"My billionaire husband"

Chapter 10:I Believe You

The boardroom doors slammed open with a force that made everyone jump.

Damien strode in first, Eliana’s hand firmly in his. His suit jacket was slightly crooked, his tie loosened, and there was a faint flush on Eliana’s cheeks that no one missed. Rachelle’s eyes narrowed instantly as she watched them.

Sophia sat up straighter, smirk already in place. “Right on time, Mr. Vance. Did you find your proof?”

Damien didn’t answer her. He pulled Eliana to a stop in front of the board table and turned to face the chairman. His entire demeanor had changed since the locked office. Gone was the cold, distant CEO. In his place was a man who looked ready to burn the building down for the woman beside him.

“I found it,” Damien said, voice calm but lethal. “And I also found out who’s been playing games with my company.”

The room went silent.

Rachelle stood up, arms crossed. “Mr. Vance, with all due respect, you shouldn’t let your personal feelings cloud your judgment. Mrs. Vance’s name is all over this transaction.”

Damien’s eyes snapped to her, icy. “And with all due respect, Rachelle, you’ve been with this company five years and you’ve never once questioned me. Why start now?”

Rachelle paled. “I’m just looking out for the company’s best interest.”

“No,” Damien said, stepping closer to her. “You’re looking out for yourself. You don’t like that Eliana is my wife. You don’t like that she’s sitting where you thought you belonged.”

Eliana’s eyes widened. Rachelle’s mask slipped for just a second — pure venom flashed across her face before she forced a polite smile.

Sophia chuckled under her breath. “This is getting interesting.”

Damien ignored her and pulled out his phone, projecting the screen onto the boardroom monitor. An email header appeared in bold red letters:

**From: Eliana.Brown21@mail.com**

**To: Vance Corp Finance Dept**

**Subject: Approved Supplier Payment – ₦200M**

Charles, the IT manager, stepped forward. “This email was sent 3 days ago from a proxy server in Dubai. It was designed to look like Mrs. Vance’s official account, but the metadata doesn’t match. Her real email hasn’t been active in 48 hours.”

Rachelle frowned. “Anyone could fake metadata.”

“Not anyone,” Damien said, his jaw tightening. “Only someone with admin access to Vance Corp’s system.” He paused, letting the words hang. “Someone like you, Rachelle.”

The accusation hit like a slap. Rachelle’s face drained of color. “You can’t prove that!”

“I don’t need to prove it to you,” Damien said coldly. “I need to prove it to the board. And I will.”

Eliana touched his arm lightly, her voice softer now. “Damien… enough.” She looked at Rachelle. “I never wanted this. I never wanted to take anything from you.”

Rachelle’s lips curled. “Save it. You think because he looks at you like that, you own him?”

Damien’s hand tightened around Eliana’s. His expression darkened. “Careful, Rachelle. You don’t get to speak to my wife that way.”

The word *wife* landed like a thunderclap in the room.

Sophia’s smirk vanished. The chairman shifted uncomfortably. Even the board members stopped taking notes.

Damien turned back to the chairman. “The contract is forged. The email is fake. And the person responsible will be handed over to the authorities by tonight.” He pulled Eliana closer to his side. “As for my wife — she has my full trust. Anyone who has a problem with that can resign. Now.”

The room was dead silent.

Then Damien did something no one expected. He lowered his head and pressed a soft, deliberate kiss to Eliana’s temple right in front of everyone. It wasn’t romantic. It was a statement. A claim. A shield.

“I believe you, Eliana,” he murmured, just loud enough for her to hear. “Always.”

Eliana’s eyes welled up, but she blinked the tears away. For the first time since this nightmare started, she felt safe.

Rachelle grabbed her files and stormed out without another word. Sophia watched the whole thing with a look that promised revenge.

The chairman cleared his throat. “Well… case closed, I suppose.”

Damien nodded once, then turned and led Eliana out of the room, his hand never leaving hers.

---

**Fun bit:** In the elevator, Eliana finally exhaled. “You were… terrifying in there.”

Damien leaned against the wall, eyes never leaving her. “Only when someone threatens what’s mine.”

Eliana raised an eyebrow. “I’m not property, Damien.”

He smirked, stepping closer until the elevator doors reflected both of them. “No. You’re worse. You’re mine by choice now.”

The doors dinged open on the penthouse floor.

Eliana whispered, “You’re playing with fire, Vance.”

Damien’s grin was pure trouble. “Then let’s see who gets burned first.”