The Tycoon's Rebel Bride / The Billionaire's Unexpected Heir. Kathie DeNosky

threw open the door and walked in. Theron who was standing in front of his desk looked up and frowned when he saw her. Not good. An older woman also turned, and her frown was much larger. The last, who had to be Alannis, picked up her head and stared curiously at Isabella.

      Of course she wouldn’t be homely, because that would be asking far too much. Alannis and her mother both were extremely beautiful in a classy, elegant way. While her mother wore her hair upswept in a neat chignon, Alannis’s hair fell to her shoulders in a dark wave. Her brown eyes were warm and friendly, and she smiled tentatively in Isabella’s direction.

      “Bella,” Theron said gruffly. “Did Madeline not tell you I was occupied?”

      The reproach was clear in his voice, but Isabella ignored it. She was too busy trying to find fault with Alannis. Unfortunately for her, unless Alannis’s voice was grating, the woman was darn near perfect. She and Theron even looked fabulous together.

      “She might have mentioned that you were busy,” Isabella murmured.

      “Who is this?” Alannis’s mother asked imperiously.

      Theron turned and smiled reassuringly. “This is the girl I told you about, Sophia.” Then he looked back at Isabella. “Isabella, I’d like you to meet Alannis Gianopolous and her mother, Sophia. Ladies, this is Isabella Caplan, my ward.”

      Sophia immediately lost her guarded look and smiled warmly at Isabella. To Isabella’s further surprise, the older woman approached her, holding her hands out.

      “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Isabella. Theron has told us so much about you. I think it’s wonderful that he’s taking the time to introduce you to potential husbands.”

      Sophia kissed her on either cheek while Isabella murmured her stunned thanks.

      “I’m very happy to meet you, Isabella,” Alannis offered with a shy smile.

      “Likewise,” Isabella said weakly. Her gaze found Theron’s again. She looked for any sign that he was miserable, but his expression was unreadable.

      “Was there something you needed?” Theron prompted.

      She made a show of checking her watch. “You told me to be here this morning. Well, here I am.”

      He frowned for a moment and then remembrance sparked in his eyes. “Ah, yes, of course. You’ll have to forgive me.” He flashed a smile in Alannis’s direction. “In the excitement of Alannis’s arrival, I completely forgot about your security team. They’re waiting out front. I’ve briefed them on my expectations. Madeline can go over the rest with you.”

      He walked over to his intercom and proceeded to tell Madeline that he was sending Isabella out to meet her security force.

      And just like that, she was dismissed.

      Sophia hugged her warmly while Alannis gave her a friendly smile. A moment later, Isabella found herself all but shoved from the office.

      Numbly she made her way back to Madeline’s desk. Madeline gave her a quick look of sympathy before getting up and circling her desk.

      “Come with me,” she directed as she all but dragged Isabella after her.

      Isabella allowed herself to be led into the same conference room as the day before. Madeline shut the doors behind them and then turned on Isabella.

      “I’ve changed my mind. I’ve decided to help you.”

      Isabella looked at her in surprise. “What do you mean?”

      Madeline sighed. “Alannis is a lovely girl.”

      “Now you’re making her sound like a poodle,” Isabella pointed out, remembering that Sadie had told her the same.

      “She’s truly lovely, but she’s all wrong for Theron. I knew it the moment I met her and her forceful mama. Alannis is a mouse while Theron is more of a lion.”

      “Maybe he wants a mouse,” Isabella murmured.

      “Have you given up then?” Madeline asked as she tapped her foot impatiently.

      Isabella gave her an unhappy frown.

      Madeline shook her head in exasperation. “This marriage would be a disaster. You know it and I know it. Theron has to know it somewhere behind that thick skull of his.”

      “I thought you had a strict policy against interfering in your employer’s personal life?” Isabella said.

      Madeline snorted. “I’m not going to interfere. You are.”

      Isabella raised her eyebrows.

      “He plans to propose this Friday night after the opera. He has the tickets, the ring, the entire evening planned. I’ve given you the information. What you do with it is up to you,” she said with a shrug.

      “So soon?” Isabella whispered.

      “Yep, which means you have to move fast,” Madeline said cheerfully.

      Isabella slowly nodded. Her mind was already racing a mile a minute.

      “While you’re pondering, let me introduce you to your security team,” Madeline said as she herded Isabella back toward the office where the men waited. “They have strict instructions to accompany you wherever you go.” She turned to Isabella and grinned. “Should make things interesting for you.”

      Isabella only half heard the introductions. She had to crane her neck to look up to the three really large men. They certainly fit the part of security, though she couldn’t imagine that subtlety was their strong point. But then subtlety wasn’t one of Theron’s strong points, either.

      As Madeline introduced the last man, Theron’s door opened and he and Alannis and her mother came out. Alannis’s arm was linked with Theron’s, and his head was bent low as he listened to something she said.

      Isabella stared unhappily at them until Madeline elbowed her in the ribs.

      “You’re being far too obvious, my girl,” Madeline whispered. “Smile. You don’t want mama bear to be suspicious. I get the impression she can be a barracuda when it comes to her daughter.”

      Isabella forced a smile to her lips just as the three approached.

      “I trust you found your security team to your liking?” Theron asked politely.

      Isabella nodded and smiled more broadly. Then in an even bigger effort to kill them all with kindness, she turned her attention to Alannis. “How was your trip? Everything went well, I hope.”

      Alannis’s smile lit up her entire face. “It did,” she said in only slightly accented English. “I’m very happy to be here.” She glanced up at Theron, and Isabella flinched at the open adoration in her expression.

      “We look forward to seeing you again Thursday evening,” Sophia said.

      “Thursday?” Isabella parroted. She glanced at Theron in confusion.

      “The cocktail party,” Theron said smoothly. “I, of course, extended an invitation to them, as well.”

      “Of course,” Isabella said faintly.

      Though his almost fiancée stood at his side, clinging to his arm like seaweed, Theron’s gaze was on Isabella, his dark eyes probing. His eyes traveled a path of awareness over her skin.

      Did he love Alannis? Did he feel a certain affection for her? She was older than Isabella, but not by much. Maybe a few years? There was youthful innocence in Alannis’s eyes that made Isabella feel older and more jaded.

      Isabella swallowed the rising knot in her throat and she turned brightly to Sophia. “I too look forward to seeing you again. Perhaps you can tell me all about Greece. I’ve heard it’s such a lovely place to visit. Maybe I can honeymoon there after I marry.”

      Sophia beamed at her while Theron’s face darkened.

      “We