Close Second

Chapter 3

CLOSE SECOND

Chapter 3 — Billionaire Heiress

Everest's POV

There were two versions of my life.

The first one existed behind a screen.

In that world, nobody cared about my last name.

Nobody cared that my father owned half the companies listed in the financial pages or that my mother could walk into a room and have everyone immediately straighten their backs.

Nobody cared about the Calloway name.

They only cared about one thing.

Whether I could win.

The second version of my life was considerably less forgiving.

In that world, my surname entered the room before I did.

And everyone already had an opinion about me.

"Miss Calloway?"

I looked up from my phone.

Our driver stood beside the car, holding the door open.

"We're home."

I glanced through the window.

The Calloway estate came into view.

Calling it a house would have been an insult to the word.

The enormous property sat behind tall iron gates, surrounded by manicured gardens and rows of mature trees. The main building had more rooms than any family could possibly need, with floor-to-ceiling windows, marble columns and balconies overlooking the grounds.

I stepped out of the car.

"Thank you."

The moment I entered, one of the household staff greeted me.

"Miss Everest, your mother is waiting in the study."

"Thanks."

I walked through the foyer.

Everything was perfect.

Too perfect.

The Calloway home had always felt more like a museum than a place people actually lived.

Every painting had been carefully selected.

Every piece of furniture had a story.

Every room looked untouched.

Sometimes I wondered whether my parents were afraid of actually living in the house they'd spent so much money building.

"Everest."

My mother's voice came from behind me.

I turned.

Elena Calloway stood at the entrance to the study.

She looked elegant as always.

Chestnut hair rested neatly around her shoulders, and her soft green eyes immediately searched my face.

"You came home earlier than expected."

"You told me to."

She smiled.

"I know."

I followed her inside.

My father was already there.

Richard Calloway sat behind his desk, reading a document.

He looked up when I entered.

"Sit."

I sat across from him.

My mother took the chair beside him.

For several seconds, neither spoke.

I folded my arms.

"This is getting dramatic."

My father almost smiled.

Almost.

"You've always been impatient."

"Because nobody tells me anything."

"We're telling you now."

I waited.

He placed the document on his desk.

"We've been discussing your future for some time."

I immediately became suspicious.

"Career?"

"Among other things."

"What other things?"

My mother reached for my hand.

I stared at her.

That made me even more nervous.

"Mom?"

She squeezed my fingers.

"We're proud of you."

"That's usually what parents say before giving their children terrible news."

My father actually laughed.

A quiet, brief sound.

Then his expression became serious again.

"You're twenty-one now."

"I know."

"You're no longer a child."

"I definitely know that."

"You've reached the age where certain family responsibilities need to be considered."

I leaned back.

"I've been preparing for those responsibilities my entire life."

"Have you?"

I narrowed my eyes.

"What exactly are you trying to say?"

My father looked toward my mother.

She gave him a small nod.

He finally said it.

"There is someone we want you to meet."

I blinked.

"Meet?"

"Yes."

"Who?"

"A family acquaintance."

"Which family?"

There was a pause.

Then—

"The Voss family."

My stomach dropped.

"Why?"

My father didn't answer immediately.

Instead, he said, "Kaelan Voss."

I stared at him.

The image from campus flashed through my mind.

Tall.

Black hair.

Gray eyes.

That controlled expression.

"You want me to meet Kaelan?"

"You've already met him."

"Technically, we walked past each other."

"Then consider this a proper introduction."

I leaned forward.

"Why?"

My father's expression became unreadable.

"Because the Calloway and Voss families have been discussing an important partnership."

"Business partnership?"

"Yes."

"Then why does Kaelan need to be involved?"

Silence.

My mother's fingers tightened around mine.

And suddenly, I knew.

I didn't want to know.

But I knew.

"No."

My father raised an eyebrow.

"You haven't heard anything yet."

"I don't need to."

"Everest—"

"No."

My mother spoke softly.

"Please listen."

I looked between them.

"What are you not telling me?"

My father finally leaned back in his chair.

"The Voss family has proposed an alliance that goes beyond business."

My heart began pounding.

"What kind of alliance?"

He looked directly at me.

"A marriage alliance."

The room went completely silent.

I stared at him.

Then at my mother.

Then back at him.

"You can't be serious."

"We are."

I stood.

"No."

"Everest."

"No."

My voice came out sharper this time.

"I'm not marrying someone because our families think it would be good for business."

My father remained calm.

"We haven't asked you to marry him yet."

"You just said marriage alliance."

"We're asking you to consider it."

"That's the same thing."

My mother stood as well.

"Everest, please."

I shook my head.

"I have university. I have my own plans."

"We know."

"I don't even know Kaelan."

"You will."

"I don't want to."

My father sighed.

"Sit down."

"No."

"Everest."

I looked at him.

The disappointment in his eyes was subtle.

But I knew my father well enough to recognize it.

"You've always told me that I could choose my own future."

"You can."

"Then why are we having this conversation?"

"Because your choices affect more than just you."

There it was.

The sentence I'd heard my entire life.

Family.

Legacy.

Responsibility.

Expectations.

I hated all of it.

I looked toward my mother.

She looked genuinely worried.

"How long have you known?"

Neither answered.

"How long?"

My father finally said, "Several months."

I laughed bitterly.

"Several months?"

"Everest—"

"You've been discussing my marriage for months and didn't tell me?"

"We wanted to be certain."

"Certain of what?"

"That the arrangement would benefit both families."

I stared at him.

There it was.

Not love.

Not romance.

Not even me.

A business arrangement.

I picked up my bag.

"I'm not doing this."

My father didn't stop me.

"Think about it."

I walked toward the door.

"There's nothing to think about."

"Everest."

I stopped.

His voice was quieter now.

"At least meet him."

I didn't turn around.

"One meeting."

I finally looked over my shoulder.

"That's all I'm agreeing to."

Then I walked out.

---

Kaelan

Across Manhattan, another conversation was taking place.

Kaelan Voss sat in his father's office.

Damian Voss stood beside the window overlooking the city.

"She's agreed to meet you."

Kaelan looked up from his phone.

"Who?"

His father turned.

"Everest Calloway."

Kaelan's expression didn't change.

He already knew who she was.

Everyone did.

The Calloway heiress.

Beautiful.

Intelligent.

Infamously independent.

And, apparently, his future fiancée.

If the families got their way.

"How romantic," Kaelan said dryly.

Damian's eyes narrowed.

"This is serious."

"I know."

"The Calloways and Vosses have spent years building their positions."

"And apparently my dating life is now a corporate strategy."

"Your personal feelings aren't the priority."

Kaelan slowly stood.

"Then why bother asking me?"

His father's jaw tightened.

"Because you're my son."

Kaelan gave him a humorless smile.

"Sometimes I wonder whether that's the reason or the problem."

He walked toward the door.

"Where are you going?"

"University."

"Your meeting with Everest is tomorrow."

Kaelan stopped.

"Fine."

He opened the door.

"Kaelan."

He looked back.

"Don't make this difficult."

Kaelan's expression hardened.

"I haven't even met her yet."

He left.

His father had no idea that the person Kaelan was most interested in defeating wasn't Everest Calloway.

It was Ashen.

And he certainly didn't know that the two worlds were about to collide.

Meanwhile, Everest sat in her bedroom, staring at the ceiling.

She had no idea that the man she'd been told to meet tomorrow was the same man she'd already started noticing on campus.

And she definitely didn't know that he was hiding a secret that would eventually turn her entire world upside down.

Kaelan Voss was Kai.

And Everest Calloway was Ashen.

Neither of them knew it yet.