Her face dominated the wall as the cameras zoomed in on her face. As she did before, she stared at the cam in the elevator, her eyes challenging.

My entire body clenched with need. But unlike before, it was different. It was a need I couldn’t define, describe or compartmentalize. It was a need that gripped my entire being in agony. The agony of not having her in my life anymore.

But she was here, and I felt like a boy.

I was one of the most powerful men on this side of the world but I didn’t know what to do as she drew nearer.

I was afraid. I was afraid I might do or say something that would make her leave and never ever come back.

She exited the elevator.

I stood up and went to stand in front of the panoramic windows of my office to compose myself.

I stared harder into the distance as the door of my office opened.

I knew the moment she stepped into the room. Her faint scent wafted toward me, and everything in me cried out in desperation. I wanted to take her in my arms and hold her tight and never ever let her go.

I slowly faced her.

“Hello, Mr. Landis.”

She’d never looked more beautiful in my eyes. She was wearing the same dress she wore the first time she came here. But I saw her differently now.

She was the woman I had, and lost. The biggest regret of my life.

I’d conquered many companies, taken them all by force. All those victories seemed meaningless now. My life was empty without her.

How the mighty had fallen.

She slowly walked over to my table, traced the edge of it with her fingertips as she rounded it.

Then she sat on my chair.

My throne.

She sat there like she owned it. Like she owned me. And she did.

God, she did.

I’d missed him so bad it was killing me. But by the look in his eyes, I knew the feeling was mutual.

The loss of weight had made the angles on his face more pronounced, but he’d never looked more handsome to me. The ravages I saw were the evidence of his torment. That torment being me.

His eyes told me everything, even without the words. Joshua was never good with words, but he was great with actions. Boy, was he.

“I opened your gift.”

His face melted into a wan smile.

“It was very generous of you to sign over everything back to me.”

He just nodded.

“I know it’s not fair, of course. Madden Securities still owes you three billion dollars plus the expected dividends. And there’s the five hundred million you paid the other complainants so they will drop their class suit against Dad. You didn’t have to do that, but you did, and my family is very grateful.”

His eyes had become glassy. He still didn’t speak.

“However, we both know I cannot run Madden Securities on my own. I’m not equipped for the job yet, and I trust no one to run it. No one but you.”

Still, no words from him.

“I came here to offer you a partnership. The one I offered you before. You run the company until I’m ready to take the reins.”

He just stared at me.

“Did you hear what I said?” My confidence slipped a bit. Was I reading him wrong? Maybe he was no longer interested?

“Is that all you came to tell me?”

Finally, I heard his voice. It was hoarse. Broken.

And then I knew. He couldn’t care less about money and power right now.

He only cared about one thing. I saw it all in his eyes.

He only wanted one thing.

Me.

“Come here.”

He slowly walked toward me.

I remembered the day I first met him. Here. The most powerful seat in Wall Street. I was desperate, grasping at the last straws. Using my one and only card.

He stood before me now. So tall. So big. The Conqueror.

He slowly bent his legs, and I held my breath, unable to believe what was happening until it finally did.

Joshua Landis was on his knees before me.

I couldn’t move.

He put his arms around my lower legs, his own legs bracketing my feet.

Our eyes met. And then he rested his cheek on my lap.

“Please, forgive me, princess.”

I felt the warmth of his body seeping through my legs. He was strong but he held me in his gentle strength, and I knew, there was no safer place but in these arms from now on.

My hands moved to touch his head, my fingers combing through his hair. He sighed deeply, as if a great tension had left his body, and he rubbed his cheek on my lap like a puppy, seeking more of my caress.

I’d never felt so weak and yet so strong.

The most powerful man in Wall Street was on his knees before me. His heart was in my hands. I could crush it, break it if I wanted to.

I didn’t need to hear the words. I felt it. All of it.

He had surrendered his everything to me.

I had conquered Joshua Landis the Third.

I framed his beloved face in my hands so he would look at me.

“I have a gift for you.”

I took his hands and brought them to touch my stomach.

The look of pure wonder in his eyes as he understood was unforgettable.

His tears fell.

But I only saw joy in his eyes.

And love.

So much love.