The Billionaire's Mistress

PROLOGUE

PROLOGUE

Third Person's POV

Audri sat in front of her laptop, her fingers tapping impatiently on the keyboard. She had been tirelessly searching for information about Mr. Zeus Nichollo Heldos, but her efforts had yielded no results. It was the weekend, and while others enjoyed their time off, Audri was determined to dig deep into the life of the elusive multi-billionaire. Drowsiness painted her face, but her unwavering dedication kept her going. She loved her job as a journalist, and this interview with Mr. Heldos could potentially be a breakthrough in her career.

The clock on her wall ticked away the minutes, reminding Audri of the passing time. It was already past midnight, and she had been searching for hours without any significant findings. Frustration crept into her mind as exhaustion weighed her eyelids down. She yearned for a breakthrough that seemed elusive.

"Hey."

Audri looked up and saw her sister, Pauline, approaching her with a curious expression. "What's keeping you so busy, big sis?" Pauline inquired, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

Audri frowned at her sister's teasing remark. "I've been searching for information about Mr. Heldos since yesterday, but I haven't found anything substantial yet!" she spat, her frustration evident in her voice.

Pauline let out a little chuckle. "Why are you so interested in that man? Could it be that you actually like him?" she playfully poked.

Rolling her eyes, Audri sighed. "Shut up! Our Editor-in-chief assigned me to interview him. If I succeed, it could lead to a promotion and a significant increase in my salary," she answered, irritation lacing her words.

Pauline shrugged, a knowing smile on her face. "Alright, if you say so."

Audri nodded and returned her attention to the laptop, determined to uncover something about Mr. Heldos. Her sister, three years her junior, always had a camera-ready smile and an equally friendly personality. Their contrasting traits often brought a dynamic energy to their relationship.

With a renewed sense of determination, Audri typed 'Heldos Corporation' into the search engine. She nearly jumped out of her seat when a link finally appeared on the screen. A surge of excitement coursed through her veins as she took a deep breath and whispered, "Gotcha! Finally, something!" She quickly double-clicked the link with her mouse, hoping to find more information.

Pausing for a moment, Audri glanced at her reflection in the window. She smoothed down her dark hair and unbuttoned an extra button on her blouse, exposing a hint of cleavage. She felt more confident in such attire, believing it added a touch of allure to her professional demeanor.

As the webpage loaded, Audri's eyes raced across the screen, scanning for any valuable information. However, her excitement quickly turned into disappointment when she found only a brief description.

Heldos Corporation

CEO - Mr. Zeus Nichollo Heldos.

Heldos Corporation is an independent expressive structure firm based in New York City, specializing in the development of trademarks and identity programs.

"The heck? Seriously? There's no other information? I don't even know what this man looks like! This is so frustrating!" Audri screeched, her frustration reaching its peak.

Exhaustion finally caught up with her, and despite her determination to continue searching, Audri succumbed to sleep. She had spent the entire night digging for articles about Heldos Corporation, managing to gather some insight into the company's work. Moreover, she had stumbled upon the location of Mr. Heldos's office. With a plan in mind, she prepared to head to work, even though her tired body yearned for more rest.

As Audri entered the bathroom, her eyes half-closed, she stumbled along, resembling someone under the influence. Her mind foggy and her senses dulled by sleep deprivation. Just as she was about to wash her face, her phone began to ring. Startled, she quickly grabbed it and saw the full name of their Editor-in-chief, Mr. Gallery, flashing on the screen.

"Good morning, Audri!" Mr. Gallery's energetic voice greeted her.

"Good morning, sir," Audri replied, trying her best to sound awake.

Mr. Gallery took a deep breath before continuing, "I called you today because I wanted to let you know that you will be starting your interview with the CEO of Heldos Corporation. I'm giving you a month to complete the task."

"W-What?" Audri stuttered, caught off guard by the sudden announcement. "But..."

Mr. Gallery cut her off before she could finish her sentence. "No more 'buts,' Audri. Just focus on the task I'm giving you, and don't forget to call me once you've successfully completed the interview," he declared, ending the call without giving her a chance to respond.

"Damn it!" Audri shouted in annoyance, feeling both excited and overwhelmed by the weight of the assignment.

Meanwhile, on the other side of town, Zeus Nichollo Heldos sat in his office, his piercing gaze fixed on one of the reports submitted by his staff. The room fell into a deafening silence as everyone present tensed up, sweat trickling down their foreheads.

"It has been stated that the client wants minimalistic designs, but this is far from it," Zeus commented with a deep, baritone voice, reluctantly placing the papers down on his desk.

"B-but sir, I believe it's already minimal..." Ria, the talented graphic designer, attempted to defend their work.

Zeus raised an eyebrow, his expression unimpressed. "I didn't realize you had such limited use of your brain, Ria. It seems you're one of the many dim-witted people in the world," he replied sarcastically, his words stinging with condescension.

The insult struck a nerve, and Ria's irritation showed on her face, her eyes narrowing with a mix of anger and hurt. However, she bit her tongue, knowing better than to argue further.

"But sir... We've been working on this project for a month," another team member ventured, trying to reason with their formidable boss.

"I. DON'T. CARE," Zeus's voice thundered, his frustration evident. "Even if you've been at it for years, if the result falls short of my expectations, your hard work means nothing."

With a dismissive gesture, Zeus picked up the papers and tossed them into the trash, causing gasps and stunned expressions among the team. The weight of his perfectionist nature hung in the room, creating an atmosphere of unease and anxiety.

Audri, on the other hand, was making her way to Heldos Corporation. Unfortunately, she found herself stuck in heavy traffic. The scorching heat made her sweat, and the frustration of being delayed threatened to consume her. Unable to bear the standstill any longer, an outrageous idea popped into her mind.

"I'll just get out here and continue on foot. Here's your payment," she said to the taxi driver, hastily handing him the fare before stepping out of the cab.

Determined to reach the company as quickly as possible, Audri removed her uncomfortable stilettos, holding them in one hand as she began her journey on foot. She walked along the crowded road, her cellphone held tightly with GPS directions guiding her way.

"s**t," she muttered under her breath, realizing that she still had a long way to go.

With Her heart pounding in her chest, Audri pushed herself to run, disregarding the scorching heat and the sweat dripping down her body. She weaved through the sea of pedestrians and darted past honking cars, her determination overpowering her exhaustion. Thirty minutes passed, and finally, she reached her destination.

Breathless and drenched in perspiration, Audri leaned against the metal railing of the building's entrance. She gasped for air, her chest heaving with the effort. The security guard assigned to the entrance approached her, concern etched on his face.

"Miss, are you okay?" he asked, his voice filled with genuine worry.

It was hard for Audri to meet his gaze, her vision blurred by exhaustion. She managed a nod, attempting to regain her composure. Her eyes surveyed the grandeur of the building, taking in the imposing letters spelling out 'HELDOS' above the entrance. The sight gave her a surge of adrenaline, momentarily overshadowing her fatigue.

Dizziness suddenly washed over her, her head spinning from the combination of physical exertion and lack of rest. Audri clutched the metal railing tighter, her knuckles turning white, as the edges of her vision darkened. The world around her began to fade away, and before she could comprehend what was happening, everything went black.

Unbeknownst to Audri, her collapse did not go unnoticed. Inside the Heldos Corporation office, Zeus Nichollo Heldos had been engrossed in a phone call when he caught sight of the commotion near the entrance. His curiosity piqued, he ended the call abruptly and strode out of his office, his presence commanding the attention of everyone around.

As Zeus approached the entrance, his sharp eyes immediately fell upon the unconscious Audri. Concern mingled with a hint of annoyance on his face as he assessed the situation. The security guard hurriedly explained what had transpired, and Zeus nodded, gesturing for them to take Audri inside.

Little did she know, her encounter with Zeus Nichollo Heldos would not only change her career but also unravel a chain of events that would shake the very foundations of her life.