Free Red Hot Revenge (Erotic Romance) (Dominated by the Billionaire) by Adriana Hunter

 
    It just didn’t seem possible that in two short
months, her entire world could come crashing down around her and everything she
held dear, lost in a blink of an eye.
     
    * * *
     
    Not long ago, Bella Adler was running her own
successful business and was happier than she had ever been. She had a boyfriend
and the business was turning a profit during its first year.  She was at
the top of her game and was certain that things would only get better. She had
been through her share of heartache in the past, and so it was about time that
things started going her way.
    And then everything changed almost
overnight.  Bella discovered that her long-term boyfriend and business
partner had not only robbed her of everything she had in savings, but hadn’t so
much as given her a second look before running off with her best friend.
    Going to the police had proved futile, because
Ricky had covered his tracks all too well. She’d trusted him too much –
for far too long. And in many ways, she felt as though maybe she deserved it,
at least a little.  She had to toughen up, smarten up and never let her
guard down again. Men couldn’t be trusted. Hell, women couldn’t be
trusted. The only person Bella knew she could trust was herself.
    Staring blankly at the computer screen in front of
her, she saw the disheartening figures before her eyes. From what she could
tell, she owed enough money to the bank and her other creditors to have her
swimming in debt for years. She’d never get out from under this and there was
no way possible that she’d ever be able to salvage her business.
    Bella shoved shaky hands through her long, dark
blonde hair, forcing her brain to function as she tried not to panic. When
she’d started her event management business, she’d had it all worked out, and
with Ricky eager to help her build the business from the ground floor up, she
was sure that it would be a success, and it was.  Ricky had been
responsible for handling the business finances and day-to-day management, while
Bella focused on branding, building a client base and completing projects.
    Well, Ricky had certainly proven just how little
he could be trusted – with both her money and her heart. However,
she was spared the misery of nursing a broken heart over his treachery because
she simply didn’t have time to lick her wounds. Right now, she was more
concerned about how she was going to handle the numerous creditors that were
coming after her, and figuring out a way to rebuild her business and her life.
    She heard a light tap on the door, and her
assistant, Cherie, walked into the office. She was the only employee Bella had
left; the only one she could afford to keep, anyway.
    “Any good news, Cherie?” Bella asked, wondering if
there was any reprieve in sight. Like maybe all of her creditors suddenly
had all records of her debts miraculously wiped out from their records….
    No such luck, it seemed, as Cherie proceeded to
give her a list of calls and correspondents that had already contacted that day
– all clamoring for blood, apparently.
    And then, there came a ray of hope, as Cherie
added, “And the people from Lincoln Consulting…I finally got a call back, and
they’ve agreed to a meeting. Tomorrow.”
    Bella’s blue eyes brightened, a smile of relief
spreading over her beautiful face. The financial firm, Lincoln Consulting were
one of her biggest creditors. If they were interested in meeting and speaking
with her, then that meant she possibly had the chance to get them off her back
for a while.
    She could hardly sleep that night, thinking about
what she’d say while she presented her proposals to them. Bella knew she just
had to convince them to give her another opportunity. Just one more chance .
    Damn you, Ricky , she swore as she drove into the city the following morning. This
was the first time she’d allowed herself to think of him, or what he’d done.
He’d managed to escape; was probably holidaying in Honolulu or some