The Billionaira’s Most Wanted EX

How They Met

Three weeks ago before Nolan proposed to Valeria

Three weeks ago at the balcony of his contemporary mansion, Nolan sat on his glitz sofa casting a stray look at the quiet street of Mount Royal Avenue.

His fit and handsome figure was present but his mind was far gone, wandering in the heavy words of his father's demand, which felt like a threat.

“I’m retiring at sixty, and before I do, I want to hand over the family business completely to you,” Nolan's father's voice echoed in his head.

His father, one of the most respected and powerful business tycoons in Chicago, is set to retire in a month. And the news was everywhere.

However, his father had made it clear to Nolan in secret, that he would transfer all his businesses to him only if Nolan got married before his sixtieth birthday.

“I will only hand over the businesses to you if you are married—and not just to get married to any woman, but to a lady from an affluent family like us,” his father demanded firmly, and his demand left Nolan infuriated.

Gulping down a glass of champagne, Nolan knew it was time to make a decision on what to do that would save him from the impending mess because, from his father’s threat, it seemed if he didn’t trade with caution he would lose at least a treasure, either his family name which includes their booming businesses, or his secretary, Erin Crawford, the love of his life the only woman he has ever loved.

Nolan has been secretly dating Erin for two years and six months. He had planned to make their relationship official at his father's upcoming birthday party. However, it seems he will have to pause that plan, as his father has threatened to transfer control of their successful family businesses to Mark Harry, one of the board members if Nolan doesn't marry a woman from an upper-crust family before his sixtieth birthday, which is less than a month away.

Nolan wasn't interested in the family business, despite the wealth that his family had accumulated. He had built his fortune and is a billionaire in his own right. He understands that if he chooses Erin over his family name and its thriving enterprises, he will never have to worry about being poor.

But reasoning from a businessman’s perspective, it would be a significant disgrace to see a stranger take over his family name and everything that belongs to him.

So he is determined to do the impossible, to eat his cake and still have it, Losing his inheritance, or Erin—Erin the only woman he has ever loved is a no deal for him, so he needs to act fast with the little time left.

To Nolan, Erin is a precious piece of jewelry, but to his father, Wilson Kutcher, she is a nobody who lacks identity. Yes, her name is Erin Crawford, but who knows the Crawfords? Nobody.

Erin is the sole survivor of the Crawford family, and by chance, she landed a job as Nolan's secretary at W.Tech.

With Erin's gentle nature and captivating feminine aura, she captured Nolan's heart the moment she entered his office. Standing before him, she attempted to appear bold and confident, but the nervousness and tension common on a first day in a new job were evident. Despite her efforts to conceal it, her anxiety shone through.

On Monday, July 1, 2023, Nolan vividly remembered the date he first laid eyes on Erin, the woman who had captured his heart.

When Erin knocked and entered Nolan's office that very day, Nolan was busy sorting through some files. He didn’t glance up at the newcomer, he knew it was his new secretary, as that was the day she was due to start.

Mandy Scot, his former secretary, had completed her last day of work the previous Friday. She resigned to marry and chose to become a full-time housewife.

After a few minutes of Nolan sifting through the files, he noticed the person standing before him hadn’t said a word. He had expected Erin to speak.

Nolan struggled to maintain his focus, battling the urge to ask if she was mute, but instead of being rude, he chose to ignore her. He glanced at her briefly before returning his attention to the files on the table, leaving her standing there for as long as she could.

“Good morning, sir. I’m Erin Crawford, your new secretary. Here are the files containing the prototype documents for the new Travel App. The review from the financial department has been sent to your email,” Erin said calmly, addressing Nolan, who had not given her any attention.

From Nolan's demeanor and aloofness, Erin inferred that she would be working with a handsome but difficult boss.

She expected him to have a stern attitude, as most wealthy, attractive CEOs often share a common trait: pride and a lofty ego.

With that in mind, Erin decided to prepare herself.

She spent the weekend before starting her new job researching W.Tech and her future boss.

From her findings, she discovered that her direct supervisor would be Nolan Wilson, the CEO of W.Tech, the only son of Willson Kutcher, and the sole heir to the Kutcher empire. The Kutchers are one of the wealthiest families in Chicago, with a fortune that amounts to billions of naira.

Erin observed two main things about Nolan from the numerous pictures of him posted online.

First, which was somewhat disappointing, was that Nolan never smiled in any of his photos. Whether he was standing, sitting, or in any other pose, his expression remained serious and tight.

On the positive side, Nolan appeared consistently handsome in all his pictures, despite his serious demeanor.

Based on these observations, Erin concluded that working with Nolan would be a challenging experience, likening it to pulling a tooth, due to the aloofness he seemed to portray.

Erin placed the files on his table while Nolan remained unmoved. He raised his eyes to steal a glance at Erin's face, though he was not particularly interested in Erin’s appearance. Nolan already had a rocky start with Erin. She is dumb. A smart lady wouldn't knock, walk into an office, and end up standing like a statute without uttering a word but staring a living hell out of her boss.

Nolan felt a strong urge to satisfy his curiosity: he wanted to see if her face matched her calm, soft, and sweet voice.

Their eyes met when Erin glanced at Nolan, who was silent; she had expected him to say something.

Once his curiosity was satisfied, he felt a sense of relief.

Nolan was astounded by Erin's facial features. Her beauty captivated him, causing him to take a closer look at her. Before he could find the right words to describe her, he realized that he had never really focused on a woman's beauty before. As a busy person, he rarely had time to spare for women, not even for the ones who persistently pursued him.

In Erin's case, it was clear that she was undeniably gorgeous. She had a pretty face that she accentuated without hiding it under heavy makeup. A mild eyeshadow enhanced her bright, dark eyes, while mascara framed her long, healthy eyelashes. Her cinnamon hair was stylishly pulled into a messy bun, and a light blush on her cheeks complemented her perfect olive skin tone. Her subtle smile curved her cupid's bow lips, which were beautifully adorned with red lipstick.

Erin walked into Nolan's office with a delicate smile on her face. Despite her smile, Nolan sensed her nervousness; he could tell she was trying to make a good first impression.

“Thank you, Miss Cra...” Nolan started, glancing at Erin with raised eyebrows.

“Miss Crawford,” Erin prompted, and gently reminded him of her name.

““Thank you, Miss Crawford. You can leave now; I will call on you if I need you,” Nolan said blandly, returning his focus to the file he was working on.

Erin turned and left the room. Judging by her new boss's response, she began to reconsider her initial impression of him. He might not be as tough as his taut face suggested.

Before Erin could elegantly sway her way out of Nolan's office, Nolan quickly took in the sight of her slender figure. The reason for his lingering gaze was something he wouldn't readily admit.

As Erin disappeared from view, he couldn't help but feel a sense of judgment from within. He chastised himself for being too soft and lenient with Erin, realizing that he needed to change that behavior immediately. Yet, despite his best efforts, he found himself continually drawn to Erin, ultimately falling deeply in love with her.

After two years and six months of Erin being Nolan's secret lover, Nolan has concluded that Erin deserves his diamond ring and his fragile heart forever.