THE UNDERESTIMATED BILLIONAIRE TYCOON

Fix What You Broke!

Blake studied her.

Not the kind of looking people did in passing. The kind that dissected details—cataloged them, filed them away for later use.

Emma Kane didn't look homeless.

Her clothes were wrinkled but quality. Her posture was straight despite exhaustion. Her hands, though trembling slightly, had the manicured nails of someone who'd recently cared about appearances. Even her speech patterns—precise, educated, the diction of boardrooms, not streets.

"You don't look like someone with nowhere to go," Blake said carefully.

Emma's laugh was brittle. "I didn't, three weeks ago." She met his eyes. "I was the CEO of CloudPeak Systems. Tech startup. We specialized in cloud infrastructure for small businesses." Past tense. The words landed heavy. "We were profitable. Growing. Had a solid investor base and an IPO approval pending."

Blake's spine straightened. "CloudPeak Systems."

"You've heard of us?" Something flickered in her expression—hope, maybe, or the memory of what hope used to feel like.

"Continue."

Emma's hands twisted together. "We were scheduled for our IPO listing. Everything was ready. And then..." She exhaled slowly. "We kept getting bumped. Delayed. Pushed back. First it was 'administrative review.' Then 'priority adjustments.' Then nothing at all."

Her voice stayed level, but Blake heard the fractures underneath.

"By the time they finally cleared us, four weeks had passed. Four weeks." She looked at her bandaged arms. "In tech, that's a lifetime. Our investors got nervous. Started asking questions. When we couldn't give them concrete answers about why we'd been delayed, they assumed problems. Instability. Risk."

"They pulled out."

"All of them. Within seventy-two hours." Emma's smile could cut glass. "Turns out investor confidence is like a house of cards. Remove one, and the whole thing collapses. We had to liquidate assets to cover debts. I lost the company. My apartment was tied to company housing. My savings went to severance packages for my team."

She gestured vaguely at herself. "So here I am. No company. No home. No money. Just a failed CEO visiting her father's grave to apologize for disappointing him."

Silence pressed against Blake's eardrums.

CloudPeak Systems.

The name echoed in his skull like a death knell.

His mind rewound—weeks ago, sitting in his study while Sam reported on the IPO arrangements. "NovaTech Solutions will have the VIP channel, sir. Completely smooth process. No delays."

Blake had nodded, distracted by Lillian's cold shoulder at dinner. "Good. Make it happen."

He hadn't asked questions. Hadn't checked the details. Hadn't cared who might be affected as long as Lillian got what she wanted.

CloudPeak Systems had been right in front of NovaTech in the queue.

But delays didn't cause bankruptcy. Not like this. Not unless—

Blake's gaze cut to Sam.

The man stood by the window, phone in hand, expression carefully neutral. Too carefully. The kind of neutral that came from trying very hard not to look guilty.

And there—just there—a bead of sweat trailing down his temple.

Realization crashed over Blake like ice water.

They hadn't just expedited Lillian's company. They'd cleared the path. Removed obstacles. Kicked out every company ahead of her to curry favor with their president's wife.

Overzealous subordinates trying to impress. Thinking they were helping.

They'd destroyed Emma's life in the process.

Blake rose to his feet. The movement was controlled, but Sam flinched anyway.

"Sam." Blake's voice could have frozen the sun. "A word."

Sam's face went ashen. "Sir, I—"

"Now."

The man crossed the room like he was walking through quicksand. Stopped three feet away. Waited.

Blake stepped closer. Dropped his voice to barely above a whisper. When he spoke, each word landed with the weight of a guillotine blade.

"You will fix what you broke. Every company that was pushed aside for NovaTech Solutions—you will personally ensure their IPO processes are expedited. CloudPeak Systems gets priority. You will contact their former investors. You will explain that administrative errors caused the delays. You will make this right."

"Sir, some of those companies have already—"

"Then you'll work miracles." Blake's smile was nothing human. "You have forty-eight hours. If CloudPeak Systems isn't back on track by then, you'll be explaining to the board why I'm recommending your termination. Am I clear?"

Sam's throat worked. "Crystal clear, sir."

"Get out. Start now."

The director practically fled.

Doctor Williams, still organizing his medical supplies, studiously avoided eye contact. Smart man.

Blake turned back to Emma. The fury drained from his face, replaced by something almost awkward. He'd spent years perfecting corporate masks, but kindness without agenda felt foreign now.

"You'll need somewhere to stay," he said. Too abrupt. He tried again. "I have a property. Downtown. It's vacant. You can use it."

Emma blinked. "I can't—"

"It's sitting empty. Has been for months." Blake moved toward the door before she could argue further. "Waste of good real estate. You'd actually be doing me a favor."

"Mr. Blake—"

"President," Doctor Williams corrected quietly. "President Blake."

"President Blake," Emma amended, flustered. "You've already saved my life. I can't possibly accept—"

"The house has furniture. Utilities are paid. Security is solid." Blake pulled out his phone, already texting his assistant. "You need somewhere safe to recover. This solves both our problems."

"We're strangers." Emma's voice pitched higher. "You don't owe me anything. Actually, I owe you everything, which is exactly why I can't—"

"The house sits empty or you use it. Either way, I'm not using it. Your choice which option wastes less resources."

Emma opened her mouth. Closed it. Opened it again. "That's not—you can't just—"

Blake was already at the door. "I'll drive you there myself. Doctor Williams, make sure she has everything she needs for wound care."

"Of course, President Blake." The doctor was already packing supplies into a bag.

"Wait." Emma stood, swayed slightly, caught herself on the bed frame. "You're just going to take me to some random property? I don't even know you."

Blake paused. Turned. Met her eyes.

"No," he agreed. "You don't. But I know what it's like to lose everything that matters. And I know what it's like when someone offers help and you're too proud to take it." His expression softened—barely, just a fraction. "Take the help, Emma. Pride doesn't keep you warm at night."

Something in his tone made her voice die in her throat.

Doctor Williams stepped beside her, medical bag in hand. "President Blake is trustworthy, Miss Kane. I've worked with him for eight years. He doesn't make offers he doesn't mean."

Emma looked between them. At Blake's face—exhausted, sincere, carrying the weight of something she couldn't name. At Doctor Williams's steady professionalism.

"This is insane," she whispered.

"Probably," Blake agreed. "But it's also practical. Come on."

He walked out.

Doctor Williams touched her elbow gently. "He means well, Miss Kane. Truly. And the property is beautiful. You'll be safe there."

Emma's legs moved before her brain approved the decision.

She followed Blake out the door.