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The Billionaire’s Runaway Bride 104
The next morning, I stood in the doorway of the bedroom, arms folded across my chest, watching him move around the room.Leo was already half-packed. His suitcase sat open on the edge of the bed, and he was carefully folding a black dress shirt before laying it inside. The collar was still crisp. Everything he packed looked like it belonged in a boardroom, not in whatever mess we were in.I swallowed back the lump that had been sitting in my throat since he first mentioned the trip.He turned, eyes catching mine, and gave me a small, tired smile. “You’re just going to stand there and stare at me?”I walked in slowly and sat on the edge of the bed. “When will you be back?”He reached for a pair of cufflinks, tucking them into the small pouch in the corner of the case. “A week. Give or take.”I nodded, trying to keep my voice steady. “Okay. I’ll be expecting you.”He sat beside me, his hand resting lightly on my knee. “I don’t want to leave you here alone, Bella. You know that, right?”
The Billionaire’s Runaway Bride 103
Back in my apartment, I kicked off my shoes and sank onto the edge of the couch. My mind hadn't stopped racing since I left his unit. I kept replaying everything he'd said from the deal, the threats, the file he never let me touch.I hadn't figured out what to do yet, but hearing my phone ring gave me the first bit of air I'd felt all day.Leo.I answered immediately, trying to sound calm.“Hey,” I said, letting the smallest smile touch my lips.“Where are you?” he asked, his voice coming through with quiet relief. “I’ve been looking everywhere.”I leaned back, glancing at the ceiling. “I just had to step out real quick. Sorry.”“Stella left,” he said. “I came out and you were gone. Dennis said you went out for a minute but didn’t tell him where.”“I’m okay,” I said, keeping my voice steady. “I just needed some air. I’m back now.”“Back where?” he asked. “Tell me where you are. I’ll come to you.”“I’m home,” I said, brushing my fingers through my hair.There was a pause.“You went hom
The Billionaire’s Runaway Bride 102
I didn’t knock. I didn’t have to.He was already standing in the doorway when I reached the unit next to mine, like he knew I was coming. Same unsettling calm. Same cold eyes. Like a man used to getting what he wanted.“Took you long enough,” he said.I folded my arms. “You said you had information.”He leaned casually against the doorframe, not moving aside to let me in. “I do. And I’m still willing to help you. But nothing in this world comes for free, Miss Bella.”His voice held a quiet smugness that crawled under my skin. I stayed still, my eyes locked on his.“You said you know who’s trying to take Leo down,” I said. “You said you could prove it.”“I did,” he nodded, smiling faintly. “And I can. But what I didn’t say—is that I need something in return.”He stepped back now, just far enough for me to enter. I hesitated, then walked in.The apartment was sparse. No pictures. No clutter. Just a laptop on the counter, a phone plugged into the wall, and a file sitting open on the dini
The Billionaire’s Runaway Bride 101
Leo didn’t move.His arms were still around me as he looked toward the door, face hardening instantly.“I told you,” he said, his voice low and sharp, “I didn’t want you stepping in front of me for any reason. Ever again.”Stella didn’t flinch, but her hands were clenched tightly by her sides. She took a small step into the office, her heels echoing on the floor as her eyes flicked to me for a second before locking back on Leo.“I know,” she said quickly, voice a little too steady, “but please, just listen to me.”He didn’t respond.She glanced at me again, longer this time, like she was trying to measure something.“It’s about something important. It’s going to help you, Leo. I swear it will. But…” her voice dropped slightly, “I need you to be alone.”She didn’t blink as she said it.Just stood there, waiting for an answer.Leo didn’t move his hand from my waist.“Whatever you need to say,” he said flatly, eyes locked on Stella, “say it in front of both of us.”Stella shifted her wei
The Billionaire’s Runaway Bride 100
I stared at the door long after it closed.The food sat untouched on the counter. I didn’t bother putting it away. I just paced the kitchen a few times, then walked to the living room and sank onto the couch, curling my legs underneath me. I waited. Ten minutes. Then thirty. An hour. Still no call.My phone was right beside me silent. I picked it up and dialed and he picked up on the second ring.“Hey,” I said, sitting up straighter, “what’s going on now?”He sounded winded, like he was walking fast, “still outside the building. Security's keeping them from getting too close, but it’s loud, really loud.”“Did you talk to any of them?”He hesitated. “A few, they're claiming damages. Long-term health issues, birth defects, injuries from past product use.”“But that’s not true,” I said, eyebrows knitting together. “You’d know. You’d never allow-”“I know,” he said quietly, cutting me off. “Bella, I know but I can’t talk too long right now. I’ll call you when I know more.”Before I could
The Billionaire’s Runaway Bride 99
The second I opened the door and saw him standing there, I didn’t think. I just pulled him in.He dropped his bag without a word and wrapped his arms around me. My cheek pressed against his chest, and I could feel the rise and fall of his breathing. Slower than usual, but still heavier than it should be.“You’re home,” I whispered, holding him tighter.His arms didn’t loosen. He just kept holding me, like he didn’t realize how badly he needed to until now.After a long moment, we pulled back slightly. Just enough to look at each other.“How are you?” I asked, brushing my fingers along the edge of his shirt collar.He gave a small smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “I’m fine.”I raised my brows. “Leo.”He tilted his head, still trying. “Really. I’m fine. Just… a long day.”I didn’t push it again. Not yet.“I watched the live broadcast,” I said gently, tucking a piece of hair behind my ear. “You did great. You held it together. You were clear and calm, and-” I paused, “you looked strong.
The Billionaire’s Runaway Bride 98
I sat back down at the dining table, pushing my half-eaten pasta to the side. The screen in front of me blinked, waiting. I opened a new message thread, the one connected to my Le Deon team. My fingers hovered over the keyboard for a second before I started typing.“Start a full investigation into the current structure of Rathore Holdings,” I wrote. “Find out what shares are open, who’s pulling out, and what it would take to buy in quietly. I don’t want my name anywhere near it. It needs to be discreet.”I hit send and leaned back in the chair, dragging my hand through my hair.The replies started coming in quickly.“We can track institutional investors pulling back.”“Would you consider coming in as a silent partner through a holding entity?”“There’s a short window before the press catches on to the deeper losses. If we’re going to help, it has to be now.”I sat there reading every single message carefully. The deeper I scrolled, the more real it became. If I wanted to save Leo’s co
The Billionaire’s Runaway Bride 97
I sat back down at the dining table, pushing my half-eaten pasta to the side. The screen in front of me blinked, waiting. I opened a new message thread, the one connected to my Le Deon team. My fingers hovered over the keyboard for a second before I started typing. “Start a full investigation into the current structure of Rathore Holdings,” I wrote. “Find out what shares are open, who’s pulling out, and what it would take to buy in quietly. I don’t want my name anywhere near it. It needs to be discreet.” I hit send and leaned back in the chair, dragging my hand through my hair. The replies started coming in quickly. “We can track institutional investors pulling back.” “Would you consider coming in as a silent partner through a holding entity?” “There’s a short window before the press catches on to the deeper losses. If we’re going to help, it has to be now.” I sat there reading every single message carefully. The deeper I scrolled, the more real it became. If I wanted to
The Billionaire’s Runaway Bride 96
The next morning started quiet.Leo had barely stirred when I slipped out of bed. I threw on one of his shirts and padded over to the window, tugging the curtain aside.That’s when I saw them.At first, it looked like a few people, maybe a delivery truck. But then I saw the flash of a camera. Then another. The long lenses. The crowd standing just beyond the gates. I stepped back slowly.They were here.He sat up in bed behind me, rubbing his eyes. “What’s wrong?”I looked over my shoulder. “They’re outside.”He stood immediately, walking over to the window. He didn’t speak. Just stared for a second before grabbing a shirt and pulling it on.By the time we got downstairs, Dennis was already pacing in the foyer, phone in one hand, frustration in his voice.“They must’ve gotten a tip. I’m already calling legal,” he said. “We’ll have to push the release forward. The more we wait, the more they spin.”Leo moved past him, straight to the front door. He opened it just enough to peek through.
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