Chapter 1: The Fortress Of Gold
The sleek black Rolls-Royce ghosted along the Bellamy estate's cobblestone driveway, its quiet hum echoing across the deserted streets. The estate, which was tucked away on the outskirts of Manhattan, was a universe unto itself, protected from the public's prying eyes by a resolute brick wall and massive iron gates. Beyond the gates was an empire that one man, billionaire Alexander Bellamy, had constructed. His name was splashed across Fortune 500 lists and murmured in boardrooms.
Alexander was sitting in the backseat of the automobile, staring out into the distance with his piercing green eyes, silent. The outside world appeared far away, inconsequential, and remote—a mirror of the life he had become and the impact he had on it. At thirty-seven, he was a man who had achieved everything people could dream of. His wealth was immeasurable, his power undeniable, and his influence inescapable. Yet, as the car pulled up to the grand entrance of his mansion, the towering façade of white marble didn't feel like home. It felt like a fortress—an impenetrable stronghold where his heart had been locked away for years.
 When he got out of the automobile, the heavy double doors opened, showing a staff used to moving with silent precision. Emily, his personal assistant, showed up at his side with a tablet in hand, prepared to give him an update on tomorrow's meeting with the Bellamy Enterprises board.
She spoke calmly and stated, "Everything is ready for your 8 AM meeting with the executives." "The quarterly reports are ready for your inspection. Do you want me to do this?
Alexander cut in, his tone soft but firm. "No." "We can put that off until tomorrow." He stopped, looked at her, and said, "Emma, go home. You've accomplished enough for now.
 After a little pause, Emily nodded. Naturally, Mr. Bellamy. Good night.
The place felt quieter once she was gone. Alexander entered the opulent lobby, his steps resonating across the large area. Though they sent a chilly light across the marble floors, the crystal chandeliers hanging above him did little to lighten the mood. Everything was exquisite, spotless, and completely lifeless.
Step by step, he climbed the huge staircase that led further and deeper into the void of loneliness he had created for himself. Like the rest of the property, his bedroom felt chilly despite its minimalist décor and floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked the metropolitan skyline. He undid his necktie and perched on the bed's edge, gazing at the flashing city lights in the distance. Millions of people out there, yet here he was, alone. The price of success, they called it. But Alexander knew better. It was a choice—a conscious decision he had made long ago to keep his heart guarded, untouchable, and impervious to the vulnerabilities that came with attachment.
 His kingdom had been his primary concern for years. His heart, his soul, and his entire existence had been the corporation. However, of late there had been a gnawing emptiness that money and achievement could not satisfy. The sensation had been gradually encroaching upon him, and at this point, it had been deeply ingrained in his being. He had turned the gold fortress around himself into a prison, and no amount of strength could break him out.
The board meeting proceeded according to plan the following morning. Alexander commanded the room with his presence, answering inquiries and making judgments with the ease and precision of someone who has been in charge for a long time. He had a well-deserved reputation as a cunning businessman, and the people around the table respected him for it, even if they feared him.
Following the discussion, Alexander withdrew himself to his modern office on the highest floor of Bellamy Tower, which boasted floor-to-ceiling windows offering an expansive view of the city below. He was seated behind his enormous mahogany desk, gazing at the documents and contracts that appeared to be piling up every day. Acquisitions, mergers, and deals were the backbone of his business, but they felt like a burden to him now.
He was leaning back in his chair when his mind drifted to something, or rather, someone, that he had been thinking about more often lately. A female. Someone quite different, not someone he'd met through business or at a gala. Isabel was her name, and she remained a mystery. A face he had glimpsed only once, by chance, in a crowded restaurant downtown.
 It had been a typical night. Another round of negotiations and another business meal. But he had seen her across the room as he sat at the head of the table, listening to a gaggle of CEOs blather on and on about estimates. She didn't have the gaudy attire that many of the women in his world did. Her outfit bore no expensive label, and there were no brilliant diamonds encircling her neck. However, there was something about her that drew his interest and held on ever since.
Her brown eyes were peaceful and strong, and her dark hair cascaded over her shoulders in waves. She had been reading a book and enjoying a glass of wine while seated by herself at a table. It was an image so out of place in the upscale restaurant that he couldn't help but be intrigued. He had watched her, just for a moment, wondering who she was, what her life was like. Then, just as quickly as she had appeared, she was gone.
 He found himself thinking about her more often than he would have liked to confess in the weeks that followed. Really, that was absurd. Despite not knowing her, she had turned into an uncontrollable distraction for him. He had made an effort to ignore the ideas, immerse himself in his work, and tell himself that he didn't have time for such fripperies. But her visage remained in his memory, a whisper in the recesses of his consciousness.
It was new to Alexander to be uncontrollably erratic. He was a guy of decisions, a man who would move mountains to achieve his goals. However, he experienced a level of uncertainty about Isabel that he hadn't experienced in years.
With a groan, he combed through his hair. Though it was ridiculous to be thinking about a woman he had never talked to, there was something about her demeanor and her apparent contentment in being alone that touched him. Maybe it was because she reminded him of himself in certain ways.
He was startled out of his reverie when his phone buzzed on the desk. It was Emily speaking through the speaker.
"Mr. Bellamy, you have an appointment at 2:00 PM.
Alexander straightened and took a quick look at his calendar. The meeting was a normal briefing on the recently established charitable foundation of his company, which he had completely forgotten about. It was one of the few non-profit endeavors he had undertaken, but for legacy. He didn't need more money. What he needed was something else, though he wasn't sure what that was yet.
With a firm voice, he said, "Send them in."
A young woman stepped into the room as the door opened. She was dressed simply, businesslike, and carrying a folder. However, Alexander halted when she looked up and met his gaze.
She was the one. Isabel.
The air in the room appeared to change for a minute, and neither of them said anything. Her brown eyes met his without even the slightest trace of recognition as she stood there, collected and peaceful. He was simply another CEO to her. However, she was the one person he couldn't stop thinking about.
For the first time in years, the billionaire's long-suppressed heart began to awaken.
 Alexander didn't know how to interpret the situation at hand. Though he had never given much thought to fate, he couldn't help but wonder if there was more going on when Isabel sat down across from him and expertly and gracefully explained the specifics of the charity initiative. His entire life had been centered around maintaining control and making sure that each action was well thought out. This, though, felt different. Unexpected. And Alexander Bellamy, the man with everything, felt, for the first time in years, the stirrings of something he had long since buried.
Something beyond the reach of money.