The Billionaire son

Chapter 1 As soon as I entered the office, the hum of gossiping employees filled the air. My forehead creased—clearly, some new rumor was making the rounds. “Have you heard?” Dan asked, leaning over my desk as I began sorting through the endless pile of files. “No,” I replied curtly, focusing on the papers in front of me. Dan threw a tissue at me, rolling her eyes when I ignored her. “Come on, Mary. You’ve seriously not heard?” “What is it this time?” I sighed. She smirked. “The company has a new chief executive officer.” I nodded absentmindedly. “So? It was bound to happen eventually.” Dan raised an eyebrow. “You really don’t know who it is, do you? Let’s just say you might not have a job tomorrow.” I frowned at her cryptic comment, but before I could press her further, she walked away. Dan had been my best friend since college. Despite our differences, we shared a bond that had survived countless ups and downs. Hours passed in silence as I buried myself in work. When the time came for the assembly, I reluctantly joined the other department heads in the front row. Dan sat beside me, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Start getting nervous.” My attention wandered as the board officials took the stage. But then a man stepped forward, his confident stride commanding the room. The voice that followed sent shivers down my spine—cold, yet achingly familiar. “I told you to be nervous,” Dan whispered. My heart sank as I turned to her. “Is that… him?” She nodded solemnly. “Good afternoon,” he began, his tone firm and businesslike. “I’m your new chief executive officer, and I look forward to working with all of you.” I sat frozen, unable to process what I was hearing. Nathan. After all these years. The assembly ended, and Dan nudged me. “Let’s go.” I barely managed to stand. My mind was racing. Why now? Why here? What was he doing in my life again? The next morning, I arrived at the office, still debating whether I should quit. But as I opened the door, my breath hitched—Nathan was sitting in my chair. “Good morning, sir,” I said, forcing calm into my voice. “How can I help you?” He leaned back, a smirk playing on his lips. “Funny how fate works, isn’t it? It’s been, what, seven, eight years?” I stiffened, trying to maintain composure. “If this is personal, perhaps we can keep it outside the workplace. You’re welcome to email me.” He laughed, the sound cutting through the air like a blade. “Email? That’s what you’re good at—running away, isn’t it?” He stood and walked toward me, his gaze sharp and piercing. “Get ready, Mary. You’ll pay for what you did to me.” The door slammed shut behind him, leaving me trembling. My knees gave out, and I collapsed into the chair. Dan rushed in moments later. “Are you okay? Did he say something?” I shook my head, unable to speak. Flashback Back in college, my friends dared me to take a shot with Nathan, the popular rich kid on campus. One small glass led to a night that changed my life forever. Now, years later, I’d built a life for myself and my son, Nathaniel. John, my cousin, had been my rock, helping me raise him while I juggled work. But everything was unraveling. That night, over coffee, I told John, “We need to leave the country. For good.” He raised an eyebrow. “Are you in trouble?” “No. But it’s for the best. Especially for Nathan.” John sighed but didn’t press further. He didn’t need to know the truth—that the man I’d been running from was back, and I’d do whatever it took to protect my son.