Carolina's fingers tightened around the contract, her nails digging into the thick paper. She hated this. Hated him. Hated the fact that she was standing here, begging for help from the one man she had spent years trying to forget.
Alexander leaned back in his chair, watching her like a hunter sizing up his prey. He was enjoying this.
"Let me guess," he mused, his deep voice laced with amusement. "Daddy dearest finally lost his golden touch?"
Her jaw clenched. He knew. Of course, he knew. Alexander Malvern knew everything.
Her father had built an empire—a business that once stood tall in the corporate world. But bad investments, reckless decisions, and a few powerful enemies had brought it crashing down.
And now? The Daniels family was drowning in debt.
And Alexander Malvern? He was the only lifeline left.
"How much?" His voice cut through her thoughts.
Carolina swallowed hard. "Thirty million."
For the first time, his smirk faltered. He tilted his head, studying her. "That's a big number, Carolina."
She refused to shrink under his gaze. "I know."
Silence stretched between them, thick with tension. Then, slowly, he reached for the contract she held and skimmed through the pages.
"Your father wants a loan." He chuckled, shaking his head. "Typical. But tell me, sweetheart… what do you have to offer in return?"
Her heart slammed against her ribs. She knew this wasn't going to be easy. But she had no idea just how cruel Alexander could be.
He tossed the contract onto his desk and stood up, closing the distance between them.
Too close. Too dangerous.
"I don't do charity, Carolina," he murmured, his voice dangerously soft. "If I give you thirty million dollars, I want something in return."
She braced herself. "What do you want?"
A slow, wicked smirk spread across his face. "You."
The air froze.
"What?"
His fingers grazed the edge of her chin, tilting her face up until she had no choice but to look into those dark, predatory eyes.
"Marry me