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2025-05-15 13:27:03
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The Billionaire's Bargain 55.
CHRISTIAN“Alex?” I heard her call out to the guy, as I turned slowly.The man seated across the table lifted his gaze, just as stunned.“Penelope?”I stared at him. Hard, and everything froze. The room, the air, my thoughts—nothing moved.It was him. The man from the photos. The stranger in the arcade, the one who had his arm around my wife, whispering into her ear, making her laugh like the world was perfect and uncomplicated.And now, here he was. Sitting at my father’s table. In a navy suit. Wearing the Hilton jawline like a badge.The back of my neck prickled.No one said a word. Not my father, not my mother, not even Penelope. He was sitting across from me. “Do you two know each other?” My father asked.The Alex guy was about to answer when Penelope butted in, “Yes, we do. He’s my friend, he has come by the bakery a few times.” She smiled.What’s so fucking entertaining that she has to smile, “Small world isn’t it.” He said.“What do you do Alex?” My mum asked, “Edward here has
The Billionaire's Bargain 54.
PENELOPEThe dress was a last-minute decision. White. Simple, but not forgettable — a satin slip dress with a deep cowl neckline and a high slit that kissed the middle of my thigh with every step. I paired it with gold heels and swept my hair up into a messy bun, soft strands framing my face.I stood in front of the mirror for a second, debating whether to add jewelry, but decided against it. Tonight, I didn’t want armor. I wanted to survive it bare.Grabbing my clutch and the jar of cookies I packed earlier for Eve, I hurried downstairs.And there he was, standing by the door, a white shirt tucked neatly into black pants, a matching dark jacket slung over his forearm. He looked… dangerous. And heartbreakingly good. My fingers tightened around the jar. I forced my gaze away.Did he really have to wear the same thing as me, an awful way to apologize, if at all this is an apology.Without a word, I walked past him and out the door.The car was already waiting for us. I slid into the pas
The Billionaire's Bargain 53.
PENELOPEThe day had barely started, and already, it felt like I was running on fumes.The bakery was filled with energy — customers in and out, trays flying from oven to display, and Maya practically sprinting between stations with a grin on her face. Jess and I barely kept up.Jess kept up, I was the one barely keeping up.It wasn’t even noon when the First Lady herself who had become one of our bakery’s biggest fans — strolled through the door, her assistant close behind her.Shutting down the street for a moment again, as her security was stationed just outside the bakery, Maya on the other far corner was bubbling in excitement as the First Lady was here.“Penelope,” she greeted, her voice warm. “I have a favor.”I wiped my hands on my apron and stepped forward. “Of course. Anything you need.”She smiled, that politician’s-wife smile. “We’re hosting a charity brunch this Saturday. I need about four dozen triangular croissants, another two dozen danishes, and a smattering of your s
The Billionaire's Bargain 52.
CHRISTIANThe Tokyo branch office was quieter than usual, the kind of quiet that settled deep in your bones and made you feel like time itself had slowed. If I was going to be in Tokyo for a while due to Ryuji’s request, I might as well get some work done from over here. I sat behind the massive black walnut desk, staring at my screen but not really reading the emails piling up. Most of it was routine—shares, projections, security updates, supplier reports. Nothing that really needed my attention but everything that demanded it anyway.Liam stepped in, dressed like he owned the place, his tablet tucked under one arm.“We’ve stabilized the Osaka merger numbers,” he said, dropping into the seat across from me. “Once legal finishes the contracts, we can sign off.”“Good,” I said, barely glancing at him. “Send it through my encrypted line.”He nodded, swiping on his tablet, before setting it down and leaning back into the seat. “Also, the supplier in Hokkaido renegotiated. Wants twenty
The Billionaire's Bargain 51.
PENELOPEI arrived at the bakery just as the sun was beginning to set, carrying the cake box like it was made of gold. Because honestly? It kind of was.The three-tier chocolate cake I’d stayed up decorating was nestled safely inside, complete with delicate butterflies, edible gold dust, and pink frosting swirls that looked like little clouds. Olivia was going to lose her mind.It was early—barely 8:45 a.m.—and Maya was already there, tying her apron and wiping down the counter like her life depended on it.“Morning,” I greeted.“Hi!” she said a little too brightly. “I got here twenty minutes ago just to, you know, get used to everything.”I smiled. “You’re going to be just fine. No pressure today. Just follow our lead and breathe, okay?”I’d barely set the box down and slipped into my own apron when Jess burst through the kitchen door, mid-conversation, only to stop short when she saw it.“Whoa,” Jess said, eyes wide. “You made that last night?”“I did,” I replied, smiling as I lifte
The Billionaire's Bargain 50.
PENELOPEWe didn’t have time to breathe, let alone sip coffee.The bakery was flooded this morning—moms, teens, tourists, and regulars, all buzzing in like honey bees. Jess and I moved around like women on fire, dodging trays, stacking boxes, calling out orders. It was chaos in the most delicious way, but still… chaos.“Okay, no more pretending,” Jess said, her ponytail flopping as she spun around with a tray of red velvet cupcakes. “We need help.”“I told you,” I said, breathless as I swiped powdered sugar off the counter. “And you agreed. So this is on both of us.”She groaned. “I already put out the notice. The applications are flying in. We’ve got three interviews scheduled for today.”“Three?” My brows lifted.“Yup. Two might be duds, but the third sounded promising. Young. Energetic. Said she loves early mornings and baking shows.”“Sounds like our people,” I smiled, grabbing my apron.By noon, the bakery had finally calmed enough for us to wipe the sweat from our foreheads and
The Billionaire's Bargain 49.
CHRISTIANThe air in the courtyard was heavy with incense, pine smoke, and silence.Today was Hajime’s funeral.It was being held on Ryuji’s estate, beneath the moonlit sky. The ceremony was traditional—painfully so. Every detail was deliberate, from the sacred salt placed at the entrance to ward off evil spirits to the quiet procession of black-clad mourners who bowed three times before approaching the body.Liam and I had both been given mourning robes—black montsuki kimonos etched with Ryuji’s family crest. Wearing it felt strange at first, like stepping into someone else’s skin. But it was essential, I was told. A show of respect. A symbol of brotherhood in grief.I had it in me to argue, but I didn’t. Wearing this dress was only for a few hours, I could live with it. At least I didn’t look as ridiculous as Liam did.Hajime’s body was laid out in a white pine casket, surrounded by offerings—his favorite whiskey, folded origami cranes, incense sticks burning at measured intervals.
The Billionaire's Bargain 48.
CHRISTIANIt had been days since Liam and I arrived in Tokyo, and still, the silence in Ryuji’s home was unnerving.Not the peaceful kind, no. This one was suffocating—heavy with grief, tension, and unanswered questions. His estate was tucked away from the city, cloaked in tall trees and security that rivaled the damn Pentagon. It was always quiet here, but this time, it felt like even the air was mourning.I sat across from Ryuji in his private room, the same room where we’d smoked cigars after major deals, where we toasted wins, where Hajime used to burst in uninvited like he owned the place. Now… It felt like a tomb.He looked different now.Gone were the suits, the silk ties, the polished cufflinks. Instead, Ryuji sat in shiro-muku—a white mourning kimono. A traditional sign of grief. It was pristine, perfectly folded around him, but something about wearing it made him look younger. Smaller. Like grief had carved out pieces of him and left only the shell behind.“I can’t believe h
The Billionaire's Bargain 47.
PENELOPEIt was just past 10 a.m., and the bakery had finally settled from the early morning rush. Jess and I were perched on the counter, legs swinging lazily, iced lattes in hand, talking about what really went on during our weekend together.“My head is still ringing from the bass,” Jess groaned, dramatically leaning back on her elbows.I snorted. “You mean the bass or the man who kept smacking his abs in your face?”“Okay, in my defense, he was ripped. And you’re one to talk. The way you screamed when they lifted you onto that chair—”I nearly spit out my coffee. “Oh my God, I didn’t scream.”“You shrieked. I have video evidence, you've gotta bribe me so I don't show it to Christian.”“You wish,” I shoved her playfully with my shoulder, both of us dissolving into laughter. My cheeks actually hurt from smiling. Naomi had stayed the night after our club-hopping spree–exactly as we had planned, and we’d danced until our feet were sore and our makeup was melting. For a weekend that st
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