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Chapter Two
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2024-10-29 19:42:56IRENA
"THAT’S why they're here," Peter said, breaking the trance that Sage Kennedy had forced on him. Irena turned around and focused her attention on what her editor was saying."They must do it. . . damage control, "he continued."Against what?" Irena asked, glancing at Amanda and then at Sage.What scandalous information may the press have about Sage that the press has not covered?Sage stirred and started pacing the room.Amanda cleared her throat."There is information should be announcing tomorrow. These are part of the practices in which Sage's late father trained." She turned to look at Irene."Practices? Like, illegal things?" Irena's voice softened as she watched Amanda.Amanda's expression hardened as she nodded.Glancing at Sage, Irena saw a flat look in his eyes. Her heart rate slowed down. She feels sorry for him."What does this have to do with Greenland?"Amanda tapped her pen on the planner in front of her."We will hold a press conference tomorrow morning. You will not blame me if I do not give you the details right away. In general, you will come to draft articles about what you see. Paint Kennedy Outdoors in a Positive Light. Hopefully, we can help combat the negative reaction this information will inevitably elicit."Irena stepped back. A fragile peace? Is that why Peter called her here to write? She looked at him, but the bright smile he put on her lips did not waver. He knew it was underneath her. Why did he ask her to write it? "You think I would be best to include this?" she asked.Peter squinted at her, and then his nerd expression returned."Yes. Of course, you are the best in this story.Irena felt like she was going to get sick. Is that all Peter saw in her? One of the girls he hired to start writing that tasteless magazine has already started printing. And there, she thought she was making progress. She gritted her teeth. Why did she allow herself to hope that he would give her a break? Oh, that is right. She deserves it.The phone rang beside her. Amanda brought it to her cheek."Good morning?" she said get up.A second later, she covered the phone with her hand."I should take this call to the hallway." Holding the diary to her chest, she slipped through the door."I'll use the bathroom," said Sage, following her.As soon as the room was empty, Irena focused on Peter. Her gaze shifted from her face to the window."What? Say it," he said with a sigh."Seriously? Should I make the ugly billionaire look good?” She got up and started pacing back and forth."They are making a large donation to the magazine in exchange for this story. I am hustling other articles so I can post it next week."Irena's muscles tensed. Does that mean he is falsifying his story about trash that mysteriously dumped into the sea? She narrowed her eyes. "Come on, Peter. We are not that kind of magazine. We print remarkable stories. It is not right to help people cover up the terrible things they have done."He avoided her gaze as he arranged the stack of papers on the table."That's what has to happen if we want to continue operating so we can deliver the stories that really matter."Irena is biting her nails."But Sage Kennedy is ridiculous. I have seen stories about him crashing into his father's yacht when he was supposed to attend his father's funeral. No journalistic ingenuity can make this guy look good."Peter's face paled as his gaze drifted to the door."Mr. Kennedy," he said, gritting his teeth,"I hope you find a toilet that meets your standards." He’s leaning against the open door.Her heart pounded as he watched him.He was still staring at her as he pushed open the doorframe and entered."It's a bit ridiculous, but where did I find it?" His voice dropped as he stared at her."I—"He raised his hand."Listen, Miss. Derrick. You do not have to like me. You do not even have to talk to me. But what is coming tomorrow has nothing to do with me and will hurt the people whose livelihoods depend on Kennedy Outdoors to stay afloat." He took off his jacket and put it on his arm. "So do you think your journalistic ingenuity could drop to our lowest and save those jobs?"Heat ran down her spine and into her cheeks. She pursed her lips and nodded."I never intended to...""Yeah, I think so too." He turned to Peter, "Thanks for being so pleasant. I cannot wait to put all this behind me."Peter stood up and held out his hand.They shook hands.Sage turned and headed for the door. As soon as he was a less inches away from Irena, he stopped. His deep brown eyes met mine. For no good reason, her knees weakened. Her spirit screams for her to run, but she still is rooted to the spot."Miss. Derrick, I'll meet you at the airport tomorrow at exactly six o'clock." He stopped and headed for the door.She nodded. She could not get out.When he was gone., she turned to Peter, who smiled and said,"Wow, it would be interesting."Related chapters
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SAGE AMANDA was too busy talking to the person on the other end of the call to talk to Sage, which he was grateful for. He followed her as they made their way down the hall. He tries not to get frustrated with her pace when all he wants to do is get out of the building. His outfit drives him crazy. He wants to wear normal clothes and go back to his normal life. He suppressed a sigh as Amanda pushed open the glass door. His normal life is gone. Everything has changed. It didn't help that Miss. Derrick made fun of him, and in many ways. Her bright eyes and dusty freckles seemed to be etched in his mind, no matter how far he tried to push them away. Desperately distracted, he glanced around, spotted Titan, and whistled. This Newfoundland dog is the only saving grace he has had in his crazy life. "Come on, boy," he said, patting his leg. Titan turned his head towards him and quickly stood up. The marble floors are not for dogs and cause their paws to slide down. When he fina
Stranded with the Billionaire Chapter Four
IRENA "OH.MY.GOD," Lindsay told as she stood in the middle of the kitchen in bunny slippers and a soft yellow dress. Irena dropped her purse on the table and walked past her. "Come on, Linds. Not too bad." Lindsay followed her into the bedroom. Isn't it serious? She reached out and grabbed Irena's arm. "You were in the same room as Sage Kennedy." Her voice squeaked as she called his name. Irena calmed down and turned around. "Yes. I was in the same room as Sage Kennedy." She paused as she let the words settle around her roommate. "And Peter and a woman named Amanda." She threw it at him. Lindsay gave him an exasperated look and went to her wardrobe, after searching for a few seconds, she came out with a suitcase. Lindsay sat on the bed with a dazed look on her face. "It's weird," she whispered. "I think the person you like is getting a little out of control," Irena said as she dropped her suitcase on the bed and opened it. "Can not control?" Lindsay looked at him in amaze
Stranded with the Billionaire Chapter Five
SAGE DARKNESS surrounded Sage as he lay in bed, staring up at the smooth ceiling. Glancing at his watch, he groaned. It was four o'clock in the morning and he couldn't sleep. His mind won't stop working. He stirred in the silk sheets and lay down on his stomach. Another hour before he needs to wake up. Another hour before damage control. Another hour before the world knows what a terrible man his father was. He rubs his face with his hand. Now there is no race. Too many people's livelihood depends on him. The family will change if he can't solve this problem. His chest contracted as he sat up. He needs a hot shower. Pulling off the blanket, he swung his legs over the edge of the bed and stood up. The heat from his heated floor travels up his legs and settles in his stomach. Elsewhere, cool autumn weather will affect people's lives. He flinched as he made his way to the adjoining bathroom. He missed the way the outdoors grounded him. All those luxuries were not his, but his father'
Stranded with the Billionaire Chapter Six
IRENAAS Irena weaves her way through the crowds at Sea-Tac airport, she draws one conclusion: too many people are traveling. She considered standing on a chair and telling everyone to go home but decided not to. It would probably attract too much attention from the security guards standing three meters apart. Pulling her luggage closer to her, she avoids an angry toddler kicking and screaming. She gave her mother a sympathetic smile as she passed. Irena 's heels tapped on the tiled floor as she passed the counter. Sage said he'd meet at the airport at six, but he didn't say where. Not knowing what to do, she walked over to a security guard standing next to a slowly moving stream of people. He folded his arms. "Sorry," she said smiling. "I must meet Sage Kennedy here. Do you know where I can find him?" Now that she said those words out loud, she looked ridiculous. How many people are there in the country? And does she expect this guardian to know someone special? The guard on du
Stranded with the Billionaire Chapter Seven
IRENA AFTER the limo had been rolling for a minute, Irena sat up. Anger flooded her body as the woman's last words ran through her. Does Sage know what his dad did? Is she stupid to think he knows nothing? She shook her head. Of course, he would lie. He's rich. The feeling of wetness on her hand pulled her out of her train of thought. She squealed and looked around. Her breathing became hoarse as she stared at the dog's face the day before. He was sitting among the parallel benches in front of her. His heartbeat coincided with the beat of his tail hitting the ground. "W-Why are there dogs here?" she cried, her voice choking with each word. As if talking to her was the key to liberation, the dog stepped forward and pressed his face against Irena's face. She shouted and raised her hands. Ever since she was attacked by a German Shepherd as a child, she has been terrified of dogs. And this fear has not faded with age. The dog's wet nose rubs against its skin. She shivered as she le
Stranded with the Billionaire Chapter Eight
SAGE TITAN barked and ran around Sage as he circled the plane for pre-flight checks. There was something about Miss. Derrick that moved him. He wasn't sure what it was, but Titan 's relentless urge to bark at him didn't help him organize his thoughts. He bent down and patted Titan 's head. "Be quiet, my boy. I need to focus," he said. As he circled the plane, he saw Miss. Derrick and Joseph. They are talking and smiling. Seeing their joy upset him. But then that feeling stopped him. What's the matter with him? The day had just begun, and he was already grumpy. "I just finished my final inspection," he said, clearing his throat and nodding his head toward the plane. Irena stared at him. "Sage, are you a pilot? Sage smiled. This plane is his child. It is his second home. A gift from her father on graduation day. It's ironic because his dad hates that he went to flying school instead of Harvard. "Kennedy 's going to Harvard, Sage." To this day, her father's voice still ring
Stranded with the Billionaire Chapter Nine
IRENA IT didn't take long before the plane was ready and rolling down the runway. As the plane took off, Irena clutched the handrails to her death. She deliberately put her life in the hands of Sage Kennedy . What is she thinking? She had to do some breathing exercises she learned at the yoga studio—trips requested by Bridget—to calm her nerves. It didn't help that her argument with Sage kept coming to her mind. Man, he really gets goosebumps with his cocky ideas and sexy arms. She shook her head. It wasn't something she should be thinking about. He was a stuffy, rude billionaire. But the image of your muscular arm under the white shirt kept coming back to me. She rubbed her eyes, blaming herself. She's not going to be the swoon, swoon girl that guys like Sage attract. She is better than that. She leans back in her chair, tilts her head back. It makes the interior of the plane more spacious than flying in an overbooked carriage. Traveling with a rich man has its advantages. The
Stranded with the Billionaire Chapter Ten
SAGESAGE 'S ears buzzed as he groaned and opened his eyelids. Constant blinking seemed to help blur his vision. The red light on the dashboard is flashing. A piercing sound filled the air. Sage raised his hand and held his head. What just happened? He looks out the window. White surrounds him. The slope of the mountain. He noticed this when he had to land the plane after both engines died. It took all of his school time before he calmed down and went flying in the snow. He winced as he recalled the sound of metal falling to the floor. His limbs ached, but he still endured the pain and stood up straight. Where are Titan and Irena? His heart skipped a beat at the thought of them being hurt – or worse. His fingers fumbled for the seat belt. "Titan? Irena?" he cried, then immediately regretted it. Leaning down, he touched his stomach. He pulled his finger away and stepped back. There was no blood, but his ribs hurt. He wondered if he had hurt any of them. After taking a deep breath
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Stranded with the Billionaire Epilogue
SAGE16 months later, Snow falls out of the window as Sage walks forward. He looked down at his watch. Irena was an hour late. Where was she? A soft Christmas ballad plays in the background. Amanda did a great job finding a decorator to decorate this cabin. A Christmas tree sits in the far corner with twinkling lights. Titan was lying nearby with Irena 's present tied around his collar. Everything is perfect. Except that Irena wasn't there. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. His outfit made him feel like he was strangling her. He wasn't sure if it was his stress because he was about to ask Irena to marry him. Or that he's afraid Greenland has claimed it again. He should have known he shouldn't have booked a cabin in the mountains of Greenland. But somehow he thought it would be romantic to go back to the place where they fell in love. Man, he can be stupid sometimes. He should have taken Amanda 's parted lips and raised his eyebrows as he told her what he ha
Stranded with the Billionaire Chapter Thirty Eight
SAGE SAGE tried to calm his nerves by staring at Irena . Her tear-stained face and red eyes tugged at his heart in a way he had never experienced before. All he wanted to do right now was hug her and comfort her. But there are a few things that need to be said before he can do that. And they all had to do with the article. On his way to the press conference, he pulled out the magazine, already hating what Irena had written. After all, he saw the first draft. But the more he advances, the more he realizes that she has changed all that. "Is that what you mean?" he asked, opening the magazine to his article. "Or are you just trying to sell copies?" Irena looked down at the page then back at him. She studied his gaze for a moment before nodding. "Yes," she whispered. His heart was beating so hard that it could be heard clearly in his ears. "Yes, you're trying to sell magazines, or yes, you mean that" - he bent down to study the words as if he still hadn't memorized
Stranded with the Billionaire Chapter Thirty Seven
IRENATHE familiar thrill that ran through Irena as she stood next to fellow reporters and photographers at a press conference no longer had the same effect on her this time. Still shocked that she hadn't told Lindsay about forcing her to leave, she crossed her arms over her chest. Her skirt is flying up and her heels are hugging her legs. It didn't help that there were blisters from the boots Sage made her wear five days ago. Furthermore, Lindsay decided that a press conference sounded extremely interesting and chose to stay and stand right next to Irena . This makes a hasty retreat almost impossible. Lindsay patted Irena 's arm as she smiled at him. "You never told me how fun these things are," she said as her eyes danced in amusement. Irena stared at her. "Probably because they don't," she said. What's interesting is her bed and blanket. A place where she can hide and where the rest of the world doesn't know about her. A place where Sage Kennedy doesn't exist.
Stranded with the Billionaire Chapter Thirty Six
SAGETHE silks under Sage were so soft. Almost too soft. The beeps beside him filled the silence as he stirred on the mattress. Pain shot through his shoulder and he swore. He needed to stop moving, but back in his room felt strange. It's only been five days since he was shot and he's already looking forward to leaving. A knock brought his attention to the door. "Come in," he called. Hopefully it was his doctor and he was there to say that everything is fine and can finally resume his daily activities. When Amanda appeared in the doorway, he groaned. Great. That's not the person he wanted to see. She had completed every job since the hospital handed him over to the doctor. Amanda had been hired to take care of her. It was clear that she wanted full access to him, and the trips to and from the hospital were overwhelming. "Nice to see you're up," she said, looking at him through her glasses. He shrugged. What he really wants to do is run away. Pack your luggage and leave
Stranded with the Billionaire Chapter Thirty Five
IRENATWO days later.Irena was sitting in her faded red chair, staring out the window. It's drizzling here which is nothing new. Raindrops settled on the glass and then slid away, leaving a long trail behind. She shivered and pulled the blanket around her. Although it had been two days, she still could not shake off the constant bone-chilling cold. It must come from trauma. "Are you okay?" Lindsay asked, walking behind her. She held a smoking cup in her hand. Irena slid down, nodding. "I think so." Lindsay handed him the cup, then sat down on the equally pale blue flower chair. She clicked her tongue as she stared at Irena . This made Irena uncomfortable, so she changed her position. "What?" she asked. But she already knew what her roommate was thinking. Lindsay had been trying to convince her to talk about the ordeal since her return, but Irena couldn't bring herself to speak. Mrs. Brimone said she had to start talking." Everything that happens to you affects your a
Stranded with the Billionaire Chapter Thirty Four
SAGETHE sun burst through the leaves above Sage . Every time the wind blew, it caused the shadows to shift below him. The steady sound of the rushing river filled the air. He had propped himself up against a nearby rock. His arms were folded as he stared out into the expansive woods in front of him.Irena 's words kept repeating in his mind. Some were sections of her so-called article that reamed out his family and rich people in general. Some were the words she'd spoken to him. And how she'd spoken to him.He sighed and rubbed his shoulder. There was a knot that had formed there from sleeping on the ground next to her. He rubbed his arm as he thought about the feeling of having her so close to him. Sharing warmth with her.And the kiss they'd shared last night. The closeness he'd allowed himself to feel. He reached down and grabbed a flat rock. He angled his body toward the river and chucked it into the water. It plopped and then disappeared.He was such a fool. He should have never
Stranded with the Billionaire Chapter Thirty Three
IRENASAGE was silent when she returned to the campsite. She was shaky, jumping at every sound, but did feel better after having washed her face seven times in the icy water. It took all her courage to go out into the woods by herself, but facing the bear didn't seem as bad as facing the disappointment that was written all over Sage 's face.His words had cut deeper than any words her father ever yelled at her mother, or herself. She'd let him down, and Sage knew it. She steadied her breath as she walked up to him."What can I do to help?" she asked.Sage glanced over to her. His jaw was set, and his gaze lethal. "Grab the sleeping bag." He nodded toward the dome he'd made.She bit her lip to keep from saying anything and walked past him. Reaching out, she grabbed the bag and began to roll it.Sage busied himself behind her. She could hear his footsteps as he walked back and forth, laying things out on the tarp. She wanted to say something. Explain what had happened. But the words
Stranded with the Billionaire Chapter Thirty Two
SAGETHERE were too many emotions in Sage 's body to understand any of them. There was a bear. Titan is seriously injured. And Irena sat on the floor, shaking all over.Overwhelmed with what to do first, Sage lets his natural instincts kick in. He leaned his gun against a tree and walked over to Irena . He needs her to gather her wits and help him. Most Titan 's lacerations aren't that deep. But there was one that was bleeding. He put his hand on his shoulder. She turned to look at him. His eyes were red and stains were on his cheeks.His pulse is beating fast. Does the bear also achieve it?Her face disappears as she turns her head to the ground. "Leave me alone," she whispered.Sage has seen this before. She was shocked. He needed to assure himself that she was safe. He pushed her up there. His fiery gaze met hers as he stretched out his legs. There's not much time left to procrastinate. If she was hurt, he must know by now."What are you doing?" she asked as she tried to stand up.
Stranded with the Billionaire Chapter Thirty One
IRENA SAGE didn't talk about the kiss for the rest of the night. In fact, he didn't move to kiss her again. It was as if their former campsite held all the magic, and in the new place everything was still going as usual. Her soft breathing could be heard a few millimeters from where she lay. Although they hadn't kissed again, he thought it would be a good idea if they slept in the same sleeping bag. This way, they can share their body temperature and stay close in case something decides to rush out of the forest and attack them. What he didn't mention was that being around him without knowing what they were was really torture for Irena . But she felt stupid asking. Who does it these days? Is there a discussion to define the relationship? God, she's going to look like a loser. She lay on her side, arms crossed over her chest. She began to take deep breaths, held her breath, then released. She wanted his body to relax, and soon he did. The sun emerged in the little hut-like
