PREGNANT FOR THE TYRANT BILLIONAIRE.

Pixie's Point of View

The music went through the walls, vibrating the wooden floors beneath my heels as I walked into the club. I had to admit, this place was way more extravagant than I'd expected. The rooftop bar overlooked the shining city of San Francisco, with sleek glass walls and dim lights casting a seductive glow over everything. Blue light.Red light.

"Pixie, hurry up!" Lisa grabbed my arm, pulling me toward the private section where the rest of the party was already gathering. "You're not shying away, are you?" She asked.

I laughed, trying to ignore the knot forming in my stomach. "Me? Never. I just didn't know we'd be coming to this kind of place,I expected it to be more confined."

Lisa winked. "Trust me, after tonight, you'll be glad you came. You need this." she replied.

I sighed, forcing a smile. She wasn't wrong. It had been months since I'd allowed myself any fun, and this was supposed to be a night to let loose. Bachelorette parties were meant for wild memories, right? But my mind kept drifting back to the stack of designs on my desk, deadlines looming over me like a dark cloud,heck I couldn't recall the last time I had a very nice me_time.

"Let's get you a drink," Lisa said, already signaling for the waiter. "One tequila coming right up."

I wasn't much of a drinker, but tonight, I decided, was the exception. "Fine, one drink."

A few minutes later, the girls were all around me, toasting with shots and clinking glasses, while the bride-to-be, Rachel, was laughing in the center of it all. She looked so carefree, so happy. I envied that. I used to believe in fairytales, too-until reality knocked the wind out of me.

"Come on, Pixie, stop brooding," Lisa teased, nudging me. "This is a night to remember, not one to sit around thinking about work."

I nodded, downing the shot in one go. The tequila burned its way down, but it felt good, loosening the tension in my shoulders. "You're right. Tonight is about Rachel. No more thinking."

"That's the spirit!" Lisa cheered, grabbing my hand. "Let's dance!"

We made our way to the dance floor, the music pounding around us, and for a moment, I let go. I let myself be swept up in the rhythm, spinning and laughing with the girls. The neon lights flashed over the crowd, faces blurring together in a haze of color and sound.

But then, in the midst of it all, I felt it-a pair of eyes on me.

I stopped, scanning the crowd, and that's when I saw him. Standing near the bar, he was tall, dark, and completely out of place among the usual partygoers. He was dressed in a perfectly tailored suit, exuding power and danger, his presence commanding the space around him. His eyes locked onto mine, and for a second, everything else faded away.

Who was he?

"Who are you staring at?" Lisa asked, following my gaze.

"I don't know." I could barely hear my own voice over the music.

Lisa raised an eyebrow, a mischievous smile playing on her lips. "Well, he's hot. Go talk to him!"

"What? No!" I shook my head, feeling the flush in my cheeks. "That's not-"

"Why not?" Lisa interrupted, giving me a playful shove toward him. "You're single, it's a bachelorette party, and he's staring at you like you're the only woman in the room. What's the worst that could happen?"

I opened my mouth to protest, but before I could think, I was moving toward the bar. My heart pounded in my chest, every step bringing me closer to him. As I approached, he turned slightly, his dark eyes still fixed on me.

"Hi," I said, my voice a little shaky. "I couldn't help but notice you standing here... alone."

He smirked, his gaze sweeping over me before meeting my eyes again. "And now I'm not."

The confidence in his voice was intoxicating, like he knew exactly the effect he was having on me. I felt a rush of nerves, but I wasn't backing down now. "You don't look like someone who comes to these kinds of parties."

He raised an eyebrow, sipping his drink. "What kind of parties are these?"

I bit my lip, trying to keep my cool. "You know, bachelorette parties. Lots of dancing, drinking, celebrating the end of single life."

"And which one are you celebrating?" His tone was low, sending a shiver down my spine.

"I'm not the bride." I smiled, feeling a strange boldness creeping in. "I'm just here for moral support."

He tilted his head slightly, his gaze never wavering. "What about you? What's your celebration tonight?"

I paused, unsure how to answer. There was something about him, something intense, that made it hard to think straight. "Celebrating... a break from work, I guess."

He nodded, his expression unreadable. "I can see that. You look like someone who works too much."

"You don't know me," I challenged, half-joking.

"Don't I?"

His words hung between us, and for a moment, the noise of the club faded into the background. It felt like we were the only two people in the room, locked in some unspoken connection.

"What's your name?" I asked, my voice lower now.

"Dante." he replied casually, shrugging his shoulders.

Dante. It suited him-strong, mysterious, dangerous. "I'm Pixie."

A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "Pixie. That's an unusua name,I must say l."

I shrugged. "It's my real name, not a nickname. My parents had... creative taste,but I don't regret being called that. It suits me."

Dante chuckled, a low, smooth sound that made my skin tingle. "Interesting. I like creative, besides I never said it didn't suit you."

There was something magnetic about him, something I couldn't pull away from. And maybe it was the tequila, or maybe it was the way he stared at me like I was the only thing in the world that mattered, but I felt myself drawn closer.

"Want to get out of here?" Dante asked, his voice soft but confident.

My breath caught in my throat. I should have said no. I should have turned and walked away, but the pull was too strong. I nodded. "Yeah. Let's go." I found my mouth speaking before reality could set in.

---

Before I knew it, we were stepping into a sleek black car, the club's lights fading into the distance as the city stretched out before us. Dante was silent beside me, his hand resting casually on the seat, close enough that I could feel the heat radiating from him.

"What do you do?" I asked, needing to fill the silence, needing to know more about this man who had appeared out of nowhere and consumed my thoughts.

He glanced at me, his dark eyes gleaming in the dim light of the car. "Business."

"Of course," I muttered, smirking. It figured he'd be the brooding businessman type. "Any specifics?"

He paused, as if considering how much to tell me. "Let's just say I deal with high stakes."

I raised an eyebrow. "Cryptic."

He smiled again, and this time it reached his eyes. "You'll find out soon enough."

His words sent a shiver down my spine, but before I could ask what he meant, the car came to a stop in front of a luxury hotel. My heart raced as we stepped out, walking through the grand entrance into the lavish lobby. I had no idea what I was getting into, but every part of me wanted to find out.

The elevator ride to his suite was silent, the air between us thick with tension. When the doors finally slid open, I followed him inside, my pulse quickening with each step.

"Are you sure about this?" he asked, his voice low as he turned to face me.

I didn't answer with words. Instead, I closed the distance between us, crashing my lips onto his, surrendering to the pull that had been building all night. There was no turning back now.

Pixie's Point of View

The elevator doors slid open, revealing a breathtaking penthouse with floor-to-ceiling windows showcasing a nighttime skyline that seemed to stretch on forever. I'd never seen anything so luxurious, and I took a moment to absorb it all. Dante led me through the spacious living room, his hand resting lightly on the small of my back, making my skin tingle.

"Drink?" he offered, already heading to the sleek bar tucked into the corner.

"Sure," I replied, my voice softer than I'd intended. There was something about Dante-his confidence, his magnetic presence-that left me feeling completely out of my element, but somehow... I liked it.

He poured two glasses of whiskey and handed one to me, his fingers brushing mine for a split second, sending a thrill through me. We clinked glasses, and I took a cautious sip, the burn of the alcohol mixing with the adrenaline still rushing through my veins.

"Do you do this often?" I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop myself.

Dante smirked, taking a slow sip of his drink. "Depends. Do what, exactly?"

I swallowed, realizing how forward I sounded. "You know... bring strangers up here."

His gaze lingered on me, intense and unreadable. "Not strangers. Just you."

That was all it took. The distance between us vanished, and I felt myself drawn to him, unable to resist the pull. The taste of whiskey still lingered on his lips as he kissed me, deep and possessive. There was no hesitation-just raw need and desire. Everything else faded away.

---

The next morning, I was jolted awake by the shrill ring of my phone, cutting through the thick fog in my mind. My head throbbed, and as I blinked into consciousness, I realized I was in an unfamiliar, luxuriously furnished bedroom. A surge of panic shot through me as I tried to piece together the events of the previous night.

The phone continued ringing insistently. Groaning, I fumbled around, finally finding it on the nightstand. Mrs. Sybil's name flashed on the screen.

Great. Just what I needed.

I answered, my voice barely a croak. "Hello?"

"Charleston, where are you?" Mrs. Sybil's voice crackled with impatience, her tone sharper than usual. "Do you know what time it is?"

"I-uh-sorry, Mrs. Sybil. I'm on my way." I sat up, holding my head as the room spun around me. Hangover. Fantastic.

"You better be," she snapped. "You're not paid to sleep in, Pixie."

The call ended abruptly, and I let out a sigh, my mind racing as I threw off the covers. I had to get out of here. Now.

I looked around the room for my clothes, finding them neatly folded on a nearby chair. I dressed as quickly as my pounding head would allow, half-expecting Dante to appear, but he didn't. Maybe that was for the best. Less explaining to do.

Buttoning my blouse, I made my way out of the bedroom and down a hallway, which led to the penthouse's living room. I stopped short when I spotted a tall man in a dark suit, standing near the door. He looked up as I approached.

"Miss Charleston?" he greeted, his expression unreadable. "I'm Josh, head of Mr. Fontanelle's security team. May I arrange a car to take you home?"

I opened my mouth, but the embarrassment rising in my chest cut off my words. "Oh, um, thank you, but... I'll be fine." I just needed to get out of here, quickly.

Josh raised an eyebrow, but he didn't press. "As you wish, Miss Charleston. Have a good day."

I nodded quickly, offering a polite smile before bolting toward the elevator. I could feel the eyes of the guards on me as I pressed the button, waiting anxiously for the doors to close. The moment they did, I let out a breath, trying to steady myself.

I could hardly believe any of this had actually happened. One minute I was at a bachelorette party, and now here I was, rushing out of a billionaire's penthouse.

---

By the time I got to the office, my headache had only gotten worse, and I could practically feel Mrs. Sybil's glare burning through the walls. I slumped into my chair, hoping I looked more composed than I felt.

Before I could even pull myself together, Lisa appeared beside my desk, grinning like a Cheshire cat. "Someone had an adventurous night."

I glared at her, shushing her with a wave. "Not now, Lisa. I feel like I got run over by a truck."

She leaned closer, clearly undeterred. "Oh, come on. I saw you leave with him last night. Care to share?"

"Nothing happened." I gave her a pointed look, though my cheeks betrayed me, heating up under her scrutiny. "It was... just a little too much tequila, that's all."

Lisa smirked, crossing her arms. "Uh-huh. Sure, Pixie. I'm not buying it."

"Fine, think whatever you want." I turned my attention to my computer screen, desperate to distract myself. But Lisa kept hovering, her grin growing by the second.

"Alright, alright. I'll quit. But girl, you owe me details when you're ready to spill."

I rolled my eyes, finally allowing a small smile. As much as she annoyed me, Lisa was my closest friend here, and I couldn't deny that part of me wanted to share everything-if I could even make sense of it myself.

Suddenly, the sound of shattering glass cut through the office. Lisa and I both froze, looking around as people gasped and ducked under desks.

"What's happening?" I whispered, panic starting to rise in my chest.

Before Lisa could answer, the sharp crack of gunfire filled the room, sending everyone into a frenzy. We dropped to the floor, my heart pounding so hard I could barely think.

Through the chaos, I could see two men, both in dark jackets and ski masks, striding into the office with guns drawn. They moved with terrifying purpose, their eyes scanning the room until one of them spoke, his voice cold and commanding.

"We're looking for Pixie Charleston."

I felt the blood drain from my face. Every eye in the office seemed to turn toward me, and my heart nearly stopped. I pressed myself against the floor, hoping they wouldn't see me, hoping this was just some twisted dream.

But deep down, I knew-this was real.

And they were here for me.

I leaned against my desk, heart still pounding from the confrontation. My office felt stifling, every inch of it reminding me of how much my life had shifted in just a few hours. My fingers trembled as I traced the rim of my coffee cup, still untouched from this morning. The chaos of it all settled heavily on my shoulders. Who were those men? What did they want from me?

A knock at the door jolted me out of my thoughts, and I quickly straightened, forcing composure as the door swung open. Lisa stepped in, her usual bubbly self, entirely unaware of the weight pressing down on me.

"Hey, Pix, you okay?" She tilted her head, eyes scanning my face. "You look... I don't know, rattled."

I forced a smile, though it felt thin. "Yeah, just... a bit of a rough morning."

Lisa raised an eyebrow, settling into the chair across from me. "Rough morning? Sounds like an understatement. What's going on? You look like you've seen a ghost."

I took a deep breath, debating how much to tell her. Lisa was my best friend, but the less she knew, the safer she'd be. "I... ran into some trouble. That's all."

Her eyebrows shot up, and she leaned forward, clearly intrigued. "Trouble? As in, hot-guy-from-last-night kind of trouble?"

I shook my head, laughing despite myself. "No, this is... different. Just some people who showed up here. It was nothing, really." I tried to brush it off, but Lisa wasn't buying it.

"People? What kind of people?" Her voice softened, her concern genuine.

Before I could answer, another knock sounded on the door, and I stiffened. "Come in," I called out, trying to sound calm.

The door opened, and in stepped Dante.

His presence filled the room instantly, the air shifting with a mix of tension and relief. My heart skipped a beat as I took in his figure-broad shoulders, piercing eyes that seemed to take in everything with one look. Lisa glanced between us, her eyes widening as she took in Dante's imposing figure.

"Am I... interrupting something?" Dante's voice was smooth, calm, as if he belonged here.

I swallowed, forcing a neutral expression. "Not at all, Mr. Dante. This is... my friend, Lisa."

Lisa offered him a tentative smile, though she looked back at me, her eyes full of questions. "I'll... let you two talk," she said quickly, standing up and slipping out of the room.

Dante watched her leave before turning his gaze back to me, his eyes unreadable. "You seem surprised to see me."

"Well, considering you showed up in my office unannounced, I'd say that's an understatement," I replied, crossing my arms. "What are you doing here, Dante?"

He walked further into the room, hands in his pockets, his gaze steady. "You left so suddenly last night. I thought I'd check in."

"Check in?" I couldn't help but let out a short laugh. "Look, Dante, last night was fun, but I'm not looking for any kind of... follow-up."

He took a step closer, and I felt my pulse quicken. "You think that's why I'm here?"

I raised an eyebrow, trying to hide my unease. "Isn't it?"

A flicker of something crossed his face, gone so fast I couldn't place it. "Actually, no. I came because I heard about your... uninvited guests this morning."

I froze, studying him. How did he know about that?

He took my silence as an answer, his gaze hardening. "You're in over your head, Pixie."

My jaw clenched. "You don't know anything about my life, Dante. So, unless you're here to provide some answers, I'd suggest you leave."

Dante sighed, looking as though he were weighing his words. "Those men... they're not just after you by accident. You're involved in something bigger than you think, and they're only the beginning."

"Who are they?" My voice came out sharper than I intended, and I didn't miss the slight flicker in his expression.

"Men you don't want to know. And you don't want to get involved with them. Trust me, I know."

He was evading the question, and it only made me angrier. "You keep talking in circles. Are you part of this or not, Dante?"

His jaw tightened, and for the first time, I saw a hint of vulnerability in his eyes. "I'm here because I don't want to see you get hurt."

His words threw me off guard. He didn't want to see me hurt? Why would he even care?

"Why?" I whispered, barely able to hear my own voice over the pounding in my chest. "Why would you care what happens to me?"

Dante took a deep breath, his gaze softening as he looked at me. "Because you're... different, Pixie. You don't deserve to be pulled into this mess."

I could feel my defenses weakening, but I forced myself to stand firm. "So, what am I supposed to do, Dante? Just sit back and wait for them to come back?"

He took another step closer, closing the distance between us until I could feel the heat radiating from him. "No. I'll keep you safe."

"Keep me safe?" I almost laughed, though it sounded more like a breathless gasp. "Dante, I don't even know you."

He looked down, his gaze dropping for a moment before he met my eyes again. "You don't have to. Just trust me."

Trust. That word felt foreign on my tongue, especially when directed at someone I barely knew. But as I looked into Dante's eyes, I felt something I hadn't in a long time-a sense of security, a sliver of hope that maybe, just maybe, I wasn't alone in this.

After a beat, I finally nodded. "Fine. But I want answers, Dante. And I won't be kept in the dark."

He gave a slight nod, his gaze steady. "You'll have them. Soon."

The air between us felt charged, electric, and I found myself unable to look away. The noise from the office outside faded, and for a moment, it was just us, locked in a silent exchange neither of us seemed willing to break.

Then, just as suddenly, Dante stepped back, his expression shifting as he slipped into that unreadable mask. "I'll be in touch. Be careful, Pixie."

And with that, he turned and walked out, leaving me alone in my office, staring after him.