Contracted to the Ruthless Billionaire

CHAPTER4

Rainora couldn’t quite believe her luck when Eunice’s contact came through. Just two days after her arrival in New York, she had landed a receptionist position at a law firm—Conway Law—a place that seemed to ooze ambition and prestige. As she navigated her first week, however, she quickly realized that the reality was far from the glamorous facade. The atmosphere was almost suffocating, rife with an air of superiority that made her stomach churn.“Do these people even breathe?” she thought, watching clients glide through the glass doors with an air of dramatic flair, clad in designer suits and sharp heels as if they were all auditioning for a part in some high-stakes legal drama. The staff walked around with their noses in the air, their perfectly tailored clothes and meticulous hairdos a testament to their belief in superiority over the average citizen. Rainora wondered how they could live like that, so bound by rules and the rigid expectations of their careers. Despite the stiff environment, Rainora held onto her determination. She needed this job to support her family back home. So far, the role of receptionist has revealed itself to be less about welcoming clients with a warm smile and more about running around like an overworked errand girl. The endless stream of requests and dismissals—most of which were wrapped in arrogance—had taken a toll on her patience.“Hey, you! Jessica!” came the sharp voice of May, a fellow receptionist with a penchant for sarcasm and a tendency to forget Rainora’s name. May slammed a heavy stack of files onto the counter with a thud that echoed through the otherwise quiet office. Rainora’s name tag was pinned conspicuously on her blouse, yet May seemed oblivious, her brow furrowed in annoyance.“It’s Rainora,” she corrected gently, though she had long since stopped expecting it to make a difference.“Whatever. Just take these to Woods Enterprises, alright? Have them delivered to Wren Woods.” May tossed her a dismissive wave, already turning to chat with another coworker, her laughter ringing out like a bell of indifference. Rainora sighed, glancing down at the stack of files. They were heavy, both physically and metaphorically, a reminder of her position in this new world. She took a moment to gather her thoughts, rolling her shoulders back to shake off the frustration. This was part of her journey, and no matter how belittling it felt, she had to endure.“Okay, here we go,” she muttered to herself, wrapping up her call with a client who had been insistent on booking an appointment with one of the attorneys. “Yes, Mr. Thompson, I’ll make sure to let him know you’d like to see him next Wednesday at 2 PM. Thank you for calling Conway Law.”As she placed the phone down, she adjusted her name tag, as if willing it to remind others of her identity. She took a deep breath and set her jaw, lifting the stack of files and heading for the exit.—-If Rainora thought Conway Law was huge, then Woods Enterprises was gargantuan—towering and sleek, the kind of building that felt like it belonged in a sci-fi film. The glass façade reflected the clouds above, and as she stepped inside, the chill of the air conditioning enveloped her like a blanket. She walked straight over to the receptionist, a whirlwind of focus, her fingers flying across the keyboard while she nodded into her earpods.“Um, excuse me,” Rainora whispered, trying to get the woman’s attention. She cleared her throat softly, but the receptionist was only half-listening, completely absorbed in her conversation.“What?” the receptionist snapped, finally looking up and shooting her a sharp look that could cut glass.“I’m here to drop off files for Wren Woods,” Rainora said, her voice barely above a whisper.“Elevator’s to the left. Press the button for the top floor,” the receptionist replied curtly, immediately returning to her work, dismissing Rainora with a wave of her hand. Taking a deep breath, Rainora headed toward the elevator, her heart pounding in her chest as she pressed the button for the highest floor. The ride felt interminable as the elevator climbed, each passing second heightening her anxiety. What kind of place was this? She could almost feel the weight of the building pressing down on her.When the doors slid open, she stepped into a stark, quiet corridor that felt eerily empty. The front desk was devoid of any personnel, making her feel even more isolated. Hesitant, she called out softly, “Hello?” Silence answered her, the only sound of her own heartbeat thrumming in her ears. She glanced down the hall, her eyes scanning the nameplates on the doors. “Wren Woods... Wren Woods...” she murmured to herself, but the name meant nothing to her. Just as she began to feel lost, she heard voices filtering through a door halfway down the hallway. Curiosity piqued, she approached quietly, her instincts tingling with the feeling that something was off. The conversation was low but intense, and as she leaned closer, the words became clearer.“...the shipment is coming next week. We need to ensure it’s already for the Italians. You know how the French love sniffing around our weapon supplies,” one voice said, gravelly and commanding.“Yeah, but what about that cop, Benard? He’s been sniffing around too much. We can’t have him ruining our operation,” another voice replied, laced with frustration.“Take care of him before he finds out anything else. And have him replaced by someone more compliant,” the first voice commanded, and Rainora felt her stomach drop.“And the meth shipment? The Russians want their quarter handed over immediately it comes in.”“Kostov is a cocksucker and he can f**k off. The Russians will only get what I give them when I want to.” Suddenly, a sharp growl echoed from within the room, sending a chill down her spine. She froze, instinctively knowing that she needed to back away, to escape whatever was happening behind that door. But as she turned to retreat, the folders she had been clutching slipped from her fingers, tumbling to the ground with a loud thud.“What was that?” The voices inside fell silent, replaced by a tense stillness. Panicking, Rainora gasped, her heart racing as she scrambled to pick up the scattered files. Before she could collect herself, the door swung open with a violent force, revealing a tall man filling the doorway. His presence was imposing, his dark eyes narrowing as he snarled down at her, a mix of surprise and menace in his expression.

“What are you doing here?” he growled.