Page 1 of The Rebel Billionaire

CHAPTERONE

CHARLIE

"You'refired."

Ilaughed.

Why wouldn't I? Aiden was joking. He couldn't fire me. I was Charlotte Winters, and we were sitting in the executive offices of Winters Incorporated. I'd been working for the family company since I was eighteen. I belonged here. Sometimes, it felt like this was the only place Ibelonged.

Aiden couldn't fire me. I waited for him to laugh alongwithme.

The laugh never came. He sat behind his desk, his usually warm, brown eyes chilly and impenetrable. Aiden was the only man I knew who could loom while sitting down. I fought the urge to shrink into mychair.

I'd seen him aim that cold stare at plenty of people—employees, clients, his ex-wife.Neverme.

"Aiden, you're not firing me," I said, trying to force amusement into my voice. This was all a joke, right? Aiden held my gaze, unflinching. I sat up straight, feeling my own eyes go cold. "Is this aboutHayward?"

Aiden paused for a split second before shaking his head. "This has nothing to do with Hayward," he said, meeting my eyes. He was lying. He hadtobe.

"You agreed that we had to turn him in. You went with me to the FBI. How can you fire meoverit?"

Aiden's jaw was set as he said, "Charlotte, this has nothing to do with Bruce Hayward. You handled that situation perfectly and I'm proud of yourcourage."

"I don'tunderstand."

"I already told you. You're fired. Security has cleared out your desk. When we're done here, they'll escort you from thebuilding."

His words were a punch to the gut. Tears threatened. I knew that prickle in the back of my eyes. I bit down on the inside of my lip, my teeth cutting into the tender flesh so hard I tasted the copper ofblood.

I would not cry. I refused. Swallowing hard, I stood, planting my fisted hands on my hips. I knew I was in real trouble when Aiden stayed wherehewas.

If this was a power play, he would have come to his feet and reestablished his dominance. If he was letting me take physical control of the room, it was only because he knew he'd already won. Fear was an icy wave cresting behind me. When it broke, I'dbelost.

Iwasmy job. If he kicked me out of Winters Inc., what would I do? I didn't know who I was without the company. Notanymore.

Steel bands wrapped my ribcage and I couldn't draw a breath. Turning my back on Aiden, I inhaled slowly, digging my nails into my palms and dragging my emotions undercontrol.

I'd learned the hard way to keep my feelings to myself. Always. Even with my family. No one saw my pain, my fears. No one saw me cry. Ever. Not since Iwasten.

Aiden knew me better than almost anyone alive, and he gave me time to pull myself together. Also not agoodsign.

When I thought I could keep my voice level, I said, "I'd like you to explain this to me. After years of giving everything I have to this company, I'd like to know why you think you can shove me outthedoor."

There, I'd done it. I was calm. In control. I was not about to scream and burst into tears. I was not going to curl into a ball and sob. And I was not going to kill Aiden.Notyet.

In the same cool voice he used when he'd fired me, he said, "Charlotte, keeping you on isn't what's bestforyou."

My voice as icy as his, I asked, "What's best for the company, or what's bestforme?"

"For you. It's not what's best for you,"hesaid.

A volcano of rage burned away the ice. What the fuck? Keeping a lid on it, just barely, I managed to grind out one word from between my clenchedteeth.

"Explain."

Aiden let out a sigh and leaned back in his chair, dropping the chilly CEO persona. His eyes on mine had all the warmth I was used to from my big brother. It only made me morefurious.

"Charlie. You've been working here since you were eighteen. It was bad enough when you were in school. Now that you've graduated, you work allthetime."