The billionaire deceitful wife

Chapter one : double-faced. The newsroom was a cacophony of ringing phones and clacking keyboards ... .until it wasn't. One by one, the journalists had shut their laptops, leaving the newsroom. All except ‘Daniel Cole’. She was faced with her laptop. The screen lit on, playing a hacked footage of the Zayne-Tech company. The dim light flashed on her face revealing a sharp jawline carefully contoured to remove any bit of feminine softness. On the screen was Lucian Zayne, CEO of Zayne Tech companies. He was seated in the boardroom, the shareholders surrounding him.. Her fingers hovered over the keyboard. Fingers–not appearing as masculine as the sound of the name she had taken. With one click, the footage zoomed in and she increased the volume to listen to the ongoing conversation. “ Lucian, the media is exploding. We can't partner with a hospital if we can't humanise your image” one of the shareholders said, exasperated. “ Mr Zayne, the stocks are rapidly falling. You might need a wife. Respectful and cultured to help salvage your reputation” another added and Lucian's jaw ticked. ‘Daniel’s’ lips curled. Perfect ! She had spent weeks plotting. Instigating the public, raising questions about Lucian's business tactics and cold demeanour. His inability to commit to a romantic relationship. All this just to achieve her goal. The public did the honours of latching onto it and retweeting massively. She would have to thank them because sooner or later, she would be the wife to ‘humanize’ him. Use his power to take back what was hers. “ Still the late worker?” A masculine voice cut through her train of thoughts. familiar. Just like the one that had pleaded with her to touch him a few weeks back. Her gay boss. Owner of best-time newscasting company, Maxwell Bane. Her fingers twitched a bit on the keyboard. Removing the footage instantly. She zoned into her usual masculine facade. “Not too late. Still time to catch up on a dinner date with my girlfriend” she said, adjusting to the baritone voice she had mastered repeatedly. Maxwell adjusted, tugging on his glasses with a strange discomfort. Daniel's lips curled up, a slight tilt, not too noticeable. Girlfriend? Her step sister, the daughter of the man who had robbed her mother of her wealth. “ would you drop me off?” she asked, voice low, almost like a plea. Maxwell paused. Although his facial expression was not clear in the dark, ‘Daniel’ could make out the pain on his face, coupled with a tinge of hope. Hope that maybe oneday, he would get laid. Pathetic! “ You never told me you had a girlfriend,” Maxwell said, his voice slightly hard. She hummed, grabbed onto her bag, “ you never asked” She turned to look at him, his eyes met hers. Well, he was seeing her facade … Daniel not her. “ Will take that as a yes then” she smiled. A smile she had practiced repeatedly while looking at the mirror. Maxwell only pressed a bitter, stiff smile. Not like she cared tho. Well, a little. It would be a shame to lose such an obedient pawn. The ride to the cafe was quiet. Suffocating for most but peaceful for her. Her head was a jumbled mess but most of all, her chest hurts. She had increased the padding this time, wrapped her breasts so firmly under these tailored coats. So hard that breathing was almost impossible. “ Don't stay out so late” Maxwell said, cutting through her thoughts. He pulled outside a luxurious looking cafe. Hands tightening on the steering wheel. She glanced at him, pressed a nod, “hm”. She reached for Maxwell's hands, held them closely. Maxwell glanced towards her, gaze clouded in confusion. She leaned closer, stared into his eyes. She could practically hear his heart pounding so loud like they were going to burst out of his ribcage. She sneered internally–men were too easy. She pressed a kiss on his lips. Maxwell stiffened, his hands loosening on the steering wheel. “ You know I care about you right ?” she asked in a whisper, her baritone voice sounding sexier. She knew the answer to the question. Well.. pawns should be cared for because things don't normally go according to plan if the pawn is compromised. Maxwell's throat bubbled up and down..his lips pressed together, gaze burning with a want that Daniel won't satisfy. ‘Daniel’pressed her hands on his. Flashed him a quick smile, then alighted the car, ignoring the burning gaze of the gay man behind her. She stepped into the restaurant and caught sight of Sarah, his girlfriend–her step sister. She was dressed like a princess, all pink, more like a bunny. Her knuckles tightened. Expression, overtaken by coldness. Sarah saw her and beamed, “ Daniel” she purred, “ I thought you had forgotten me” she pouted. She sneered inwardly, Stupid girl! so blind she couldn't see she was being used. ‘Daniel’ flashed Sarah the sweetest smile. The same she had used to charm her way into Sarah’s life. “ Never” she said with the practiced baritone voice of ‘Daniel’, “ missed me?” “ I did” she pouted, “ it's been weeks now and I haven't gotten to see you” she pouted. She fought the urge to roll her eyes, Tools were meant to be seen when they were needed. She reached for Sarah's hands, holding them up, a practiced warmth laced in her eyes, “ i told you I was busy” Sarah smiled, acting coquettish, she crossed her legs and leaned closer, “ make up for it. Father would want me to attend the next gala with my boyfriend. Come with me please..” she said, putting up a pleading expression. Father ? Charles Paige? The man who framed her mother for homicide? Took her mother's wealth? That one action ruined her life. Her mother commited suicide. And because she was the daughter of a ‘murderer’, she was isolated, insulted,....alone. while the perpetrator got away–free. Flaunting the wealth that wasn't his. She fought the urge to bite her lips. Holding back her pent up anger. Her knuckles curled underneath the table, chest burning hot from anger. Of course…ofcourse, ‘he’ would attend the gala as her ‘ boyfriend’. Her phone beeped, a notification, she picked it up from the table. “ The accident has been set in place. He's drunk”. She maintained her aloof facade, sipped her wine calmly. “ I will do anything for you” she said to Sarah who seemed to be patiently waiting for her reply. “ thank you”she beamed, “ You are so mysterious. I like it” she added. ‘Daniel’s’ lips twitched. Very stupid girl–she thought. she ‘accidentally’ knocked off the wine glass, the liquid spilling onto her coat. “ s**t” she cursed and stood up, picked up her phone while tugging at her coat… Sarah's leaned backwards. Gasped. “ I'm so sorry, here take this” she offered a handkerchief. “ It's okay. Will be in the restroom” she calmly rejected. Sounding as sweet as possible. She walked a few steps towards the restroom. Immaculate. Dignified. Nothing less of a man. Nothing out of place to arouse suspicion. Her height was perfect..not tall, not short…just attractive. She stepped into the restroom, bolted the door behind her and slipped out her phone and replied the message from earlier. “ Make sure he dies this time” Her step brother, heir to the wealth that wasn't his. She grinned– what an irony. The brother dies because the sister fell in love with the enemy. She caught sight of her appearance in the mirror. She appeared hollow. Like a lie ….Daniel was a lie. Sharp jawline, dignified aura, siren eyes that almost betrayed her male persona. Except the baritone voice that filled up the gaps logic couldn't. She checked her time and her eyes widened. s**t! She was late. She pulled out maid's uniform from her bag, a smile tugged onto her contoured face. She was going for him…Lucian Zayne..the most powerful and important pawn in her game of revenge. Time to switch masks!