The Billionaire's Secret Heir

Chapter 6: Embarrassed in Front of Him

Vanessa’s hands trembled as she dialed Juliette’s number, her mind racing. She had just ended a call with her mother, and the unsettling news had weighed heavily on her. It felt like the universe was conspiring to unravel her life, and Juliette was the only one who could offer some semblance of control.

Years ago, they had schemed together to strip Sienna of her virginity, banish her from the family, and claim what was rightfully hers. Now, Juliette and Vanessa had become the closest of allies. But for the past two weeks, Juliette had gone silent, and her store had inexplicably shut down. Vanessa had no idea what had been happening to her.

The call went through, and Juliette’s voice crackled in her ear. “Hello, Vanessa?”

“What have you been up to lately, Juliette? Why is your store closed?” Vanessa demanded, the anxiety in her voice barely concealed.

“I’m just traveling. Why is something wrong?” Juliette replied, though her tone was guarded, her nerves already fraying.

Vanessa hesitated before delivering the bombshell. “Juliette... Sienna’s back in the country.”

In the lavish villa, Juliette nearly dropped the phone, the words slamming into her like a punch to the gut. She steadied herself, her breathing shallow. “When did she return? Why is she back?” The panic in her voice was unmistakable, though she tried to mask it.

“Are you really that scared of her?” Vanessa’s words cut through the tension, but Juliette's eyes flicked nervously around the room.

“I’m just asking. No need to get worked up,” Juliette lied, her heart hammering in her chest.

Vanessa’s voice turned serious. “My dad told me she’s back. And I have this... bad feeling. She’s probably here to claim her share of the family assets. She might even come after you, Juliette. I don’t know what she plans, but I feel like trouble’s headed our way.”

Juliette’s mind whirled, and she clenched her fist. Why didn’t she just stay dead abroad? A surge of resentment flooded her. Everything she had now, wealth, and status, was because of Sienna’s absence. She couldn’t let that slip away. If Damien ever found out the truth, everything would fall apart.

Her voice took on an edge. “Don’t worry, Vanessa. We’ll take care of her together.”

As the line went silent, Juliette’s mind raced. She had become accustomed to living in luxury, under Damien’s indulgent eye. His wealth, his affection, it had all been hers. But now, she craves more. She wanted Damien to make her his wife, to stand by him as his ultimate symbol of success.

But Sienna had to be out of the picture. Her return would ruin everything. She couldn’t allow that. Not now. Not ever.

At exactly 5:00 PM, Sienna arrived at the kindergarten to pick up her son. Little Elliot rushed toward her, his small arms wide open. “Mommy!” His face lit up like the sun, and his excitement made Sienna’s heart swell.

“How was school, darling?” she asked, squatting down to his level, brushing a stray lock of hair from his face.

“It was amazing! My teacher likes me so much, and all my classmates do too!” Elliot beamed, his wide grin infectious.

Sienna smiled warmly. “How about we have noodles for dinner?”

“Yay, noodles!” Elliot clapped his hands in delight, and Sienna couldn’t help but laugh.

As they headed home after a quick grocery run, the apartment embraced them in its cozy, familiar warmth. It was small, but it was home. And she felt grateful for it, especially for Elliot. He was her little joy, and in his laughter, Sienna found solace from the tumult of her life.

“Mommy, did work go well today?” Elliot asked as he played with his Lego blocks.

“It went well, sweetheart,” Sienna replied, her voice soft as she glanced over at him. She didn’t want him to see her worries. She would protect him from all of it—just as she always had.

“Mom, can we go visit Grandpa in two days?” Elliot asked eagerly.

Sienna’s stomach tightened at the mention of her father. It wasn’t just the awkwardness of family gatherings that troubled her; it was the secret she kept hidden from them all. She’d never told her mother the truth about Elliot’s father. She had never told anyone the truth—that Elliot was the product of a deep love, one born under circumstances she had never shared.

That night, as Sienna lay beside Elliot, the peaceful rhythm of his breathing lulled her into a fitful sleep, a quiet sense of peace washing over her.

The next morning, after seeing Elliot off, Sienna hailed a taxi to work, the weight of the day pressing down on her. JC was a powerhouse in the making, but it was still housed in a humble eight-story building—though the recent acquisition by Blackwell Corporation had made its future look very promising.

Sienna paid the fare and hustled into the building, barely finishing her breakfast as she rushed toward the elevator.

As the doors slid open, she froze. There, standing before her, was Damien Blackwell.

Her heart skipped a beat as she tried to shove the last bite of bread into her mouth, her cheeks bulging. She choked slightly, the awkward sound echoing in the otherwise silent elevator. She struggled to recover, only to have another hiccup betray her.

Damien’s sharp gaze caught her in the mirror, and his lips twitched with amusement. His eyes sparkled with something darker, something hard to pin down, as he watched her discomfort. A subtle smile tugged at his lips, though his gaze remained intense.

Sienna could feel her face turning crimson, mortified. She bolted out of the elevator the moment the doors opened, her cheeks burning with embarrassment.

Damien’s gaze lingered on her, his expression softening, something strange flickering in his eyes. She’s... fascinating, he thought.

At her desk, Sienna quickly sipped water to calm her hiccups, but the humiliation lingered. If it had been anyone else, she could’ve brushed it off. But it was Damien—Damien Blackwell. And that made everything ten times worse.

By 10:30 AM, Alisha called her into the meeting room. "Sienna, there's a meeting now."

“Got it,” Sienna replied, trying to regain her composure.

The room was tense when she arrived, Alisha already at the head of the table, her hands nervously clutching her glass of water. “We’re waiting for President Blackwell to join us. It’s a little... unexpected that he’s coming to a department meeting,” she said, clearly anxious.

“Do you know President Blackwell personally?” Alina, one of the designers, asked, her voice laced with curiosity.

“No, I don’t,” Sienna replied firmly, though something in her chest tightened.

Alina shot her a knowing look. “Then why was he staring at you like that yesterday?”

Sienna’s gaze remained steady. “You should ask President Blackwell yourself. This company isn’t a place for personal matters. We’re here to work.” Her voice was sharp, even as her thoughts raced.

Alisha quickly intervened. “Let’s focus on work, people.”

But Alina wasn’t done. Her eyes narrowed, her suspicions growing. Sienna probably wants to get close to Blackwell to secure her position, she thought but didn’t voice.

The door opened with a soft click, and suddenly, the room felt electric. Damien Blackwell stepped inside, his imposing presence filling the space. His gaze swept over the room, and the temperature seemed to rise with him. He was perfect in every way—tall, commanding, and effortlessly charismatic. His every movement seemed deliberate, controlled.

He was untouchable, and yet, somehow, his eyes lingered on Sienna as if waiting for something.

Damien’s voice was low and commanding. “Let’s begin.”

But as he took his seat at the head of the table, Sienna couldn’t help but wonder: Was the past returning to haunt her? And more importantly, why had Damien been looking at her like that?