The Billionaire's Redemption

As she entered the expansive luxury structure, Aria gripped her sketchbook even more tightly, feeling more isolated by the interior's obvious luxury. Her meeting with Heathen King from yesterday was still weighing heavily on her second day on the job site. She had stayed up late reworking her designs, fueled by equal parts determination and frustration, determined to prove to him and her that she belonged here."Miss Chen," Anna called out, her heels clicking briskly against the marble floor. The woman had a commanding presence: sharp eyes flicking between the clipboard and Aria. "Mr. King has asked for a review of these proposed revisions before the contractors' meeting. He'll meet us in the west wing."Aria hesitated mid-step. "Mr. King?"But I thought he wasn't personally involved in these kinds of smaller projects.Anna's speech sounded sharp; her lips pushed into a narrow line. "Apparently, he changed his mind."Aria felt the shock of the report. Heathen had hardly recognize

Later that night, Aria sat in her tiny apartment, littered with scattered blueprints and a laptop. Yet, she just couldn't seem to settle into anything. Her thoughts were back with Heathen King and all he had shared; his vulnerability stayed with her, haunting her like a whispered whisper.The man behind the ruthless billionaire persona was more interesting than she could let herself admit. He wasn't what she had expected.Her phone buzzed, pulling her out of her thoughts. It was a message from Anna:Mr. King has requested your presence at a high-profile client meeting tomorrow. Be at the office by 9 a.m. sharp. Dress professionally.Aria frowned. Why would Heathen bring her into something like this? She had expected to stay at the back, taking care of technicalities. This was unexpected.The next morning, Aria stood outside the glass tower of King Enterprises, her insides tightly coiled. In an attempt to fit in she had dressed for the role, wearing a sleek navy blazer, and tailored p

The anxiety in the air was obvious as Aria walked into King Enterprises' sophisticated office the next morning. Her actions of the previous days were bothering her, yet they had also sparked a flame within her a commitment not to allow Marcus Stone or anyone else degrade her abilities or value. She pressed the elevator buttons and the doors opened. Some employees greeted her and some waved towards her. She greeted them back with a smile but she could still feel the bitterness of her mood.As she stepped inside the elevator, she had a quick glimpse of herself in the reflected glass. Her face was stern, and her shoulders were straight. She gave the impression of a competent expert, yet behind the surface, doubt remained. The false story and unknown technical problems were upsetting her, but she refused to let it show. When the elevator doors lifted to the highest floor, Anna recognized her with her usual quick professionalism. "Mr. King is in a conference but has asked you to meet h

The following week passed in a flurry of activity and work, but the project’s progress brought a sense of accomplishment to everyone involved. Aria and Heathen had managed to build and improve operations, gaining the trust of King Enterprises’ board and employees. However, they knew the war wasn’t over. Marcus might have backed down for a bit now, but his threat lingered like a shadow over their every move because he won’t back down easily. Late evening in following week, Aria sat in her office, reviewing the revised project timeline and material. Her desk was filled with endless blueprints, contracts, and a steaming cup of hot coffee she had barely touched. The faint chit chatter of the office cleaning staff echoed in the distance, but otherwise, the whole floor was silent. A knock at the door broke her focus and she came out of her trance. “Come in,” she called, her voice filled with fatigue and tiredness. Heathen stepped inside, his undeniable presence filling the room. He wa

Aria stood in the far corner of an elegant and sleek boardroom at King Enterprises as the early morning sun cast golden waves across the towering buildings of the city. The comforting warmth of Heathen's words from the previous evening still remained in her thoughts, but right now, the real world requested her complete concentration. Her head throbbed with unresolved thoughts about Marcus's plans and the hanging memory of Vanessa's unpleasant behavior.Heathen stepped in very soon later, his flawless suit highlighting his powerful and strong personality. His icy composure dominated the atmosphere, and Aria felt reassured for just a split second. However, when his attention caught hers, a flash of worry flashed on his face. "Did you even fall asleep?" Heathen inquired, his voice pitched so low that only she could hear. She tried to think of an excuse but Heathens intense glare was enough to make all her thoughts about making an excuse vanish.Aria grinned softly while enjoying her