Billionaire Buys A Broken-Down House, Unexpectedly Falling In Love With Woman Who’s Renovating It
The Unexpected Acquisition
Harlo Dawson wiped the sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand, exhaling sharply as she surveyed the disaster in front of her. The old Victorian house, once grand and full of charm, now stood in a state of complete ruin.
Peeling paint, cracked windows, and a porch that looked like it would collapse at any second met her gaze. But to her, it was more than just a broken-down house. It was a project, a dream, and she wasn’t about to give up on it.
The sound of tires crunching over gravel made her turn. Her stomach tightened when she saw the sleek black luxury car roll to a stop at the edge of the overgrown driveway. The door opened, and a man stepped out.
He was a man who did not belong anywhere near a place like this. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and dressed in an expensive navy suit that probably cost more than her entire renovation budget.
His dark brown hair was neatly styled, and his jaw was sharp enough to cut glass. His piercing blue eyes locked onto her with an intensity that made her pulse jump.
“Are you Harlo Dawson?”
His voice was deep, authoritative, and completely out of place in the middle of this mess. She narrowed her eyes, crossing her arms.
“Who’s asking?”
“Dominic Nash.”
He stepped closer, his polished dress shoes sinking slightly into the uneven dirt.
“I just bought this property.”
Harlo’s heart nearly stopped.
“Excuse me?”
“I closed on it this morning,” Dominic said. “The previous owner accepted my offer. This house belongs to me now.”
Harlo’s stomach twisted.
“That’s impossible,” she argued. “I’ve been working on this place for months. I have a contract.”
“I’m aware of your arrangement,” Dominic interrupted smoothly. “But the owner was eager to sell, and I made an offer they couldn’t refuse.”
Her hands curled into fists.
“You mean you threw a ridiculous amount of money at them and stole this place out from under me,” she snapped.
His lips twitched as if he found her anger amusing.
“I prefer to call it business.”
Harlo wanted to scream. This house wasn’t just some investment; it was supposed to be her fresh start. She had poured everything into it, and now this stranger had swooped in with his billionaire bank account and taken it away like it was nothing.
She took a deep breath, forcing herself to stay calm.
“Why would a man like you want a house like this?” she asked. “It needs work. A lot of work.”
Dominic glanced at the crumbling structure, his expression unreadable.
“I have my reasons.”
Harlo clenched her jaw.
“Well, I’m not leaving,” she declared. “I’ve put too much into this place to walk away now.”
Dominic studied her for a long moment, then exhaled.
“Fine. You can stay.”
Her eyebrows shot up.
“What?”
“I need someone to renovate it,” he explained. “You clearly have experience with the house. Finish what you started.”
Harlo stared at him, completely thrown.
“So let me get this straight,” she said. “You bought the house out from under me, but now you want me to fix it up for you?”
Dominic’s gaze didn’t waver.
“Yes.”
She should have told him to get lost. She should have walked away and never looked back. But this house was her work and her vision. If she didn’t finish it, someone else would.
After a long pause, she lifted her chin.
“Fine. But I’m doing things my way.”
Dominic’s lips curved slightly.
“As long as it gets done.”
