Hey, Heartless Billionaire, Am in Charge!

The boardroom of Dawson Industries was a testament to the company’s legacy—sleek, modern, and imposing. The floor-to-ceiling windows offered a sweeping view of the city skyline, but Sophia Dawson’s gaze was fixed on the documents spread out before her. The numbers were worse than she’d expected, and that was saying something. “Miss Dawson?” Her assistant’s voice was hesitant, breaking through the thick silence. Sophia looked up, her steely blue eyes locking onto the young woman standing at the door. “The shareholders’ meeting is in twenty minutes. They’re waiting for you.” Sophia nodded curtly, dismissing her with a wave. The assistant retreated, leaving Sophia alone with the weight of the impending disaster. Dawson Industries was on the brink, and the sharks were circling. Vanguard Holdings, a shadowy conglomerate with a reputation for hostile takeovers, had been quietly buying up shares, positioning itself for a move that could obliterate everything her family had built. The company her father had spent his life creating, the empire she had taken over after his death, was now teetering on the edge of oblivion. And Liam Blackwood was her only hope. The thought made her stomach churn. Liam Blackwood, her ex-husband, and the man who had torn her heart to shreds. The ruthless billionaire who had walked away from their marriage the moment the ink on their contract had dried, leaving her to pick up the pieces of her shattered life. Sophia had sworn she’d never need him again. But here she was, with no choice but to consider a partnership with the one man she could never fully trust. She rose from her seat, her tailored suit hugging her slender frame as she strode towards the door. Her heels clicked against the marble floor, each step a reminder of the power she wielded—power that was now slipping through her fingers like sand. As she entered the conference room, the chatter of the assembled shareholders died down. All eyes turned to her, expectant, judgmental. They were looking for a leader, someone who could save them from the looming catastrophe. Sophia knew they were beginning to doubt if she was that person. She took her place at the head of the table, her posture regal and unyielding. “Ladies and gentlemen,” she began, her voice calm but edged with steel, “I won’t mince words. We are facing a significant threat from Vanguard Holdings. But I want to assure you that we have a plan in place to protect Dawson Industries and its legacy.” As she spoke, her mind raced. The plan she was about to outline was risky, perhaps even reckless, but it was the best option she had. Yet, even as she detailed the strategy to her shareholders, her thoughts kept drifting back to the email that had appeared in her inbox that morning—a message from Liam, offering to meet and discuss a way out of this mess. It was a simple message, curt and to the point, as if they were strangers discussing a business deal rather than two people who had once shared a life. The cold detachment in his words stung, even after all this time. But beneath the hurt, there was something else—a flicker of curiosity, of anger, of… anticipation. What was Liam really after? Was this just another one of his power plays, or did he genuinely want to help? She couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to this than met the eye. “Miss Dawson?” One of the shareholders, an older man with thinning hair, interrupted her thoughts. “Are you suggesting we place our trust in Blackwood Enterprises? Given the history between you and Mr. Blackwood, can we really rely on him to act in our best interests?” The question hung in the air, heavy with doubt and unspoken accusations. Sophia felt a surge of frustration but kept her expression neutral. “Liam Blackwood is a skilled businessman,” she replied, choosing her words carefully. “Our personal history has no bearing on the situation at hand. If his expertise can help us navigate this crisis, then we would be foolish not to consider his offer.” The shareholders exchanged uneasy glances, but none voiced further objections. They were desperate, just as she was. And desperation made people do things they’d rather not. The meeting continued, but Sophia’s mind was already elsewhere, contemplating the conversation she would soon be having with the one man she had never wanted to face again. --- The restaurant Liam had chosen for their meeting was as luxurious as it was discreet. It was a place for the city’s elite, where deals worth millions were made over glasses of aged whiskey and plates of gourmet cuisine. Sophia arrived early, not out of eagerness, but because she needed a moment to compose herself. She was seated at a secluded corner table, far from prying eyes. The low lighting cast a warm glow over the polished wood and soft leather, creating an atmosphere of intimacy that made her feel uncomfortable. This was not a social call, after all. It was business. Liam arrived exactly on time, his entrance as commanding as ever. He was dressed in a tailored suit that emphasized his tall, muscular frame, his dark hair perfectly styled. As he approached the table, his piercing green eyes met hers, and for a brief moment, neither of them spoke. “Thank you for meeting me, Sophia,” Liam said, his voice smooth and controlled as he took a seat across from her. She gave a curt nod, not trusting herself to speak just yet. The silence stretched between them, thick with unresolved tension. Finally, she broke it, her voice sharper than she intended. “Let’s get to the point, Liam. What do you want?” He leaned back in his chair, studying her with that inscrutable expression she had come to know all too well. “I want to help you. Help us both, actually.” “Help?” Sophia scoffed, crossing her arms. “You walked away from our marriage without a second thought, Liam. Why should I believe you’re here to help now?” Liam’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t rise to the bait. “We both know what’s at stake here, Sophia. Vanguard Holdings is a threat to everything we’ve built. I’ve already lost too much because of my pride. I’m not going to let them take our companies too.” Sophia’s eyes narrowed. “And what’s your price? Because I know you, Liam. You don’t do anything out of the goodness of your heart.” A flicker of something—guilt, perhaps?—passed across his face, but it was gone before she could be sure. “My price is simple: we work together, as equals, to bring down Vanguard Holdings. No tricks, no hidden agendas. Just two people who know how to win.” She wanted to believe him, wanted to trust that he had changed. But the scars he’d left on her heart were still too fresh, too deep. Could she really trust him again, even for the sake of saving her family’s legacy? Sophia studied Liam for a long moment, searching for any sign of deceit in his eyes. What she saw instead was determination, and perhaps something else—something that scared her even more than the threat of losing everything. “Fine,” she said at last, her voice barely above a whisper. “We’ll work together. But this time, Liam, we do it on my terms.” A slow, almost predatory smile spread across his face. “Agreed. But remember, Sophia—this is just the beginning.” And as they shook hands, sealing the deal, Sophia couldn’t shake the feeling that she had just made a pact with the devil.