Page 69 of Falling for the Grump Billionaire

A Quiet Moment

Later that night, after Adrian logs off and the penthouse falls into silence, I find Dominic standing by the window. A glass of whiskey dangles from his hand as he stares out at the city, the faint glow of the skyline reflected in the glass.

“You should rest,” I say softly, approaching him.

“So should you,” he counters without turning, his lips curling into a faint, humorless smile.

I join him by the window, letting the quiet settle between us. “Do you ever think about walking away?” I ask after a moment.

He glances at me, his blue eyes sharp and questioning. “Walking away from what?”

“All of it,” I say, gesturing to the view. “The power, the pressure, the constant fight. Do you ever think about just… letting it go?”

His laugh is bitter, a sharp sound in the stillness. “Every day. But I can’t. This isn’t just a company, Eva. It’s my life’s work. My legacy. If I walk away, they win.”

I study him, the weight of his words settling over me. For all his confidence and control, Dominic Kane is a man haunted by his own battles. A man who’s spent his life fighting wars most people will never understand.

“You’re not alone,” I say, placing a hand on his arm. “You don’t have to carry this by yourself.”

His gaze softens, and for a moment, the mask slips. “You’re too good for this world,” he says quietly. “Too good for me.”

I shake my head, a small smile tugging at my lips. “And yet, here I am.”

The Next Threat

The peace of the moment shatters as Dominic’s phone buzzes on the table. He grabs it, his face darkening as he reads the screen.

“What now?” I ask, my stomach twisting.

He hands me the phone. The message is short but chilling:"Tomorrow, 9 a.m. Your biggest deal will crumble. Courtesy of Vortex."

My breath catches. “They’re targeting the merger.”

The merger is everything Kane Enterprises has been working toward. It’s the lifeline that will stabilize the company and secure its future. If Vortex sabotages it, the fallout will be catastrophic.

“We have to stop this,” I say, my voice trembling with urgency.

Dominic’s eyes burn with fury. “We will. No matter what it takes.”

Just as dawn breaks over the city, Adrian calls. His voice is sharp, laced with urgency. “We’ve got a trace.”

Dominic answers immediately, his voice low. “Where?”

“A private estate outside the city. It’s linked to Reyes’s offshore accounts,” Adrian says. “But there’s more. Conrad’s name popped up again—he’s been there recently.”

Dominic and I exchange a look.

“This ends now,” he says.

His phone buzzes again. This time, the message reads:

"Come and get me. Let’s see if you survive."

The clock is ticking, and the stakes have never been higher.

The weight of the text message settles heavily in the room, the words"Come and get me. Let’s see if you survive."cutting through the tension like a blade. Dominic’s expression is unreadable, but the energy radiating off him is anything but calm. His fists clench at his sides, his jaw tight as he stares at the screen.

I can feel the anger simmering beneath his exterior, his usual composure starting to crack. “We can’t just rush in,” I say, trying to inject reason into the moment.

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