Page 11 of Modern Romance September 2026 Books 1-4

‘Well, in that case, you tell me first.’

Now he blinked. No one ever asked him questions like this. They just followed his orders. ‘I want to build on the hard work and success of my ancestors and take us to the next level, to become the best in the world.’

‘That’s work. What about life? Family? Happiness?’

Axel’s skin prickled. For the first time he thought maybe he’d made a mistake. Her easy, uncomplicated manner and open curiosity rubbed a little too raw coming so close on the heels of his recent moments of introspection.

Happiness? What even was that?

But he was here now and he’d already divulged more with Hope in the last hour than he had with anyone else. He tried to make her understand a world that was aeons away from here. ‘My work and my family’s legacy is my life. My heirs—children—will carry on the name and consolidate our success. That’s where my happiness lies.’ But even as he said that, he felt something hollow echo inside him and had a sense that he was trying desperately to continue down a path that was starting to look less and less certain.

He pushed it down. ‘So, what is it you want?’

‘A house.’

‘A house?’

Hope nodded. ‘I’ve never had a home of my own. I’ve grown up in other people’s houses—in the foster-care system. And now I rent a flat in someone else’s house.’

Axel found he was curious to know more—what else did she want apart from this house?—but he told himself it wasn’t his business.

‘I can buy you a house, any house you want.’ He could afford to buy her a castle if she wanted. He could buy her multiple castles.

‘I can’t let you do that. I’m quite happy and prepared to work to save to buy a house.’ Unmistakable pride stiffened her body. Axel recognised it.

‘And how’s that going for you?’

Her cheeks flushed a dull red and Axel’s conscience pricked just as she said, ‘I am well aware it will take me most likely half of my life to be able to save to buy a house, but at least I can say I did it myself and didn’t have some…billionaire buy it for me just because he wanted to flash his cash.’

Axel was a bit dumbfounded. He’d never had to fight to give someone money before. It did occur to him that she could be bluffing, but the heat in her face and that pride told him that she was the real deal.

‘Forgive me,’ he said. ‘I didn’t mean it like that. What I could offer you, then, if you agree to this…promotion, is to double…or even triple your salary for the duration. Surely that would go some way to adding to your savings to buy a house?’

She looked slightly mollified. ‘I think that could be…more acceptable.’

‘So you’ll consider my offer?’

* * *

Was she really about to consider the most outlandish offer anyone had ever made her…ever?

There was something very seductive about a man as impressive as Axel Drakos singling her out for his attention. Even if it was only because she wasn’t going to get notions that he cared for her or wanted her.

And yet a part of her felt a pang that she’d appealed to him only on this very pragmatic level. Her ordinariness must be interesting to a man who could literally have whoever and whatever he wanted. And she wanted him to want her for more than her ordinariness. She shouldn’t indulge this dangerous fantasy.

‘What if I say no, right now?’

‘Then I would thank you for your time and leave you to your evening.’ She felt a betraying lurch at that. She had no doubt he would too.

‘Would you fire me?’

His nostrils flared as if she’d insulted him. He said, ‘No, I am not so petty.’

She believed him. She could imagine that next time she encountered him on his private jet, he would merely glance over her and they would go back to being boss/employee. But something had happened as soon as she’d looked at him today. Something inside her had come to life. And she had to admit that the thought of going back to some sort of sterile arrangement after everything that had happened between them up to now was…not appealing. Even though she knew it was the right thing to do.

‘Can I think about it?’ It felt really important to maintain some level of control when she was being tempted by everything she’d ever wanted. But it felt a bit like cheating to suddenly have her dream within her grasp for doing not very much at all.

She’d always fantasised about the satisfaction that would come from having worked hard to fulfil her dreams, herself, with no one else’s help, because the people who should have loved and supported her the most had left her behind and she’d survived against the odds.