The Billionaires Pawn

Lexi’s Pov: The room was suffocating, thick with tension and fear. My pulse hammered in my ears as I stared at the man sitting across from my father’s desk. Giovanni Santino. His name alone made my stomach churn with dread. He lounged in the chair, far too relaxed for someone who had just issued a death threat. His eyes gleamed under the dim lights of the study, cold and calculating. “I’m a patient man, Ms. Thompson,” Santino said, his voice calm, almost casual. “But patience only goes so far. Your father owes me twenty million dollars, and I’m here to collect.” I swallowed hard. My father sat slumped in the corner, a near-empty glass of whiskey dangling from his fingers, his face ashen and hollow. He wouldn’t even look at me. Twenty million. How the hell were we ever going to pay that? The debt had started small,a few bad bets here and there,but it had snowballed into something monstrous. And now… now it was life or death. “Please,” I croaked, stepping forward to shield Kayla, w

Lexi’s pov: Waking up to the piercing light spilling through the heavy curtains, and my head pounding as if I’d been hit by a freight train. The sheets beneath me were luxurious, far too smooth for what I could ever afford. Blinking rapidly, I tried to focus on my surroundings, an upscale hotel room. Panic gripped me instantly. Where am I? What happened last night? Sitting up too quickly, I clutched my head as a wave of nausea rolled over me. Bits and pieces of the previous night surfaced, drinking, dancing with that mysterious man, and then… nothing. Did I have a one-night stand? With who? I looked down and breathed a sigh of relief when I saw that I was still fully dressed. But the fear hadn’t left. I needed to get out of here. Fast. I hurriedly grabbed my things and dashed out of the hotel room, praying no one would recognize me. The moment I got home, Kayla was already up. “Well, look who’s finally home,” she teased, raising an eyebrow at me. “Where the hell were you?”

Lexi’s pov: The car’s engine hummed in the silence between us, but the tension in the air was deafening. I could feel Julian’s gaze on me, sharp and unwavering, as we drove through the city. I pretended not to notice, but my pulse quickened every time I caught a glimpse of him from the corner of my eye. “You didn’t have to handle it like that,” I finally spoke up, breaking the silence. Julian’s eyes flicked to mine, cold and unyielding. “I don’t do ‘maybe’s’ or ‘what if’s,’ Lexi. You’re mine now. No one threatens what’s mine.” The words were simple, but the weight of them made my stomach flip. The way he said it—like a command, not a suggestion—made me realize just how much control he had over me. The car came to a stop outside his penthouse, and Julian was already stepping out before I could unbuckle my seatbelt. I followed him into the building, my heart racing, trying to ignore the unsettling feeling that crawled up my spine. There was something in the air, something I couldn

Julian’s Pov: I had no illusions about who I was. My father taught me that power wasn’t given; it was taken. And when my mother decided she’d take his life to seize control? That only reinforced the lesson. “Julian,” she’d say, her voice like ice. “A man who shows weakness is a man who loses everything.” “Like you lost him?” I’d replied once, watching her face twist. After his death, I’d built myself into the man I needed to be—untouchable, unshakable. My name carried weight. My business? Thrived on fear and respect. Étienne and I worked with men who smiled at dinner parties and traded secrets in the shadows. Billionaires. Criminals. Often both. “You’re quiet today,” Étienne said, snapping me out of my thoughts. “I’m thinking,” I replied, swirling the amber liquid in my glass. “Thinking? Dangerous game, mon ami.” He smirked. “Maybe you’ve finally lost your edge?” I shot him a look. He shrugged, leaning back in his chair. “Just saying, a man who spends this much time

Julian’s POV The door slammed behind me as I walked into the penthouse, the echo of the confrontation with Victor. That bastard had the nerve to threaten me. I’ve never been the type to back down, not ever. I headed straight for the kitchen, grabbed the whiskey bottle from the counter. Pouring myself a glass, I took a long sip, letting the burn seep through me. It did little to extinguish the storm inside. By the third glass, my mood hadn’t improved. Men like Victor thought power was about ego.They underestimated what it meant to truly own something, to dominate without hesitation. The phone buzzed on the counter, interrupting my thoughts. Étienne’s name lit up the screen. “What?” I snapped. “Nice to hear you too,” Étienne drawled, his voice laced with amusement. “Say what you need to,” I said sharply, swirling the amber liquid in my glass. “Two of the five packages have arrived safely,” Étienne said, his tone turning businesslike. “The others should be here by morning