The CEOs Unplanned Heirs

Rags to Riches

Six years later.

“Push the meeting to Friday.”

I leaned back in my chair, staring through the floor-to-ceiling windows of my penthouse.

“I don’t care what their revised proposal says. If they want this partnership, they can work around our terms.”

I listened for a moment.

“No. We’ve already compromised twice.”

Another pause.

“Then tell them we’re willing to walk away.”

I ended the call.

Six years ago, I had been sitting on a bathroom floor staring at three positive pregnancy tests.

Today, I was a millionaire.

I had returned to the city four years ago after my father was arrested again.

Another crime.

Another prison sentence.

It was the safest time to come back.

I bought my penthouse, built my career, and made sure no one could ever make me feel powerless again.

“Mummy!”

I smiled.

My twins.

I walked upstairs just in time to see Elia running toward me.

“Ronan stole my bracelet!”

“I did not steal it!”

Ronan appeared behind her, hands in his pockets.

“I was borrowing it.”

“You didn’t ask!”

“I was going to.”

“When?”

“After.”

I shook my head.

“Ronan, give it back.”

He sighed before handing it to his sister.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

They were almost seven.

Elia was loud, fearless, and curious. Ronan was quiet, observant, and rarely spoke unless he had something worth saying.

A knock came from downstairs.

The babysitter had arrived.

I kissed both children goodbye before leaving.

“Be good.”

“Love you, Mummy,” Elia said.

Ronan hugged me tightly.

“Don’t come home too late.”

“I won’t.”

My black G - Wagon rolled out of the garage.

My phone connected to the car.

Almost immediately, it started ringing.

MAYA.

“Hey.”

“Tell me you’re already on your way to work.”

“I am.”

“Good. Because I have news.”

I smiled.

“I’ll be attending the fashion week I told you about.”

“Damnnnnn, Congratulations my love.”

“I’ll be so busy.”

“Why would a famous fashion designer like you be less busy?.” I joked.

“Wait that’s true.” She laughed.

Maya had turned that tiny internship into her own fashion label. Her designs had appeared on celebrities, and her collections sold out within hours.

“And somehow, you still call me just to disturb me.”

“Obviously.”

We talked for a few more minutes before I ended the call.

Some things never changed.

Virellion International occupied thirty-two floors in the center of the city.

By the time I reached my floor, my assistant, Leah, was waiting with a tablet.

“The Vale Holdings deal.”

“Again?”

“They sent another revised proposal.”

I scrolled through it.

“They changed the distribution structure.”

“Yes.”

“The payment schedule?”

“Changed.”

“And they reduced their initial investment?”

“Yes.”

“Are they serious?”

Leah smiled nervously.

“What should I tell them?”

“Delay the conference call.”

“By how long?”

“An hour.”

“They’ve already confirmed….”

“They can wait.”

I handed the tablet back.

“This partnership isn’t happening because Vale Holdings chose us. They need our technology for their Western expansion.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

The conference call started an hour later.

Vale Holdings’ legal department, finance director, and international division appeared on screen.

But one chair remained empty.

“Where’s their CEO?”

“Mr. Vale had another engagement.”

“Convenient.”

“We apologize.”

“Let’s discuss the contract.”

For the next forty minutes, we negotiated the expansion, distribution, investment, technology integration, and revenue sharing.

By the end, they had agreed to most of our terms.

“We’ll send the revised documents tomorrow.”

“Good.”

The call ended.

Cassian Vale.

I had heard the name before.

Anyone in business had.

Vale Holdings was enormous, but I had never met its CEO.

He kept his life private and never appeared on social networks.

Our companies had been negotiating through representatives for months.

That night, I received an invitation.

FORMAL INVITATION — VALE HOLDINGS ENGAGEMENT CELEBRATION

“He is getting married?” I thought to myself.

“Good for him.” I almost ignored the invitation.

But then I thought to myself.

“If I’m invited, what other big shots would be there too?”

I quickly picked up my phone to call my Assistant.

“Leah?”

“Yes?”

“Send me the list of invitees who will be attending the engagement ceremony.”

A few minutes later, i received an email from her with the list of invitees attached.

My eyes lit up.

Jude Mercer would be attending.

Jude Mercer was the investor I had spent almost a year trying to meet.

“Tomorrow night.”

“Then I’ll be there.”

The next evening, I stood in front of my mirror adjusting my earrings.

I was going for Jude.

Business.

Then I remembered my babysitter called in sick today so she won’t be available.

I immediately thought of Maya, but she was out of state for fashion week.

After several failed attempts to find someone else, I sighed.

I had no choice.

The twins were coming with me.

At the venue, crystal chandeliers hung above the ballroom while an orchestra played softly.

I spotted Jude almost immediately.

Perfect.

I started walking toward him.

The ceremony was about to begin, so I glanced upstairs.

There was a small lounge overlooking the ballroom.

The twins were fascinated by the decorations.

“Stay here,” I told them.

Ronan nodded.

Elia pointed toward the ballroom.

“We can see everything from here!”

“Exactly. But don’t go downstairs.”

“We won’t.”

I kissed their heads and walked toward Jude.

“Mr. Mercer?”

He turned.

“I’ve been hoping to…”

Applause erupted below.

The ceremony had begun.

Then I heard a voice.

Deep.

Familiar.

Impossible.

I slowly turned toward the ballroom.

The man standing beneath the lights wore a black tuxedo.

Tall.

Broad shoulders.

Dark hair.

No.

It couldn’t be.

But then I saw his face clearly.

Cassian.

Cassian Vale.

The stranger from six years ago.

The father of my children.

And he was standing at the altar with another woman.

I looked upstairs.

Ronan and Elia were gone.

“No.”

I pushed past the people around me.

“Ronan!”

Nothing.

“Elia!”

I ran toward the stairs.

Guests turned as I rushed down.

I didn’t care.

I just needed to find my children and get out.

But before I reached the bottom…

Two tiny figures stepped into the aisle.

Ronan.

Elia.

They walked straight toward the man standing at the altar.

Cassian stared at them.

The room fell silent.

Ronan stopped directly in front of him.

Elia looked up.

Then she looked at her brother.

And together, they looked at the man whose face was unmistakably reflected in Ronan’s.

Ronan tilted his head.

Elia smiled.

Then, in the silence of the entire ballroom, they asked…

“Daddy?”