2 Broke Girls x 1 Rich Man [TV series 2 Broke Girls ff]

AN: Here you go another chapter. Enjoy. Leave some powerstones and reviews.

Words: 2.4k

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Caroline studied Alex across the candlelit table, watching as he swirled his wine. For a moment she fell into a daze at that handsome, rugged, yet surprisingly delicate face. His eyes were so deep. But she quickly recovered, taking a slow sip of wine. 'Focus.' She wasn't there for the ambiance or the luxury. She was there for *business*.

She cleared her throat, setting her menu down. "So, Alex," she began, leaning slightly forward, "I have to ask. Why are you interested in investing in our cupcake business? I mean, we're not exactly a big deal. Yet."

Alex's lips curled into a small smirk. "Straight to the point. I like that."

Caroline shrugged. "No point in beating around the bush. I just want to understand why a Hollywood producer would look twice at two broke girls making cupcakes in a struggling diner."

Alex rested his forearms on the table, his expression shifting to something more thoughtful. "A few of my friends actually visited your diner a while back. They were in New York scouting locations for a project, and they stopped by for a quick bite. They couldn't stop talking about the cupcakes."

She blinked. "Wait! Seriously? Who? Were they famous? Did I unknowingly serve cupcakes to, like, Brad Pitt or something?"

He chuckled. "No Brad Pitt, sorry. But people in my industry. Folks who know quality when they see it. Or, in this case, taste it."

Her jaw dropped slightly. "And… they liked our cupcakes?"

He nodded. "Not just liked. 'Loved'. One guy even called them 'unexpectedly brilliant.'"

Caroline sat back, a slow smile spreading across her face. "Huh. I knew Max's cupcakes were good, but I didn't think they'd have Hollywood executives fangirling."

Alex tilted his head. "And then there's me. I liked the taste. And, yeah, I saw potential. Not just in the cupcakes, but in you and Max. You're scrappy and ambitious, and you don't give up. That's the kind of energy that builds success."

Caroline bit her lip, processing his words. "Okay, so you see potential. But investors usually want a safe bet, not two waitresses with a dream. What's in it for you?"

Alex smirked, lifting his wine glass. "If your business succeeds, I get a nice profit. If it fails, I invested and it failed. That's the risk with any investment, right? It's as simple as that. I take smart risks for a living, Caroline. And I know when I see potential, that's how I am where I am today. This one just happens to involve sugar and butter."

She narrowed her eyes playfully. "And you're sure this isn't some rich-guy hobby? Like, 'I got bored of producing blockbuster films, so now I'm dabbling in baked goods'?"

Alex laughed. "I promise you, I take my investments seriously. Which is why I'm offering you and Max a real shot at success."

She leaned in, intrigued. "I'm listening."

Alex set his glass down and folded his hands together. "I want to give you something bigger than just a small investment to help you scrape by. I want you to start big. Instead of struggling from the bottom, let's make some noise."

'Yes! This is it. Don't blow it up,' Caroline's brows furrowed. "Okay… and what does that mean exactly?"

Alex's smirk deepened. "It means I'm placing an order. A big one."

Caroline perked up, her heart skipping a beat. "How big are we talking?"

Alex took a sip of his wine, savoring the moment before answering. "One thousand cupcakes."

Caroline choked on air. "A thousand?!"

He nodded. "For an upcoming orphanage opening. My foundation is funding the project, and I want the grand opening to be special. Your cupcakes will be the centerpiece of the event. Besides, kids love cupcakes."

Caroline's mind reeled. "That's… insane. That's huge. That's—oh my God, Max is going to kill me. She won't be able to do it all alone. I have to help her. Ok. This is big."

Alex laughed. "Think of it as your big break."

Caroline's hands flew to her temples. "You say that like I won't be institutionalized by the time I bake the last cupcake."

Alex leaned back, his expression amused. "You can handle it."

She let out a breath, trying to calm the storm of thoughts racing through her head. "You're really serious about this?"

"As serious as I am about my next movie," He confirmed. "This is your chance, Caroline. Take it."

Caroline met his gaze, her heartbeat thundering in her ears. This was it. The moment that could change everything.

After a long pause, she exhaled and reached for her wine glass. She clinked it against his, her eyes shining with determination. She was ready to take the big step.

"You've got yourself a deal, Alex."

He grinned. "Glad to hear it."

Caroline's hands were still slightly shaking as she set her wine glass down. A thousand cupcakes. One thousand cupcakes. Her brain was still trying to process the sheer weight of the opportunity Alex had just handed her. It was exhilarating, terrifying, and absolutely wild.

She hadn't felt this kind of rush in years, not since her days of living in penthouses and attending galas, where million-dollar deals were signed over champagne and caviar. And now, here she was, sitting across from Alex freaking Wilson, making a deal over cupcakes in one of the fanciest restaurants in the city.

Her heart pounded with an entirely different kind of excitement as she subtly glanced at him again.

'God, he looks good.'

The way the soft golden light of Lumière danced against his face was almost unfair. His sharp jawline, the way his navy jacket fit perfectly over his broad shoulders, the way his sleeves were casually rolled up just enough to hint at toned forearms, it was all too much.

'Stop it, Caroline. This is a business meeting, not your own personal rom-com.'

But her brain didn't care. No, it was already spiraling into dangerous thoughts, imagining what it would feel like if he suddenly stood up, scooped her into a bridal carry, and strode off toward some penthouse suite like a scene from a dramatic, over-the-top romance movie.

'Oh no. Oh no.'

Caroline quickly grabbed her water glass, taking a long sip to cool herself down. What the hell is wrong with you? You're supposed to be thinking about profit margins, not how good he'd look carrying you to his bed.

But honestly? She wouldn't mind.

Not even a little.

'Ugh, focus, woman!'

Alex, completely unaware of the mental fanfiction happening in Caroline's head, leaned slightly forward, his gaze amused. "You okay over there? You look like you're either about to pass out or start plotting world domination."

Caroline forced a nervous laugh, setting down her water. "Nope, just… processing. This is a really big deal, and my brain is catching up."

Alex smirked. "Good to know I haven't completely overwhelmed you. Yet."

'Oh, he had no idea.'

At that moment, the waiter returned, "Are you ready to order, sir? Ma'am?"

Caroline snapped out of her thoughts and quickly looked down at the menu, realizing she hadn't even glanced at it yet. The words blurred together for a second before her old instincts kicked in.

She used to eat at places like this all the time. Back when money was never an issue. Before everything fell apart. Before she ended up working double shifts at a diner just to survive.

It had been so long since she indulged in anything remotely luxurious.

Her fingers traced over the options, the familiar French dishes bringing back memories of silk dresses, expensive perfume, and effortlessly ordering the most decadent meals without blinking at the price.

She missed this.

"I'll have the filet mignon," she said smoothly, looking up at the waiter with a confidence she hadn't felt in years. "Medium rare. And the truffle mashed potatoes on the side, please."

Alex raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed.

The waiter nodded approvingly. "Excellent choice, madam. And for you, sir?"

"I'll go with the same," Alex replied, handing back the menu. "And maybe a side of the asparagus."

"Of course." The waiter collected their menus and disappeared, leaving them alone once again.

Caroline exhaled, sinking into her chair, her heart still racing. A weird thought appeared in her mind out of nowhere. 'Does he like me? No, of course not. Guys like Alex dated models. Actresses. A-list celebrities. Not former heiresses-turned-broke-waitresses who lived in tiny apartments with broken air conditioning.'

It was absurd to even think about.

And yet…

The way he looked at her sometimes, the little smirks, the way his eyes lingered just a fraction of a second too long—was it just politeness, or was there something more?

'Stop it, Caroline. He's being nice because he's investing in your cupcakes, not your love life.'

She forced herself to push the thought away and focus on the real reason they were here.

...

[After dinner]

Alex leaned back in his chair, swirling the last sip of wine in his glass. "I have the advance check ready for you," he said casually. "If it's alright with you, we can stop by my penthouse so I can give it to you, or I can send it to you in the morning."

Caroline's breath hitched slightly. 'His penthouse? Oh. Oh.'

Her mind went into overdrive. This was it, wasn't it? The moment when rich, powerful men like Alex took what they wanted in exchange for life-changing deals. She'd read about it. Seen it in movies. Hell, she used to live in that world. She knew how these things worked.

And yet, as her pulse quickened, she realized something.

She was ready.

If sleeping with Alex Wilson meant securing the future of her and Max's business, then fine. It wasn't the first time a woman had made sacrifices for success. And honestly… if she had to do this, at least it was with someone as devastatingly handsome as him.

She finished the last sip of her wine and nodded. "Alright. We can go now."

Caroline followed Alex out of the restaurant. She expected a limo with a waiting chauffeur, or maybe an armored SUV—something subtle and businesslike. What she did not expect was a limited edition Porsche 911.

Her steps faltered. "Seriously? You drive this? No driver?"

Alex unlocked the car with a click. "Nope. No driver and yes, I like to drive my own car."

He opened the passenger door for her, and she hesitated for half a second before sliding in. The buttery leather seats molded around her, the scent of high-end materials and a faint trace of his cologne enveloping her senses. The door shut with a smooth click, and within moments, Alex settled into the driver's seat beside her.

The engine purred to life. Alex shifted gears, and they were off, the city lights streaking past in a blur of gold and neon.

...

[Penthouse]

Caroline followed Alex into the elevator that led up to his penthouse. Her heart was pounding, not because of the business deal, but because of the assumptions her mind had made the second he mentioned stopping by his place.

'This is it,' she had thought. 'This is the part where rich men like Alex Wilson ask for something in return.'

But as the elevator dinged open, revealing a stunning, tastefully decorated penthouse overlooking the New York skyline, something unexpected happened.

Absolutely nothing.

No suggestive glances. No veiled innuendos. No uncomfortable expectations.

Instead, Alex walked straight to his desk, pulled open a drawer, and took out a checkbook.

Caroline stood frozen in place, watching as he calmly filled out the check. She could barely process the contrast between her own assumptions and the absolute normalcy of the situation.

A moment later, Alex tore the check from the book, turned around, and handed it to her.

"Here," he said simply.

She hesitated before taking it, the weight of the small piece of paper feeling heavier than it should. Her eyes flickered down to the amount.

$20,000.

Her breath hitched. "Alex, this is..."

"A fair amount," he interrupted smoothly. "I want a quality product, and I know that takes money. Consider this covering not just the ingredients, but also labor, transportation, and any other miscellaneous expenses that might pop up."

Caroline shook her head in disbelief. "But twenty grand? That's way more than the cost of a thousand cupcakes."

He leaned against his desk, arms crossed. "If you're going to do this, I want you to do it right. No cutting corners, no stressing over whether you can afford to make it happen. Just focus on making the best damn cupcakes possible."

She stared at him, still struggling to comprehend the sheer generosity of it. In her world, people didn't just hand over money like this without strings attached. Especially men like Alex.

And yet… here he was.

She heard about the casting couch situations and heck she even saw some porn related to that. Now, she was feeling bad for thinking bad about him.

"You really don't expect anything in return?" she blurted before she could stop herself.

Alex's brow furrowed slightly, as if the thought hadn't even crossed his mind. Then, after a moment, a slow smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.

"Caroline," he said, amusement lacing his voice, "this is a business deal. I expect quality cupcakes on time. I'll text the location and time tomorrow morning."

Heat rushed to her cheeks. 'Oh, my God. He knows what I was thinking.'

"I... I didn't mean..."

"You thought I brought you here for something else?" he teased, tilting his head.

She groaned, covering her face with one hand. "I don't know, okay? Rich guys don't just throw money at people without expecting something."

Alex chuckled, shaking his head. "Maybe some do. But I'm not one of them."

She peeked at him between her fingers, her embarrassment slowly turning into something else—something warmer. Gratitude.

"Well," she said, exhaling slowly, "that makes you one of a kind, then."

He smiled but didn't say anything. Instead, he pushed off the desk and grabbed his car keys. "Come on. I'll drive you home."

Caroline followed him out, her mind still trying to catch up with everything that had just happened.

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