The Billionaire's Secret Heiress

AMELIA Mr Davenport didn't come back to the office till after three days. Apparently, he had to be closer to the newly acquired flagship. Just when I thought I could have some relief from my haywire feelings. The next morning, I walked into the office expecting a normal day. Or at least a day where I didn’t have to see Ethan’s annoyingly perfect face. Instead, I was welcomed with very discomforting news. "What do you mean we're being transferred?" I stared at my boss, David, trying to keep my voice level. "It's a great opportunity, Amelia." David was doing that thing where he smiled too much, like that would make bad news easier to swallow. "DV Grand Hotel’s flagship needs our expertise. The whole event team is moving there for the next project." "DV Hotel," I repeated slowly. "You mean the one across town? The one that's an hour away in traffic?" "Forty-five minutes, maybe." "David, I have a daughter. I can't just—" "It's not a request, it's a reassignment. We start Monday." My hands clenched into fists under the desk. Of course. Of course Ethan would do this. Pull me into his orbit, make it impossible to avoid him. "I can't work that far from Lily's school. The pickup times alone—" "I understand it's an adjustment, but—" "No." The word came out sharper than I intended. "I'm sorry, but no. This doesn't work for me. I have responsibilities." David's smile finally dropped. "Amelia, this isn't really up for negotiation." "Then make it up for negotiation. I've been with this company for five years, I've never asked for special treatment, but I'm asking now. I need to stay at this location. Don't I have a say in this as the team leader?" The conference room door opened. I didn't need to turn around to know who it was. I could feel it, that shift in the air that only happened when Ethan walked into a room. "Is there a problem?" His voice was calm, measured. Professional. I turned slowly in my chair. There he was, standing in the doorway in a perfectly tailored suit, looking every bit the successful CEO he'd become. His eyes met mine, and for a second—just a second—I saw something flicker there. Then it was gone. "Mr. Davenport," David stood up quickly. "We were just discussing the team transfer. Amelia has some concerns about the location." "I see." Ethan stepped into the room, closing the door behind him. "What concerns?" I stood up too, refusing to let him look down at me. "The new location is too far from my daughter's school. The commute doesn't work with my schedule." His jaw tightened slightly. The only sign that my words had landed. "Your daughter." "Yes. My daughter." I held his gaze, daring him to make this difficult. The silence stretched between us, heavy with everything we weren't saying. David looked between us, confused by the tension he couldn't understand. "We can discuss alternative arrangements," Ethan said finally. "My office. Now." It wasn't a request. David looked relieved to be excluded from whatever this was. "I'll let you two work this out." Ethan held the door open, waiting. I grabbed my file and walked past him, close enough to catch the scent of his cologne. The same one. After five years, he still wore the same damn cologne. This was going to be harder than I thought. —- Walking to his office felt like walking into a trap I already knew too well. My legs moved anyway. Maybe pride was dragging me forward, maybe anger, maybe the stupid part of me that still reacted to his voice. The hotel branch transfer. Of course this was happening. Of course the universe couldn’t mind its business. The office was massive. Minimalist. All clean lines and expensive furniture. A desk that probably cost more than my car. The view was ridiculous, spreading out across downtown like he owned it all. "Sit," he said, moving behind his desk. "I'd rather stand." He looked at me then, really looked at me, and something in his expression cracked. "Amelia—" I hated that my heartbeat reacted to his voice. I hated that I still recognized the way he said my name, like it tasted familiar. So, I snapped. "It's Ms. Reed in the office, Mr. Davenport." I crossed my arms. "Let's keep this professional, shall we?" He rested his hands on the table. “Fine, Ms. Reed. You said the distance won’t work for you.” “I did.” “Because of your daughter.” His voice changed a little at that part. I noticed it even if I didn’t want to. “Yes,” I said. “I need to be close to home. I can’t risk being stuck in traffic or getting home late. I don’t have the luxury.” I watched his face as he nodded slowly. "What about family? Your mother?" "She helps when she can, but she has her own job. I can't rely on her every day.” His jaw tightened, only for a second. “You didn’t mention you had a child yesterday.” “I didn’t know I owed you a report on my life,” I replied. The words came out sharper than I planned, but I didn’t take them back. He nodded slowly. “Fair.” Silence settled between us, thick and uncomfortable. "Look, I'm not trying to be difficult. I'm good at what I do. You know I am. But I need to be able to pick up my daughter." He walked around the desk until he was standing in front of me. Not close enough to touch me, but close enough that I could smell that same cologne he used to wear years ago. Something warm and clean. Something I used to bury my face in. I forced the memory away. “You’re assuming this transfer is about me,” he said quietly. I lifted my chin. “Isn’t it?” "I'm aware of your work quality." He leaned back on his desk, studying me. "That's why I requested your team specifically." "You requested us?" "The flagship needs a full redesign. I wanted the best." His eyes held mine. "That includes you." My stomach twisted. "How convenient." "It's business, Amelia." "Ms. Reed.” "Ms. Reed," he corrected, and I hated how my name sounded in his mouth. "The project timeline is six months. I need your team on-site." "Then you need to find someone else for my position, because I can't do it. Not with those hours and that commute. I’m not changing my entire life because the company wants us ‘closer’ to the hotel branch. I’m not doing it.” His eyes softened for a moment, then shifted into something steadier. “I’m not asking you to change your entire life.” “You don’t have the right to ask me for anything.” That hit him. He didn’t hide it. He took a slow breath. “Amelia… I’m your boss. Not—” “Exactly,” I cut in. “Which means you should respect that I have responsibilities outside this place.” Something like regret flickered across his face. Or maybe I imagined it. He was quiet for a moment, fingers drumming on the desk. That old habit he had when he was thinking. Some things hadn't changed. "What if I adjusted your schedule?" he said finally. "You could come in later, leave earlier. Work around your daughter's needs." I blinked. "You'd do that?" "I'd do that for any employee with childcare responsibilities. It's company policy." His tone was cool, professional. Like this meant nothing. "You'd still need to put in the hours, but you could do some work remotely if needed." It was a good offer. Too good. I searched his face for the catch, for some hidden agenda, but he just looked tired. "Why?" The question came out before I could stop it. "Why what?" "Why make accommodations? You could just replace me with someone without complications." Something flickered across his face. "Because you're one of the best event planners I've seen, and I'm not stupid enough to let that go over a scheduling conflict." He paused. "And because everyone deserves to be able to take care of their kids. Even you." Even you. Like I was someone who didn't deserve basic decency. My jaw clenched. "How generous." "Take the offer or don't, Ms. Reed. But I need an answer by Monday." He pulled a folder from his desk and opened it, effectively dismissing me. "You can go.” I turned to leave… but his voice stopped me right at the door. “Amelia.” I froze. He didn’t move closer. He didn’t say my name like a plea. He just said it like someone trying to hold something steady. “I didn’t expect to see you yesterday,” he said. “And I definitely didn’t expect…” He didn’t finish. He didn’t have to. I swallowed hard. “Yeah. Me neither.” I opened the door and walked out before he could say anything else. Behind me, I felt him watching. Five years later… and I still hated how much power he had over the air I breathed.