Prologue

PROLOGUE

HUNTER

Iwas losing her.

The one who was never supposed to capture my attention. She’s young, beautiful, and the daughter of a very powerful man.

Alexandra Edwards made me feel things. Emotions and bullshit I’ve always been immune to. Just look at me. I married a woman I met at some seedy bar on the interstate all because of money.

I’m not meant to fall in love, or whatever you want to call this.

This entanglement we found ourselves in is far too complicated, and naturally, it was above Alexandra’s maturity. I knew it when she ‘accidentally’ fell asleep in some college guy’s bed and made me see red like I’d never had in my entire life.

The worst part is it was Romano’s younger brother. Another ruthless billionaire linked to Lex Edwards by marriage.

I wanted so much to loathe the man. But, if truth be told, I’d idolized him for the longest time. Yet, the reality is far different from the image I’d painted in my imagination.

The man will do anything to protect his family. A lion is standing in front of his den.

Now, he’s standing in front of me.

“I’m well aware my daughter is working for you,” he begins in a controlled tone, not a single blink of an eye. “But let’s get something straight. Alexandra is young. She’s misguided and stubborn. If I find out you even look at my daughter, let alone touch her, everything you have will be destroyed. Do you understand me?”

My lips press flat as my gaze upon this ignorant man lingers. Perhaps, I should see this as an honor. Does Edwards think he can destroy everything I have? What I have isn’t all mine until a baby comes into this world and is proven to be my heir.

The dark cloud that hovers above me at every waking moment.

“What I choose to do with my business and my personal life is exactly that … my business,” I simply state.

Edwards’ hands dig deep into his pockets, almost as if he is trying to control his rage. He glances at people walking past as they briefly smile, prompting him to nod in return. I’m yet to see Alexandra anywhere, but I’m sure she’s already here and most likely annoyed with me over my tardiness.

Something I’m rarely known for, but tonight, I needed to take care of work.

“When my family is involved, it is my business. You understand?” Edwards takes a step forward, closing the distance between us. “I’ve destroyed people before, and I’m not afraid to do it again.”

His threat should make me feel something, though, unlike him, I’ve got nothing to lose. All I have in this world is myself. My wife and stepdaughter, well, I wouldn’t sacrifice everything for them. They came as part of a business transaction.

If I’ve learned anything about Alexandra, she will do what she wants despite me saying a word. She refuses to listen to anyone, including her father.

The most infuriating thing about her.

And maybe it’s why I feel the way I do, desperately out of control.

Edwards straightens his tux jacket, then walks away confidently like this conversation never happened.

I head straight to the bar, drinking one glass after another. Alexandra eventually finds me, and as predicted, she’s annoyed.

Our fight begins to escalate, both of us frustrated for different reasons. I assumed my dealings with Edwards were over until he’s standing in front of me again.

As she introduces me to her parents, our argument comes to a screeching halt. I’m forced to pretend her father didn’t threaten me earlier, but if there’s anything we are good at, it’s a poker face under certain circumstances.

It’s the first time I’ve met her mother. The apple does not fall far from the beautiful tree. Charlotte Edwards is something else.

But my thoughts are clouded, riddled with chaos, and its chokehold on me only makes me drink more. Desperate to escape everything going on.

That is until I follow Alexandra to the mezzanine level.

And I take her one more time.

I’m not fucking stupid. Our time together had an end date. Everything always does. It just happened to be tonight. So why not be the prick to fuck her from behind while her father wows everyone with his speech.

What I wasn’t prepared for was my body to betray me. All of a sudden, the thought of not touching her again drives me to insanity. No one else can touch her. She is mine. I wanted so much to own every inch of her if that was even a possibility.

Yet, all these wild thoughts amid our heated moment ignite my desperation when she turns around to face me with burning eyes.

“Are you trying to destroy my father?” she accuses.

“Alexandra, what kind of question is that?”

“Answer me,” she demanded, glaring at me with such ferocity. “At the board meeting, I saw you hush Carol when she spoke about Harperlex. Earlier tonight, Chester threatened me. He said if I leaked anything to my father about what you’re doing as so-called payback, I’d be fighting a big lawsuit.”

My hands immediately move to my jacket, but despite my reluctance to discuss business with her, my anger is anything but controlled.

“Jesus fucking Christ, Alexandra. Stop acting like a child. Business is business.”

Her mouth falls open, shocked at my outburst.

“So, then I was bait?” she questions with a pained stare. “You used me to do what exactly?”

“Don’t even go there,” I mutter.

“Why? It makes perfect sense that …” she trails off mid-sentence, only for her to clutch her stomach like she’s ill or about to be sick.

“Whatever we have,” she continues with a shaky voice, “is over.”

I knew this would happen. It was supposed to happen.

We were never meant to be anything.

But the pain stabs me in the chest, a pain so deep it strangles my ability to breathe. What the fuck is this? Control yourself.

“Don’t say that, Alexandra. You just don’t understand …”

Her stance is anything but weak. “Consider this my resignation and termination of whatever you want to call us fucking around with each other behind your wife’s back.”

“I told you the truth!”

“Yeah,” she murmurs, fixing her panties since I hadn’t bothered to do it. “But actions speak louder than words. You want to destroy my father, and I’m the fool who fell for all your tricks. Goodbye, Hunter.”

As quick as this all went down, she turns her back and disappears down the stairs.

Fuck, fuck, FUCK!

My hands desperately run through my hair. I can go chase her and explain everything. But a part of me knows I need to let her go.

If I don’t destroy him first, Edwards will find a way to destroy me.

My mission will remain crystal clear without Alexandra distracting me with all she is.

I will rule the industry.

And Lex Edwards has no idea what is coming.

I pull my phone out of my pocket and send the text I’d been putting off.

Me

I’ll be home tomorrow. We need to talk about our agreement.

Kathy

So, you’ve finally come around …

Me

You know we don’t have a choice. Not if you want your share too.

Kathy

We’ll discuss the plan tomorrow.

Just like that, I’ve put an end to my affair with Alexandra. It was either her or my inheritance.

Frankly, there is no choice. Even if I wanted Alexandra, there’s no chance in hell she will want me in the same way.

The painful realization turns me into a bitter man with my focus now on only one thing—money.