Page 3 of Marriage Bargain With Her Brazilian Boss (Billion-Dollar Fairy Tales)

“Not at all.” His brow furrowed and his voice deepened. “Never think that. You can be sad and excited at the same time. One doesn’t invalidate the other. And families are complicated,sim?”

Something in his gaze made her ask, “What about you, Caio? Do you have a big family?”

“Not really. Not anymore at least”

There was a note in his voice that clearly said it wasn’t a topic he wanted to talk about. So even as curiosity pricked, she followed his lead and let it be. She didn’t want to hurt him by probing into painful matters. Running her hands over the buttery soft leather of her seat, she asked, “So this jet...it’s yours, right?”

His eyes twinkled as if he found her endlessly fascinating. “How do you know it’s not your grandfather’s?”

“My grandparents are immigrants who came to the US with nothing. They’d never waste money on such extravagant luxuries.”

“I thought I’d successfully avoided the environmentalist’s notice. But I see I didn’t escape her smart daughter.”

“Mama would have roasted you alive with at least an hour’s lecture,” Nush said with a laugh. “Is this your present to yourself for soaring stock? You’re a millionaire now, aren’t you?”

“You’re business savvy too? No wonder your grandfather is so excited to have you come live with them.”

Nush blushed. “I follow the company news. I invested the allowance Thaata gave me in your stock.”

Surprise made him chuckle. “You’re an unending delight, Anushka.”

“My friends call me Nush,” she said, even though she didn’t actually have any real-life friends. Only online ones, kids who didn’t judge her because online she could pretend that she was perfect. “Plus I’m interested in the finance software you develop. I’ve been following its development since Thaata and you were discussing it that first time I met you. I’m a coder too.”

“Yeah?”

Something about the challenge in his gaze spurred Nush to reach for her backpack. It had been a gift from Mira and Yana on her last visit and it was her favorite possession. Soon, she had the program she’d written open on her laptop. Turning the screen toward him, she rested her chin on her clasped hands and waited for his assessment.

His golden eyes moved over the screen rapidly, and she took the chance to study him to her heart’s content, storing away the smallest details.

After several minutes, Caio plopped the laptop closed and whistled.

“You wrote the program?”

She nodded, catching the light of curiosity in his eyes. It was a look she’d seen in her own eyes when she made forward progress.

“How long did it take?”

“A week.”

Caio stared at her, his gaze calculating and shrewd. A thrill shot through her when he stuck out a hand between them. Nush let his big hand envelop hers and that swarm of butterflies took flight in her belly again. “What’s...this for?”

“A partnership, Princesa. You and I are going to rule the world together.”

Nush gave him her hand and promised herself she’d find a boy exactly like Caio when she grew up to fall in love with.

Maybe not as good-looking and magnetic and charming and so...out of her sphere.

But someone like him, nevertheless.

CHAPTER ONE

Nine years later

Step out of your fairy tales, Princess.

Life is to be lived, not read about.

NUSHOPENEDANDfolded the crisp note that had been delivered to her this morning, two days after Thaata had drawn his last breath. She’d read his handwritten message a thousand times already.

---