Falling for the billionaire's deal: The Deal of a Lifetime

It had been a rainy night. Ayla was only six months old, her small body burning with fever. She had been shivering all day, her tiny fists curling against my chest as she whimpered. The fever medication hadn’t worked. The wet towel treatments barely made a difference. And then, as night fell, her cries weakened, and her small frame went limp in my arms. Panic clawed at my chest. My baby was unconscious. I dialed Sebastian again—my fingers trembling so badly that I nearly dropped my phone. Call after call, I tried reaching him. No answer. He was working as a resident at Aetos Multi-Specialty Hospitals, but it was over an hour away. I had no choice but to rush Ayla to the nearest local hospital. The doctors did their best. I could see it in their tired eyes as they worked tirelessly to stabilize her. Machines beeped. Oxygen masks. Needles. My heart felt like it would stop at any second. “She needs to be transferred,” one of the doctors told me, his voice grim. “We’ve managed to stabilize her vitals for now, but she requires specialized care. Take her to Aetos immediately.” The next thing I knew, we were inside an ambulance. The sirens blared, cutting through the stormy night. Every second felt like an eternity. I held Ayla close, whispering desperate prayers against her damp curls. “Hold on, baby… Please, hold on.” The paramedic beside me checked her vitals repeatedly, his face tense. “We’re almost there,” he assured me. But my heart wouldn’t stop racing. I kept my eyes fixed on her tiny chest, watching for every faint rise and fall. Then, finally, the ambulance screeched to a halt in front of Aetos Multi-Specialty Hospitals. The emergency team was already waiting. They took her from my arms, rushing inside with urgency. I need money. That was the first thought that struck me. I had just started my career in real estate. I barely had a hundred dollars to my name. And the insurance? It wouldn’t cover everything. Ten thousand dollars. That was the estimated cost they gave me. I called Sebastian again. And again. And again. No answer. Desperation overtook me. I had no other choice. My parents weren’t in Eldoria—they lived in another state, a three-hour flight away. But I called them anyway, my voice breaking as I explained the situation. “We’re coming, sweetheart,” my mother said, panic laced in her voice. “Stay strong. We’ll be there soon.” My tears had dried up. My hands were numb from clutching my phone. But the pit in my stomach only grew deeper. I needed to charge my phone, so I stepped outside the PICU, searching for an outlet near the reception. That’s when I saw him. Sebastian. Standing in the dimly lit hospital corridor, his arms wrapped around a crying woman. His lips brushed against her forehead, whispering soft reassurances. My mind went blank. The world around me blurred. Then—darkness. Once, Aurora Adkins was a joyful, simple woman who believed in love. But love betrayed her. Left with nothing but heartbreak and a six months old daughter, Ayla, she clawed her way up from the ruins of her past. Now, she’s a real estate mogul, a self-made powerhouse with a heart of stone. Until she collides with him. Theron Drakos—ruthless, elusive, and heir to the Drakos Corporation. He’s built his empire in the shadows, and now, he’s ready to claim Eldoria. There’s just one problem, Aurora stands in his way. He hated the way she stood tall, untouched by his presence. He hated the way her aura clashed with his and still came out stronger. He hated that in every moment—people were watching her, not him. From the moment they meet, it’s war. Deals turn into duels. Boardrooms become battlegrounds. Two unstoppable forces, neither willing to bend. But beneath the sharp words and sharper gazes, something else smolders. Pride says they should walk away. Ego demands they win. But fate? It has other plans.