Be My Woman: A Billionaire's Redemption

A black SUV rolled to a stop outside the private terminal. Jace Callahan sat in the back, one leg crossed over the other, dark aviators hiding his eyes. He kept checking the gold watch on his wrist like the time was personally offending him.

Outside, the fans had gone wild. Screaming girls pressed against the barricades, phones up, signs waving. Camera flashes popped nonstop against the tinted windows.

Cole turned from the front seat. “They’re everywhere, boss. We should’ve used the private hangar like I said.”

“They always find out.” Jace answered, voice flat. “Doesn’t matter.”

Another wave of screams hit when someone thought they saw movement.

“JACE! JACE OVER HERE!” Girls were crying, pushing, begging for one look.

“Pigs.” Jace muttered under his breath.

Cole almost laughed but caught himself. He stepped out first. Security moved in fast, big guys in black suits creating a wall. Cole opened the back door.

Jace stepped out slowly. The second his polished shoes hit the ground, the noise became worse. He didn’t smile, neither did he wave at them. He just walked forward, the security tight around him, while the crowd screamed his name like he was some kind of god.

Inside the terminal, their shoes clicked loud on the marble. Cole stayed half a step behind, talking fast.

“We land in Paris at 14:10. You’ve got meetings back to back with Delacour Industries and the Swiss bankers. They want to renegotiate the offshore contracts in person.”

Jace said nothing. His face stayed cold.

Cole cleared his throat. “Also… your mother sent another message.”

Jace stopped walking. The whole team behind him almost crashed into each other. He turned his head slowly. “Delete it.”

Cole nodded quickly. “Yes, boss.”

They kept moving. Jace’s voice stayed low. “About Reiner Corporation. They flew in from Zurich. They’re threatening to pull out again.”

“Make them wait,” Jace said.

“But boss—”

Jace stopped dead. Everyone froze. “I said make them wait.”

Cole swallowed. “Yes, boss.”

They reached the jet. A flight attendant bowed slightly. “Welcome aboard, Mr. Callahan.”

Jace didn’t answer. He just unbuttoned his cuffs, sat down, and took the glass of bourbon waiting for him. The jet started moving before he even looked out the window.

---

Liora rushed through the back door of the restaurant, heart already racing. She was five minutes late. The kitchen was loud with pans clanging and orders flying. She ran to the time clock, signed in fast, and tied her apron while still walking.

One of the cooks popped her gum. “Boss wants to see you. Right now.”

Liora’s heart dropped. She walked down the short hallway to the manager’s office. The door was already open. She took a deep breath and stepped inside.

Cassidy sat behind the desk in a tight pencil skirt, hair perfect, looking like she owned the world. Because she did. This was her restaurant.

“You’re late,” Cassidy said without looking up.

“I’m sorry Cas, I—”

“What did you just call me?”Cassidy’s eyes snapped up.

Liora blinked. “I said I’m sorry Cas…”

“You call me Boss, not Cas. We’re not friends anymore, you dumbass.”

The words hit hard. “Sorry, Boss.”Liora looked down.

Cassidy stood up slowly and walked around the desk.

“You look like shit. Oh wait, that’s right. Troy dumped you yesterday.” She smiled sweetly. “In the most shameless way.”

Liora’s hands curled into fists at her sides. She stayed quiet.

Cassidy tilted her head. “Don’t get mad at me. It’s not my fault you were too boring to keep him.”

“Can I just get to work? I’m sorry for being late.” Liora breathed through her nose.

Cassidy’s voice got louder. “Oh, so now you think you can show up whenever you want and talk to me any way you like? Just because I used to be nice to you?”

“I said I was sorry—”

Cassidy slammed her hand on the desk. “You’re fired.”

Liora felt the floor shift under her feet. “What?”

“You heard me. Get your things and leave before I have security throw you out.”

Tears burned Liora’s eyes. Everything was crashing down at once. The cheating, the humiliation, and now this. This was her only source of income.

Cassidy smiled wider and held up her hand. A big diamond ring sparkled on her finger.

“By the way… Troy and I are getting married.” She twisted the ring so it caught the light. “Just thought you should know. Ex- best friend.”

Liora stared at the ring. Her chest felt like someone had punched straight through it. She couldn’t speak, in fact, she couldn’t breathe right.

Cassidy laughed softly. “You really thought he was going to stay with you? With your sad little night shifts and your boring personality? Please. He was mine the whole time. Now get out of my restaurant.”

Liora turned around slowly. Her legs felt heavy. She walked out of the office, past the kitchen where everyone was pretending not to listen, and grabbed her bag from the staff room. No one said a word to her.

She pushed through the back door and stepped into the alley. The sun was too bright. Her hands were shaking so bad she could barely hold her bag.

Fired. Homeless soon if she didn’t find something fast, and the man she loved for three years was marrying the woman who was supposed to be her best friend.

She leaned against the brick wall and let the tears fall.

After a few minutes she wiped her eyes hard with her sleeve. Liora started walking toward the street. She had no job, no boyfriend, no best friend. Everything was gone.

How can all this happen to just one person in one day.