cruel now, cutting through the haze of her anger as she spotted Damian Cross leaning casually against one of the

t even looking up from the phone he was scrolling throu

ross his polished shoes. "You just bought my café out from under me like it wa

nt, it was as though he could see straight through her. His stare was so stead

with an infuriating hint of i

ge shot back. "You don't know the first thing abo

sed across his face before it vanished as q

her off, to get back into his car and drive off to wherever billionaires spent their days r

muttered, crossing her arms tig

his head. "P

ey and your... arrogance, and you think you can take whatever you want just because you can. Well, some of

mian seemed to lose a fraction of his composure. He pushed off the car, tucki

a blade wrapped in silk, "you're standing

e hated how calm he sounded, how easily he d

"Why did you even buy it? You don't care about Bl

ht-I don't care about the café itself. But I do care about the land it sit

ists. "So you're go

peck of dust from his sleeve. "The future of Blue

What's that su

tor wore when it knew the mouse had no escape. "You're an intelligent woman, Sage.

gh the distance might help her make sense of what she'd just

ur café open. I need someone I can trust to oversee its operations while I decide wha

wn for his kindness. He wasn't even known for fairness. He was a businessman-a cold, ruthless

she aske

gh to fight for it," he said simply. "And t

t trust him-not for a second. But the offer was danglin

he asked warily. "Because

ear. In return, I'll leave Bluebird Café untouched and allow you to manage it as you see fit. If you

. She'd heard stories about the man's infamous work ethic, his impossible standards. People

r like it had never existed. Another forgott

back?" she repeated, n

But you'll have to earn it. Nothing com

ugh. "Trust me, I know t

stance. She could picture it in her mind-the cozy booths, the smell of fresh coffee, the w

n't ready t

ng his piercing gaze head-on. "Fine," she

r all along. "Good. Be at my office in Lexington

owing her eyes. "Tomorr

r argument. He turned, opening the SUV's door. "If you're as muc

door shutting behind him with a finality that left Sa

her mind racing. She felt like the ground had been ripped out from under her, and the onl

would step into Damian Cross's world, a world of suits and skyscrapers and impossible expectations. Sh

nt facing the