The Pretender and the Billionaire

Alexis

The Pitch

"Relax," my best friend, Sofia, said, nudging me lightly as we stepped through the glass doors of Ashcroft Industries. The lobby was massive, sleek, and the type of expensive that made even standing there feel like a privilege. "You’ve done this a million times. You’ve got this."

"Yeah, and it hasn’t worked a million times," I shot back, clutching the leather folder like a lifeline. My tone was sharper than I intended, so I inhaled deeply, forcing it to soften. "Sorry. I just—this has to work. It’s the only shot we’ve got."

"Exactly why you’ll nail it." Sofia’s voice was calm, but when she met my eyes, I caught the briefest flicker of unease. She believed in me. In EcoSphere. But we both knew what was at stake.

"Dominic Ashcroft would be an idiot not to see it. And if he doesn’t—"

"Screw him," I muttered, my stomach twisting as the receptionist waved us over.

Memories of failed pitches crowded my mind—smiling faces delivering polite rejections, followed by not-so-polite ones.

"Ms. Harper, Ms. Martínez," the receptionist said, her voice brisk and professional. "Right this way."

"Showtime," Sofia whispered.

The conference room was exactly what I expected—cold, imposing, and far too perfect.

I gripped my folder tighter, forcing my legs to move even as my pulse hammered. For a moment, I wanted to bolt. My sister Erin’s face popped into my mind, full of excitement as she talked about her school’s environmental club. I thought of Dad, struggling to breathe after years of factory work poisoned his lungs, and Mom, her hands stiff and aching from endless shifts to keep us afloat.

This wasn’t about me.

I slid into a leather chair, exhaling as I glanced at Sofia. "Okay," I murmured. "Let’s do this."

Then I heard it—sharp, deliberate footsteps. My heart jumped.

Dominic Ashcroft entered the room, and everything stilled.

He was taller than I’d expected, his charcoal suit fit him so perfectly it might as well have been tailored around him this morning. His dark brown hair was effortlessly styled, and those sharp, blue-gray eyes cut straight through me.

And, d*mn it, he was hot.

Not just attractive—commanding. Unfairly so. There was something about the way he moved, like he owned everything and everyone in his orbit. It was infuriating. And yet, I couldn’t look away.

Beside him was a wiry man with sandy-blond hair that looked like it had been styled with his fingers rather than a comb, and a mischievous grin that softened his otherwise sharp features. His outfit was a study in relaxed professionalism. His assistant, Nathan, I assumed.

Dominic didn’t bother with pleasantries. No handshake, just a curt nod as he took his seat at the head of the table.

"Let’s get started," he said, his voice calm, clipped, and loaded with authority.

My legs felt unsteady as I stood, gripping the remote like it might keep me upright. "Thank you for making the time," I said, my voice steady despite the adrenaline surging through me.

The EcoSphere logo lit up the screen with its bright green letters.

"At EcoSphere, our mission is simple," I began. "We merge cutting-edge technology with sustainable practices to combat climate change at the community level."

Dominic leaned back, his hands clasped, his sharp gaze fixed entirely on me.

I walked him through our flagship solar integration model—modular designs, affordability, scalability. Every word felt like walking a tightrope.

By the time I reached the trial data, I found my footing. "In our initial trials, small businesses cut energy costs by 25% within three months, with a projected 30% reduction in broader markets."

Nathan scribbled something, but Dominic didn’t move. His focus was unrelenting.

"Your projections assume rapid adoption," he said, his tone slicing through my words. "What’s your strategy for breaking into a saturated market?"

The question hit like a punch, but I straightened my back. "Market saturation isn’t the obstacle it seems," I replied, clicking to the next slide. "Most green-tech solutions are priced out of reach for small businesses. EcoSphere changes that. Modular designs and local partnerships reduce costs without sacrificing quality. Scalable. Affordable. Versatile."

Dominic leaned forward, his elbows resting on the table. "Affordable and scalable rarely coexist," he said, his voice sharp enough to cut. "How do you balance them?"

I gripped the remote tighter. "Our prototypes were designed with that balance in mind," I said, motioning to the next slide. "We’ve minimized overhead by prioritizing modularity and localized manufacturing, accounting for scalability challenges without compromising quality."

Silence.

Dominic’s gaze stayed locked on the screen, his fingers tapping once against the table. Slow. Deliberate.

My chest tightened as the seconds dragged on. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Sofia’s foot tapping lightly against the carpet.

Finally, he leaned back, his expression unreadable.

The silence stretched longer. Every nerve in my body screamed.

"Will he take the chance?"

Alexis

The Decision

The seconds dragged. Dominic’s tapping finger was the only sound in the room, each tap pounding like a hammer in my chest. My palms were clammy against the folder, and for one awful moment, I thought my knees might buckle.

I glanced at Sofia. Her face was calm—too calm—but her thumb nervously rubbing the edge of her notepad betrayed her tension. My eyes shot back to Dominic.

The tapping stopped. Silence.

Dominic leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. His fingers steepled under his chin, and his piercing blue-gray eyes locked on me.

“We’ll fund the project,” he said.

Relief slammed into me, but my chest still felt tight, my pulse roaring in my ears. Did he just—?

My heart raced as adrenaline surged, but I forced myself to stay measured. My fingers gripped the edge of the table like it was the only thing keeping me grounded.

“Thank you,” I