Semua Bab Redeeming Alessandre: Claiming the Billionaire ice Queen : Bab 1 - Bab 8

OPHELIAIt hadn’t been easy getting to the stage I was at now. It took years of relentless hard work and more tears than I cared to think of but I did it. I built the world’s leading company in biomedical innovation. And I wore that fact like a badge of honour.My heels clicked sharply against the sprawling marble floors of my company’s head office, and my security detail followed a few steps behind me. Everyone parted ways as I walked past and no one dared cross me. I wasn’t called the Ice Queen for no reason.I stepped into my office, left the guards stationed at the door, and slipped off my shades. Charlotte entered a moment later, her stride determined as usual.“You need to throw a ball,” she said immediately upon reaching my desk.Well, that was unexpected.“A ball?” I asked, brows furrowed.She nodded, her expression all too casual. “Yup. A ball.” She sank into the ergonomic chair across from me and began spinning in it slightly, as if we were talking about picking dinner res

OPHELIAI ignored the stares from the guests and scanned the room for Charlotte. She was really going to explain to me why he was here.I didn’t need to walk far. She was standing at a table, chatting with one of the guests. I slipped on a fake smile and approached.“Good evening, gentlemen,” I said smoothly. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to borrow her for a quick moment.”They smiled and nodded, and with that, I grabbed Charlotte gently by the arm and pulled her away. Once we were far enough from prying eyes and ears, my smile dropped, and a cold look took over my features.“How did he get into this place?” I hissed.“I—I don’t know, Ophelia,” she stammered. “I swear, I’ll get to the bottom of it. I have no idea how he got past security or even an invitation. I’m so sorry.”Charlotte was visibly shaken, fidgeting with her clutch. My anger dulled, just a little.I sighed. “Just find out who let him in as well as who he came with,” I muttered. “We can’t have uninvited guests walking in

OPHELIABy morning, the tabloids were on fire and the moment I opened my phone, I was greeted by headlines screaming in all caps:"ICE QUEEN MELTS IN HER EX'S ARMS—STUNNING FALL OR STAGED REUNION?""THE PHOENIX & THE FALLEN KING: IS LOVE BACK ON THE TABLE?""FROM SCANDAL TO SIZZLE? BILLIONAIRE ALESSANDRE MARCELLO RE-ENTERS OPHELIA WREN'S WORLD."I scrolled clip after clip on social media and I saw the moment I tripped on the stairs, the frozen second when I crashed into him, the way in which his arms encircled my waist as if we were still something. Over and over it played. It was sickening.One feed even went as far as pairing it with a tacky love song in the background. Another one slowed it down and titled it: "When fate steps in."“Eww,” I muttered, putting the phone at a distance away from me.I nearly threw my phone at the mirror."Charlotte!" I shouted, already pacing the length of my living room.She burst in a moment later, her hair disheveled, phone buzzing in one hand, and

ALESSANDREI just wanted coffee.That was it. A cup of coffee and maybe one of those warm almond croissants they always kept behind the glass. I hadn’t slept throughout the night and now, my head was a tumble of confused thoughts and a hangover still lingered at the fringes of my brain. Something about last night just kept nagging at me—the look on her face while she was in my arms.Ophelia Wren hated me and that was a fact.Her hatred was justified. Yet, I wished she didn’t hate me.I stepped out onto the sidewalk, buttoning my coat up against the wind as I headed to the corner café that I used to frequent back when I had a driver, a PA, and less shame. Life was simpler then. Or maybe I was just clueless to my surroundings.The scent of roasted espresso wafted to my nose before I even saw the café and I let out a breath of relief. One small ritual, one moment of normalcy—"OH. MY. GOD."I blinked."Is that—? It's him, right?!"Suddenly, a cacophony of high-pitched voices descended up