. And everyone accepting, even though they wanted her head.

She had built her empire alone, with broken nails and well-dressed lies. There was no room in her life for mistakes, much less for men.

Until he appeared again.

Eidan Valen.

He didn't knock. He never did. He just walked in, as if the world belonged to him. And in a way, it did. He was the CEO of one of the most powerful corporations in the country. A billionaire. Impossibly attractive. Highly dangerous.

And completely obsessed with her.

"Another meeting won. Shall we celebrate?" he said, his voice low and smooth as poison.

She didn't even look at him.

—I don't drink with men who won't take no for an answer.

—And I never stop insisting on the things I want.

She sighed.

—What part of me not marrying you don't you understand?

"Everything. Because I didn't come to propose to you this time," he said, moving closer. "I came to propose something else."

She looked at him, now with suspicion.

—What kind of thing?

Eidan dropped an envelope on his desk. —A contract. I'll fund your new expansion. No strings attached, no pressure, no interference. In return… I belong to you.

She raised an eyebrow.

—Are you offering me… yourself?

—Yes. As an assistant, bodyguard, chauffeur, investor, whatever you want. Do whatever you want with me. Except one thing.

—And what is that thing?

He smiled, that crooked smile that used to disarm her inside.

—Don't ask me to stay away.

.