The Billionaire's Forgotten Heir

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"Skyler Thompson?"

Damon muttered the name, as his steps came to an abrupt stop.

Edward's expression changed.

He opened his mouth to answer, but his hand flew to his chest.

His breathing became labored.

"Grandpa?"

Edward gripped the front of his shirt, his face draining of color.

"Grandpa!"

Damon was right in front of him, just before the old man's body slumped against the sofa.

The butler rushed forward as Damon caught him before he hit the floor.

"Call the doctor!"

**

At the hospital,

Damon waited outside the room, his jaw tight.

The doctor eventually stepped out.

"He's stable." He told him.

Damon's shoulders loosened slightly.

"What happened?" He asked.

"His heart was under considerable strain. His condition isn't life-threatening at the moment, but he needs complete rest."

Damon glanced through the glass at his grandfather.

"Can I speak to him?"

"Briefly. But don't agitate him. He needs to regain his strength."

When Damon entered the room, Edward was awake.

His eyes moved toward him.

"Damon?"

"You scared me." Damon said, coming beside him.

Edward gave a weak smile.

"I've survived worse." He muttered.

Damon pulled a chair beside the bed.

"You mentioned a name before you collapsed."

Edward frowned.

"What name?"

Damon's expression hardened.

"Skyler Thompson."

Edward stared at him blankly, then he shook his head.

"I don't remember saying that."

Damon studied his face closely. The old man's eyes were marrowed as if just hearing the name for the first time.

"You don't remember?"

"No." Edward replied with a shake of his head, his eyelid drawing close and soon he fell asleep.

"Mr Carter?"

The door slide open and the family doctor stepped into the room.

"I suggest you not to force him. Let him remember things at his own rate."

Damon's eyes drifted back to the sleeping Edward, and he massaged his temple gently.

It was understaable for his grandfather to forget things. He has Alchemia. But why did he mention that woman's name?

The thought brought a frown to his face. Damon couldn't understand why she was everywhere around him.

"Mr Carter?" Elli's voice seeped through his thoughts.

Damon put down his hand and took the documents Ellis held out towards him.

"Everything about Skyler Thompson sir." He took the folder, his frown intact, he flipped it open, eyes scanning each page of the documents.

There was nothing much about her, Just a mediocre daughter of the Thompson's family.

What was her aim?

First she had his mom's necklace in her possession.

She claimed he had given it to her.

But he remembered enough to know that he never let anyone touch that necklace.

Skyler having it made no sense.

Unless she had stolen it.

Thinking thus, his eyes flickered towards his grandpa. Although the old man wasn't in the state of telling him anything, there was one person he could get the truth out of.

"Keep an eye on her. See if she has anything with Emily Carter."

"Yes sir." Damon listened as the door clicked shut. Then he leaned back against the seat, fingers curling into a fist.

The next day,

The conference room was packed when Skyler stepped in, she settled on a seat, her glasses down as they waited the arrival of Damon Carter.

The murmurs died down as she stepped in, and people passed weird glances at her.

"Isn't that the new secretary?"

"Yeah, didn't Mr Carter say he needed a male? Did he change his mind?"

"I think it's all her doing. I heard she made a scene at Mr Nathan's engagement two days ago."

"Yeah, her reputation is a common knowledge in Green City. Who doesn't know she's trying to make a move in the elder brother?"

Low gasps filled the air bit Skyler didn't mind. She pushed up her glasses and gently took a seat.

Across the table her eyes met with that of Nathan. He sat crossed legged on his seat, a low smirk playing on his lips as he twirl his own slightly.

Hearing the whispers around him brought in a sense of joy and comfort.

He wanted the world to see who she truly was. A cheap worthless woman.

Looking up at him, Skyler's gaze was resolute.

Seeing her quiet only made Nathan even more furious. He sat up straight, wanting to say something when the door slide open and Damon stepped in.

The room went quiet and people straightened their backs. The matter now swept under the rug.

Damon's eyes scanned the room, the tension slowly decipating in the air, he said.

"Let's begin."

The presentation of Q3 project began, and Damon leaned back against his seat, listening intently.

His gaze swept the room subconsciously and landed on the lady seated at the far end. She was dressed in a black suit, a pen and folder seated in front her. Her head was down as she took notes like she knew what she was doing.

A scoff threatened to break out from his lips, but he held back.

The Skyler Thompson he read about knows nothing about business Strategy talk more of logistics.

Her grades were poor all through highschool, she only made slight improvement at tertiary institutions but that doesn't count.

His fingers tapped silently on the desk, as he stared, the presentators voice fading into background noises.

Her look was amusing, her professionalism believing.

Her silence to Nathan a few minutes ago was shocking. For some reason she didn't look like a woman who was looking cuckold to father her son.

She looked... elegant. Like a woman who didn't give the world a f**k. And that amused him.

"Mr Carter? ... Mr Carter?"

The presenter called again.

Damon slowly looked up from the report in front of him.

The room had gone unnaturally quiet.

A bead of sweat rolled down the presenter's temple as he stood beside the screen, staring at the figures displayed behind him.

"The Q3 figures were supposed to have been finalized before this meeting," Damon said coldly.

"So explain why the operating profit is nearly twelve percent lower than projected."

The presenter swallowed.

"We're still investigating the discrepancy, sir."

Damon's expression hardened.

"Still investigating?"

"Yes, Mr. Carter. There appears to be an error in the consolidated report. Some figures from the overseas divisions don't correspond with the financial records we received."

"And you didn't notice this before presenting it?"

The man's face paled.

"I'm sorry, sir. I thought the figures had already been verified."

Damon leaned back, his gaze sweeping across the room.

No one dared speak.

The Q3 report was supposed to go to the investors the following morning. If the discrepancy wasn't explained, it could raise serious questions about the company's financial performance.

Slowly, Damon turned his gaze toward Skyler, who sat quietly beside the conference table.

"Skyler Thompson," he called.

"Yes, sir?"

She looked up.

"Handle it."

Skyler blinked.

"The Q3 report?"

"Yes."

The presenter stared at her and then back at the Damon. Admits the supprise, he let out a small sigh of relief.

One of the executives shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

"Mr. Carter, she's just a secretary."

Damon didn't look at him.

"She's aware of her job title. He said, eyes fixed on Skyler.

He pushed the report across the table.

"The investors expect an explanation tomorrow. Find out where the discrepancy came from, which department is responsible, and whether we're dealing with an accounting error or an actual loss."

Skyler stared at the thick report.

That was hardly a secretary's job.

Damon's gaze was sharp and icy. As if daring her to refuse.

She knew what he was trying to do. He was looking for a way to disqualify her. If she gets disqualified, she loses a chance to save Liam.

"Understood." She replied, voice shaky underneath, but firm and resolute on the outside.

Damon leaned back against his seat.

"Good. You have twenty-four hours."