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"Here, eat this," I say, defeated as I hand them the box of cupcakes. I then fish out the sheet of paper from my pocket and then straighten it out on the desk. "And sign here."

"We won't be signing your little contract, Ms. Langley," Brandon Wright says. The man is so beautifully cold he could have been made with marble.

I totally butchered everything, and I don't even know why. Well, I do. I didn't expect them to look like that in person. I didn't expect them to totally ruin my thinking faculties and turn me into some sort of groupie. Ugh. Disgusting.

As a last resort, I turn to look at Rex Stevens, who'd remained quiet during my epically failed negotiations. He doesn't look away, which means I'm the one forced to do so when I find myself drowning in the darkness of his midnight ocean eyes.

I square my shoulders and lift my chin.

"Fine," I say, finally with conviction in my voice. "You won't sign my little contract; you don't get to eat my cupcakes," I add, forcefully snapping the lid back in place, snatching my contract off the table, then shoving the box under my arm, before I march out of their office. At the door, I turn around and deliver a line so perfect, I give myself goosebumps.

"If it's a war you want, it's a war you're going to get."

Chapter Five

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Tia

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"I need another chance," I decide. No. "I need to give them another chance to do the right thing. And this time I'll be more prepared."

So, of course, it calls for another batch of cupcakes—what else? While Kamilia mans the front of the bakery, I get to work.

With the final touches done and the cupcakes neatly boxed, I'm unfortunately forced to clean up the mess myself. But soon the kitchen is spotless once again after much moaning on my part. I then collect the box of freshly made cupcakes and head to the city.

I'm grateful I wore a pretty pink dress this morning, which is perfect for my personal delivery. Also, I have the contract, now folded into a small square and stuffed between my breasts.

I am a little shocked when I don't even have to say anything to the same security guard who refused to grant me access to the billionaires. He just calls me Ms. Langley and escorts me straight up to the highest floor.

He is not the only one who knows my name. Everyone I pass on the top floor greets me warmly and goes out of their way to help me.

"I didn't make an appointment, but I was wondering if I could see Mr. Wright, Mr. Bates, and Mr. Stevens, please," I ask an honest-to-goodness walking supermodel who happens to be their PA.

"Of course. They're in a meeting in the boardroom. I'll take you through. Can I get you something to drink? Tea, coffee, water, or champagne?"

"Oh, I can wait out here if they're busy. And no, thank you for anything to drink. Thank you for asking, though."

"Of course, but there'll be no waiting for you, Ms. Langley," she says, then gestures for me to follow her. Well, I certainly don't know what to make of their acquiescence to see me, considering I haven't even started my regime of terror on them yet. But whatever, I'll take it.

Samantha, their PA, opens the door to the boardroom without knocking, then announces me by my name

I turn blood red when I see the entire boardroom table, which seats about twenty people, and has twenty people seated around it.

"I can come back later," I say softly, turning to leave.

"Ms. Langley," Rex Stevens says, and I spin around at the sound of his voice. My gosh, it's like a drizzle of dark chocolate on my lips. "Stop that," I reprimand myself.

"Gentlemen," Brandon says, and instantly all the other men start shuffling out of the boardroom. Well, that's one way to clear the room, I think, off balance again when I'm alone with them.

"Ms. Langley, what can we do for you today?" Brandon asks.

Right, this is my chance to prove I'm just a baker, asking three rich guys not to kill my small town. Take two.

"Look, you got off on the wrong foot before," I say, putting it all on them, which is true. They were just being arrogant jerks, refusing to listen to reason.

"And I'm here to give you another chance to reconsider not demolishing Darling Rose to the ground," I say, walking to the other side of the massive boardroom to the head of the table where they'd been seated. "I know I said it was war, but I don't want to fight with you, and I'm sure you don't want to fight with me. The solution is so, so simple," I emphasize.