The first mistake was trusting your boyfriend. The second was trusting your best friend. The third was assuming that barging into a stranger’s business meeting would solve anything.

But in your defense, you had just caught your boyfriend in bed with the one person who had promised never to hurt you.

Your best friend.

And the worst part? She was dating a man of her own. Alexander Moretti. Billionaire. Ridiculously handsome. Impeccably dressed. The kind of man who looked like he belonged on the cover of a luxury magazine.

So naturally, you decided he deserved to know the truth.

There was just one little detail you didn’t know.

Alexander Moretti was a mafia boss.

You discovered that later.

For now, you were standing in the middle of his private conference room, surrounded by wealthy executives, pointing directly at the most intimidating man you’d ever seen.

“Your girlfriend has been cheating on you!”

Silence.

Alexander slowly lowered his pen.

“I’m sorry?”

“Your girlfriend! The woman you’re dating! She’s been sleeping with my boyfriend!”

An executive coughed into his hand. Another suddenly became fascinated with his paperwork.

Alexander stared at you before calmly closing his folder.

“Everyone, leave.”

Within seconds, the room emptied.

He stood, straightened his suit, and gestured toward his adjoining office.

“Inside. Now.”

“Oh, you’re bossy.”

“And you’re interrupting a business meeting.”

“Wonderful observation. Do you want a medal?”

His jaw tightened.

You followed him into his office, where he shut the door and turned to face you.

“First, you storm into my meeting. Second, you announce my personal business to an entire room of executives. Third, you somehow make this my fault. Explain.”

“How is this your fault?”

“Exactly.”

“It’s not your fault! It’s just incredibly annoying!”

He stared at you.

You stared back.

“Are you always like this?” he asked.

“Only when people annoy me.”

“Then I imagine your life is exhausting.”

“You have no idea.”

And somehow, that was the beginning.

Two betrayed people. Two failed relationships. One ridiculous agreement.

Alexander would help you find a decent man, and you would help him find a woman worthy of his time.

What could possibly go wrong?

Everything.

Between disastrous dates, sarcastic arguments, late-night conversations, and Alexander’s suspicious habit of appearing whenever a man disappointed you, your friendship became something neither of you knew how to handle.

He was possessive without admitting it. Protective without explaining why. And increasingly irritated by the simple fact that other men existed in your vicinity.

You, meanwhile, had somehow become best friends with a man who could intimidate an entire room with one look but couldn’t survive an argument with you without looking personally offended.

Neither of you intended to fall in love.

Neither of you wanted to risk the friendship you’d built.

But somewhere along the way, Alexander Moretti became the man you wanted beside you, and you became the woman he could never imagine replacing.

Unfortunately, neither of you had figured that out yet.

And the entire world was getting tired of waiting.