The Billionaire's Replacement

CHAPTER THREE - PLAYING MRS BENNETT

Emma's POV

Jeremy stood at the entrance of the dining room with his left hand tucked into the pocket of his tailored trousers while his right hand rested lazily on the doorframe.

It was hard to tell what he was thinking, his face was blank. His piercing gray eyes shifted from Gabriel and then finally landed on me.

I gulped a lump down my throat. How long had he been standing there? Did he hear us? Did he hear Gabriel mention my father?

My heart raced faster than normal whereas Gabriel, on the other hand looked completely unbothered.

"Perfect timing.” Gabriel suddenly said with a smile. "I was just keeping your wife company."

Jeremy's gaze lingered on me, he eyed me in suspicion. "You look nervous."

I scoffed and choked out a hysteric laughter. “I do?” I paused to mentally scold myself. “Do I?”

"Yeah. Like you were caught doing something you weren't supposed to be doing.” Jeremy explained.

Well, he was right.

Jeremy walked into the dining room and I hoped he wouldn't press any further.

A maid hurriedly pulled out a chair for him.

The servants moved swify, one of them placed a cup of black coffee before him along with a neatly folded newspaper.

Surprisingly, Jeremy didn't utter another word. No one did as a matter of fact.

The silence was suffocating.

I shifted my gaze to my untouched breakfast, pretending to be interested in the pancakes.

Maybe he hadn't heard anything. I was probably just overthinking things.

I snuck a glance at Jeremy and watched him take a sip of his coffee before calmly saying "We're leaving in thirty minutes."

I looked up. "For the luncheon?"

He nodded. "I hope you're dressed appropriately."

I raised a brow at him. "I'm wearing a dress."

"I noticed." His voice remained emotionless and so did his face. "I was referring to your attitude."

Damn. I instantly felt heat creep in my cheeks. Jeremy was a natural savage.

"I know how to behave." I replied in a stern voice.

"You'd be surprised how many people don't." Jeremy retorted.

The atmosphere was getting tensed but fortunately, Gabriel's loud laughter eased it all. "You could at least try not to intimidate the poor girl before breakfast."

Jeremy ignored him. I wasn't sure what Jeremy's relationship was like with Gabriel. For all I knew, Jeremy's father was late and Gabriel was somewhat like a father figure even though he wasn't biologically related to the Bennett family.

If he cared so much about Jeremy then why did he want the Bennett’s family secret? Why was he trying to bring them down?

A part of me wanted to know the full story but it wasn't really any of my business. I had my own focus too.

Close to an hour later, I found myself sitting inside another luxury car. Jeremy sat beside me but his attention was fixed on the tablet resting on his lap.

Page after page of financial reports reflected in his eyes.

I couldn't help but wonder if he ever got tired, or smiled or even simply relaxed.

"You've looked at me six times. Is there something on my face?" His sudden voice startled me.

I scoffed and rolled my eyes. "I wasn't looking at you."

He didn't even spare me a glance. "No?"

"No. Of course not. Never."

"Then perhaps the window has suddenly developed gray eyes."

I stared at him in disbelief. Was that an attempt at sarcasm? I couldn't help but smile.

"I was wondering something."

"What?" Jeremy raised a brow.

"Do you ever stop working?” I asked.

"No."

"That's unhealthy you know.” I said shaking my head at him.

"So is curiosity." Jeremy retorted.

I scoffed for the umpteenth time and folded my arms across my chest.

"You always have an answer for everything, don't you?"

The rest of the drive was in silence. We finally arrived at our destination. The luncheon was being held at the Ashford Estate, one of the most luxurious private residences I had ever seen.

Crystal fountains and Luxurious cars was a decoration to the atmosphere.

My eyes caught men in tailored suits discussing billion-dollar investments as though they were talking about the weather. Their wives stood nearby in designer gowns that probably cost more than my yearly salary.

The moment Jeremy stepped out of the car, cameras began flashing but that didn't slow him down. He was used to it.

I, on the other hand had to hurry beside him, forcing myself to keep smiling despite how annoyed I felt by the flash of the cameras.

"Mrs Bennett." A beautifully dressed woman approached me with a small smile.

"I'm Victoria Reynolds. It's lovely to finally meet the woman Jeremy married." She stretched her hand out and I carefully received it.

Her tone sounded pleasant but her eyes were judging.

She looked me up and down before asking. “Which family are you from?"

I wasn't surprised by her question. “I'm not from a wealthy background if that's what you're thinking.”

Her eyebrows lifted and I could sense the disappointment in her tone. "Oh."

I didn't fit into their world obviously and it kind of hurt. Jeremy must have noticed because of how he slipped a firm hand against my waist.

"We have people waiting inside, Excuse us." He spoke calmly and without waiting for a response, he guided me away.

Neither of us spoke until we were far from them.

"You didn't have to rescue me." I spoke as he slowly took his hands off my waist.

"I didn't." His answer came too quickly. "I rescued my family's reputation. Victoria’s family is currently facing backlash from the public, I wouldn't want my wife to be seen with someone like her.”

Of course. Why did I think that far? I was only the replacement.

“Just follow my lead.” Jeremy commanded and began to walk away.

I did exactly as Jeremy had commanded till the luncheon was over and it was actually a good idea because it saved me from any unnecessary conversations.

The moment we returned to Bennett Mansion, Jeremy disappeared into his office without saying another word, as expected.

I was exhausted, half of the day had gone by. I quietly climbed the grand staircase, desperate to change out of my heels and crawl into bed.

Just as I was to take a right turn towards the direction of the masters bedroom, I heard faint voices coming from one of the smaller offices.

I instantly felt curious. I slowly walked towards the door.

"...she's adapting faster than expected."

I recognized that voice immediately, it was Gabriel.

"Can she really be trusted?” Another man's voice echoed.

She? Were they talking about me?

I leaned closer.

"We must make sure Jeremy doesn't suspect anything." the unfamiliar voice continued.

"He won’t. The girl is desperate to find answers about her father.” It was Gabriel who spoke this time.

Footsteps suddenly echoed inside the office and I heard the door handle turn.

I hastily rushed behind a marble pillar just as the office door swung open.

Gabriel stepped out first, accompanied by an older gentleman, his back facing me.

I watched the two men walk down the hallways until they completed disappeared.

Then, I hurried into the office.

I knew I shouldn't be doing this but I was curious.

I didn't have time to access the room features, my eyes immediately caught the framed portraits that covered the entire wall from ceiling to floor.

Photos of men, women, young and even old.

Every single photograph had one thing in common, a thick red X had been painted across each face.

I moved closer.

Some of the faces in the frame looked familiar, famous business name. Each frame had a small brass nameplate beneath it.

My eyes scanned them one by one. I halted in my steps when my eyes caught a very familiar face near the center of the wall.

A face I knew better than my own.

My father.

He had the same warm smile and kind eyes.

The same photograph my mother had managed to keep hidden for years, someone had painted a bright red X across his face.

I staggered backward, shaken but It wasn't the red mark that made me weak.

It was the name.

Alexander Bennett.

It wasn't Alexander Carter, it was Alexander Bennett written on the brass nameplate.

My father? Was he a Bennett?