The Billionaire's Bought Bride and Instant Mom Chapter 192

Aveline

I stood by my bedroom window, still in my business suit, watching the city lights blur in the distance. The image of Orion's exhausted face kept flashing through my mind—those dark circles under his eyes, the way his shoulders had sagged when he thought I wasn't looking, the vulnerability he'd tried so hard to hide behind that trademark confident smile.

I let out a long sigh and pressed my palm against the cool glass. There was something about seeing him weak that I couldn't bear. Maybe it was because I'd grown so accustomed to his unshakeable presence, or maybe it was something deeper.

Fifteen hours. That's all we had to secure one billion dollars.

I shook my head, pushing away any doubts that threatened to creep in. This wasn't the time for second-guessing. I had work to do.

The smell of fresh coffee and warm pastry greeted me as I rushed downstairs the next morning, already running through my mental checklist for the day. Grandmother was setting out a full breakfast spread on the dining table—scrambled eggs, fresh fruit, homemade scones—the kind of meal that required sitting down and actually appreciating.

"Good morning, darling," she said with a warm smile. "I made your favorites."

I grabbed three pieces of toast from the basket, balancing my phone and purse while trying to slip on my heels. "Morning, Grandmama."

"My goodness, what's the rush?" she asked, watching me hop on one foot as I struggled with my shoe. "Can't spare five minutes for a proper breakfast?"

I paused mid-hop, realizing I'd forgotten my car keys. Spinning around, I snatched them from the side table and headed back toward the door.

"I need to borrow one billion dollars!" I called over my shoulder with a cheerful wave. "Don't wait up for dinner tonight!"

The last thing I saw before closing the door was Grandmother's expression of pure shock, her coffee cup frozen halfway to her lips, mouth agape like she'd just witnessed me announce I was joining the circus.

I couldn't help but grin as I jogged to my car. Some conversations were better had in retrospect.

The exclusive private dining room at Le Bernardin was exactly what I needed—soundproof, discreet, and impressive enough to set the right tone for what I was about to propose. Laurent and Luna were already seated at the polished mahogany table, both looking impeccably put-together despite the early hour.

"Salut, ma chérie!" Laurent rose to greet me with his characteristic charming smile, kissing both my cheeks in the traditional French manner. "Comment ça va? To what do I owe the pleasure of this unexpected breakfast meeting?"

Luna, radiant as always in a silk blouse that probably cost more than most people's monthly rent, laughed as she stood to hug me. "I was just telling Laurent how mysterious you've been lately. We barely hear from you since you started this whole 'reviving grandmother's company' project, and suddenly you're calling emergency breakfast meetings."

I gestured for them to sit, then began pacing around the table with what I knew was a predatory smile. "Laurent, you did hear about yesterday's stock market volatility with Blackwell Industries, didn't you? Such a large, established company experiencing such dramatic fluctuations. Can you believe it?"

Laurent's expression immediately shifted to wariness. I could practically see the gears turning in his head. "Blackwell Industries?" He leaned back in his chair. "Oh no. Please tell me you didn't call us here to discuss business. We specifically agreed that breakfast meetings were supposed to be purely social—"

"Laurent!" Luna interrupted, placing a gentle hand on his arm. "Aveline is your business partner and my best friend. We can talk about anything with her."

Laurent captured Luna's hand and pressed a soft kiss to her knuckles, but his eyes remained fixed on me. "Darling, you don't know this woman like I do. I told you about this before, didn't I? That solar energy deal three years ago—she called me from Dubai at midnight, talked me into throwing forty million at some startup that was still figuring out their prototype."

I laughed, not breaking my pacing rhythm. "And did that investment pay off or not?"

Laurent was quiet for several seconds, clearly warring between annoyance and admiration. "The return was... exceptional. But the process nearly gave me a heart attack! Your approach to business is so reckless, so unpredictable—"

"So profitable," Luna interjected with a grin, turning to me. "Now I understand why your driving style and your business style are identical. Both involve calculated risks that would terrify normal people."

"And both deliver results that justify the terror," I added smoothly. "Remember, when we started, we were just a small design studio. But following my recommendations, we transformed into LA Luxury Group SA. We might still operate under the studio name for nostalgia, but our brand portfolio and market valuation have grown exponentially, haven't they?"

Laurent nodded slowly. "Our company's worth has increased by over 800% in three years, yes. But—"

"So," I continued, stopping directly in front of their chairs, "when I suggest we jointly secure a one billion dollar loan, that should be relatively straightforward, shouldn't it?"

Laurent's response was immediate and explosive. "One BILLION?" He shot to his feet so quickly his chair rolled backward. "Aveline, what the hell are you planning?"

I maintained my calm, confident demeanor. "Not selling—that would be both time-consuming and financially inefficient. I'm talking about a short-term collateral loan using our equity stakes. Swiss banking, completely legitimate, funds available within hours."

"Those are our life's work you're talking about!" Laurent's voice cracked slightly with emotion. "What if we can't repay? What if something goes wrong? And why do you need my shares anyway? Your individual stake should be sufficient collateral!"

I smiled with deliberate sweetness. "Because we're partners, Laurent. We've always shared both opportunities and risks."

Laurent actually rolled his eyes. "That's exactly what I was afraid you'd say."

Luna stood up and took my hands, her expression concerned but trusting. "Aveline, are you absolutely certain this is the right move? This sounds incredibly dangerous."

I began explaining the entire situation—Orion's corporate power struggle, the impossible deadline, our alliance, and most importantly, the potential for not just recovering our investment but gaining significant equity in Blackwell Industries.

"Think about portfolio diversification," I continued, watching Laurent's expression carefully. "We can't put all our resources in luxury goods forever. Becoming shareholders in a major infrastructure company would stabilize our long-term financial position exponentially."

Laurent's businessman instincts were clearly warring with his risk-averse nature. "But this approach puts everything on one person's success. If Orion fails, if he loses this corporate battle..."

My expression turned razor-sharp, my voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "He won't lose."

The absolute certainty in my tone seemed to catch both of them off guard.

Luna squeezed Laurent's hand gently. "Look, you'd be investing in Orion Blackwell—one of the most successful CEOs of his generation. Aveline's track record for reading people and situations is flawless. Has she ever steered us wrong before?"

I beamed at her. "Luna, this is exactly why I adore you as a friend and why you're perfect for Laurent. Your judgment is absolutely impeccable."

Laurent pressed his palms against his temples and let out a long, defeated sigh. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but... fine. You're my partner, and apparently, I'm destined to follow you into whatever beautiful disaster you devise next. But I'm officially putting all my trust in your judgment."

I clapped my hands together with genuine delight. "Excellent! Because this one billion is going to become ten billion before we're done."