Beneath The Billionaire

Chapter5

Maya’s mother lived in a quiet, affluent neighborhood in the outskirts of the city, a place that spoke to old money and long-established roots. The house was elegant, though a little cold—much like Maya’s relationship with her mother, from what Sebastian had gathered. He knew the kind of power he could wield by showing up uninvited, at just the right time.

Sebastian arrived in the late afternoon, his black car gliding silently up the drive. He was dressed casually—at least by his standards—still sharp, but with a less corporate edge. He didn’t want to be seen as an intruder, but as someone who belonged in her world.

He rang the doorbell, and the door opened after only a few moments. There stood Maya’s mother, a woman who looked every bit as put-together as Maya herself. Her sharp eyes assessed him in an instant, though there was something almost dismissive in her gaze, like she was accustomed to men like him trying to intimidate her.

“Mr. Blake,” she said, her voice cool. “To what do I owe this visit?”

Sebastian offered a tight, polite smile. “I know this may seem unexpected, Mrs. Taylor, but I thought it was time for us to meet. Maya speaks of you often, and I’d like to get to know the woman who shaped the journalist I’ve been working with.”

Her expression shifted slightly—curiosity mixed with skepticism. “Maya?” she echoed. “That’s what she calls herself these days?”

The words were like daggers, though spoken with such poise. Sebastian could see that Maya’s strained relationship with her mother was a raw nerve, one he intended to press.

“Indeed,” Sebastian replied smoothly. “I’ve noticed she’s… quite committed to her work. A woman of strong opinions. You must be proud.”

There was a brief silence before Maya’s mother replied, “Proud? That’s one word for it. I’ve always wanted more for her than to chase headlines for a living. But it’s her choice.”

Sebastian smiled, hiding his growing excitement at the friction. He knew he was digging into something deep, something personal.

“Well, Mrs. Taylor,” he said, his tone shifting to one of subtle condescension, “I understand how difficult it can be for someone like Maya. Ambitious, driven, yet always striving for something that may never quite live up to her expectations. It must be frustrating, especially when you’ve invested so much into her upbringing, only for her to choose a path that seems… far less glamorous than what you had in mind.”

Her eyes narrowed, but she didn’t react immediately. Instead, she studied him for a long moment, her gaze sharp.

“You think you know her?” she asked, almost as if to test him.

“I’m beginning to,” he said, his voice low. “Maya’s a fighter, I respect that. But there’s more beneath the surface. She’s not just a journalist. She’s a woman with her own demons to face. I think you understand that better than anyone.”

Her expression faltered for just a second, and that was all it took. Sebastian knew he had her.

The conversation dragged on, and the more Sebastian spoke, the more Maya’s mother seemed to reveal—unwittingly—about the tensions between them. Maya had struggled with her mother’s expectations for years, feeling like she was never enough, constantly trying to prove her worth. Sebastian played on these vulnerabilities, feeling good, it shocked him.

***Meanwhile, Maya, unaware of what was happening at her mother’s home, had just arrived in the city after a long, exhausting day of meetings. She had intended to move her mothers visit till later that week. After all she did have a complicated relationship with her mother and was certain she wouldn’t be missed. She dreaded these visits as there was also so much said and unsaid but facing it now seemed more ideal than postponing her agony.

But when she pulled into the driveway and saw the black car parked in front of the house, her heart dropped. She knew instantly who it was.

Sebastian Blake.

Her first instinct was to leave, to turn around and head back to her apartment. But something stopped her—something she couldn’t explain. The tension between them had been building for days, and now, it felt like he was drawing her into his game.

She stepped out of the car, her heels clicking sharply against the pavement, and walked into the house. The door swung open before she could knock, and there he was, sitting comfortably in her mother’s living room, chatting like he belonged.

“Maya,” her mother greeted her coldly, “You’re just in time to meet your friend, Mr. Blake.”

Maya’s eyes locked with Sebastian’s. His gaze was cool, almost triumphant, and the subtle smile on his lips made her blood run cold

.

“You,” she muttered, barely able to keep her voice steady. “What are you doing here?”

“Just having a chat with your lovely mother,” Sebastian replied, his voice dripping with insincerity. “We were just talking about you.”

Maya felt the walls close in around her. She couldn’t even look at her mother. She had been played—Sebastian had orchestrated this entire meeting.

Her mother, no longer trying to hide her disapproval, met her gaze with a smirk. “I’m sure we have much to discuss. After all, Maya’s work has really brought some… interesting attention to the family, hasn’t it?”

The sting of her mother’s words cut deeper than Maya expected. In this moment, she realized just how far Sebastian was willing to go to get under her skin—and it worked.

As Maya stood there, stunned, Sebastian stood up, casually brushing off his pants. “Well, I should be going,” he said, his tone smooth. “I wouldn’t want to take up too much of your time, Maya. I’m sure your mother has some… important things to say.”

He turned to leave, his presence lingering in the room, his power evident even in this private moment. Before he left, he gave Maya one last glance.

“This was a nice visit,” he said, his voice filled with that same arrogant amusement. “I’ll leave you to catch up.

As he stepped out, leaving a stunned Maya standing in the doorway, he knew he’d made his point. His retaliation had been subtle but devastating—and it was only the beginning.

***Maya stormed into her apartment, slamming the door behind her. Her hands were shaking with a mixture of frustration and disbelief. She had tried to stay calm, to maintain control, but Sebastian had crossed a line today. It wasn’t just about the articles—it was personal.

Her mother had always been a sore spot, and now Sebastian had exposed that weakness. He knew exactly what he was doing when he visited her mother. It wasn’t about genuine curiosity or even professional interest—it was a calculated move to get under her skin.

Fuming, Maya grabbed her phone and dialed his number

The call rang twice before his voice came through, smooth and unaffected. “Maya.”

“Don’t ‘Maya’ me, Sebastian,” she snapped, barely able to control her voice. “What the hell were you doing at my mother’s house?”

Sebastian’s tone didn’t falter. “I was invited.” He lied

“You don’t just ‘get invited’ to someone’s home when you’ve been playing games with them all along!” Maya shot back. “You think I don’t see through this? You knew exactly what you were doing—trying to mess with me, trying to get under my skin. Is that it?”

“Maya, calm down,” he said, the calmness in his voice only making her more irate. “It wasn’t like that. I was trying to understand you better—understand where you’re coming from.”

“Don’t feed me that crap, Sebastian,” she spat, her voice rising. “You wanted to poke and prod, to find some weakness you could use against me. Well, congratulations. You found it. You think you’ve got me all figured out, huh?”

“Maya, you have no idea what I’m doing,” he shot back, no longer pretending to be calm. “You’ve been playing this little game from day one. You think I don’t notice how you’ve been trying to manipulate me? Using the articles, playing the martyr, pretending you’re just here to do your job. Well, I’m not stupid. I see what you’re doing, too.”

Her breath caught in her throat. “I’m not ‘playing a game,’ Sebastian! I’m doing my job. Unlike you, I don’t use people like pawns in a business transaction.”

Sebastian’s voice was low, dangerously controlled. “Don’t act like I’m the only one playing dirty here. You’ve been doing your own version of it—writing your little hit pieces, undermining everything I’ve worked for. So don’t come at me like you’re some innocent bystander.”

Maya’s hands were shaking with fury. She had never felt this exposed, this furious. “You’re unbelievable!” she shouted. “You think because you’re this big shot billionaire, you can walk all over me? You’ve got some nerve, Sebastian. You want to talk about manipulation? Look at yourself. You’re the one who’s been pushing all my buttons.”

Sebastian was silent for a moment, and when he spoke again, his voice was colder than she had ever heard it. “You’re right. I’ve been playing my cards. But don’t think for a second that you’re not in this game with me. You want to expose me? Fine. You want to make me look like the villain? Go ahead. But remember, I’m not the only one who can play dirty. And I don’t forget slights, Maya.

Maya’s heart was pounding in her chest. “Is that a threat, Sebastian?” she hissed. “Yo u think you can intimidate me? You think you can make me back down just because you’ve got power, money, and control?”

“No, Maya,” he said, his voice low but firm. “This isn’t about power or control. It’s about respect. And you’ve lost mine.”

The words hung heavy in the air, and for a moment, Maya felt a sharp pang in her chest. She hated the feeling—hated how he could cut through her defenses so easily. But she wasn’t about to let him win. Not like this.

“I don’t need your respect, Sebastian,” she replied, her voice tight with anger. “I don’t need anything from you. So enjoy your little victory today, because I promise you, I’ll be waiting for you in that office tomorrow. And I’ll make sure you regret ever thinking you could push me around.”

"See you in the office tomorrow maya"

With that the call ended with a sharp click, leaving Maya standing in the middle of her apartment, breathless. She hadn’t won this round. Not by a long shot. But she wasn’t about to back down. Tomorrow, she would be right there, ready for whatever he threw at her.