Chapter 36 Daughter Of A Billionaire
JAMES’ POV
“No, no, this can’t be happening… how is she — did my ears hear right or am I drunk again?” Melissa said, her voice low and shaky, as if she didn’t trust her own hearing.
Anna… the new CEO of Quinn’s Enterprise?
My mind froze.
My thoughts jammed.
My entire chest tightened like someone had tied a rope around it and pulled hard.
But how?
Just a few minutes ago, both of us stood here confidently assuming she was some random waiter. We even mocked her to her face — Melissa was the one running her mouth the most, of course but I wasn’t innocent either. And the whole time, she never argued, never corrected us, never tried to defend herself. She just stood there quietly like nothing affected her.
And now… now we find out she’s the biological daughter of a billionaire?
And not just that, she’s his successor?
It suddenly made too much sense why she didn’t flinch earlier, why she watched us insult her without lifting a finger. She must have been laughing at us internally.
I swallowed hard as the realization hit me fully. And the more it settled, the more stupid I felt — stupid and angry at myself for saying all those things to someone who apparently is even more wealthy and powerful than I am.
“Fuck, fuck, fuck!” I muttered, the frustration in my voice impossible to hide.
The champagne glass I was holding almost cracked in my hand because of how hard my grip tightened around it. I loosened it quickly before I actually shattered it and caused more attention.
“Lower your voice, she might hear you,” Melissa hissed under her breath.
I bit on my lower lip. As much as I hated agreeing with her, she was right this time. We were still at a public event. The media was everywhere. Cameras, microphones, reporters, they were all over the place, and I wasn’t stupid enough to do something that would haunt me later.
Especially not when the new CEO was standing just a few steps away, speaking to business people I was hoping to approach for future deals.
But honestly, her new title wasn’t even the most shocking thing tonight.
The real punch to the gut was that the same woman I dated and dumped is now taking over as CEO of the one company I desperately need help from right now.
How the hell was I supposed to work with that kind of twist?
How was Anna, someone who barely even had class suddenly the daughter of a billionaire? And how did nobody know? Not even her?
So that’s how she managed to afford that expensive dress tonight, and how she got into this exclusive event without any issues.
Damn.
This wasn’t good at all.
She basically had my company’s future in her hands now. After everything that’s happened between us, after everything I said to her, would she even listen to me? Would she give me a chance as the new CEO?
Fuck.
I didn’t even have the guts to look directly at her. Every time she turned slightly, my eyes automatically dropped to the floor or moved somewhere else.
“What are we going to do now?” I whispered, mostly talking to myself, but Melissa still heard it.
“What do you mean by that?” she asked immediately, frowning.
“I mean we’re done if Quinn’s Enterprise doesn’t release the funds I was hoping to secure. Everything depended on that meeting. And on top of that, we need to solve this drug issue before it drags us down completely and ends with us behind bars.”
“What? Behind bars?” Melissa stepped back slightly. “James, I can’t go to jail. I swear I won’t survive in a place like that.”
“We’re not going to jail,” I said quickly, trying to calm her before she caused a scene. “I’m going to make sure of that.”
“So what happens now? What, we go and beg her?” she asked, her voice low but sharp. “Because I’m not begging that bitch. I don’t care who she is now. I still hate her. I’ve always hated her.”
Her voice held nothing but venom. Pure bitterness.
And honestly… I understood it. I felt a similar sting, just in a different way.
“I know you hate her,” I said, rubbing my hand over my face. “I get it. But we need her. Without her, we’re in deep trouble. So I’m going to try. No matter what it costs.”
“Try what?” Melissa snapped. “I hope you’re not thinking of cheating on me again. Especially not with that hag.”
I almost rolled my eyes but stopped myself. This wasn’t the time.
“I’m not,” I said quickly. “Look, she was in love with me for years. You know that. We can use that to our advantage. I can manipulate her into giving us what we need. I’m sure she doesn’t have a man in her life. And I’m also sure she might still feel something for me. I saw the way she stared at me earlier. She might try to hide it behind hate, but I know the truth.”
Melissa narrowed her eyes at me. “Is there going to be any sexual interaction between you two?”
“Of course not,” I replied immediately. “Why would I want to sleep with a woman like her?”
I hoped the confidence in my voice would cover the lie smoothly.
Because truthfully…
If the opportunity came, I wasn’t sure I would say no.
The truth was: Anna didn’t look like the same girl I left behind five years ago. She looked more beautiful, confident in a way I didn’t expect. And her body… damn. Her body had changed a lot too. Fuller. Curvier. It was impossible not to notice.
I blinked hard and lifted the champagne glass to my lips, drinking the entire thing in one go. I needed something — anything to push the thought of her out of my mind before I ended up embarrassing myself right here in this hall.
Alright.
Enough stressing.
Time to play the game properly.
I straightened my jacket, inhaled deeply, and forced my expression into something calm and composed. If Anna was going to become a problem, then I had to handle her before she handled me.