CLAIMED BY THE BILLIONAIRE CEO MAN

Chapter 4

The morning sun poured through the penthouse windows, but Elena was already awake, sitting at the mahogany kitchen island in a sleek charcoal power suit Alec had ordered delivered at dawn. The high-waisted trousers hugged her full hips, and the tailored blazer accentuated her waist, making her feel sharp, dangerous, and completely transformed.

Alec walked into the kitchen, buttoning his cufflinks. His eyes darkened as he took her in, a slow, appreciative smirk spreading across his lips.

"You look like a CEO," Alec said, stepping up to her and leaning down to press a lingering kiss to the side of her neck, sending a warm shiver straight down her spine. "Ready to destroy him?"

Elena took a sip of her espresso, her eyes cold and clear. "Press the button."

Alec pulled out his phone, made a single two-second call to his executive assistant, and said, "Release the press statement and pull Vance Media's funding line immediately."

Across town, in the sleek but cheap office space Julian had rented for Vance Media, the atmosphere was chaotic.

Julian sat at his mahogany desk, nursing a massive hangover, while Chloe sat in his lap, twirling her blond hair and scrolling through expensive designer bags on her phone.

"Julian, babe," Chloe cooed, kissing his cheek. "When your contract with Mercer Enterprises goes through today, you’re buying me that diamond bracelet, right? You promised."

"Of course, baby," Julian smirked, patting her thigh. "Once Alec Mercer signs off on my pitch deck, we're set for life. Elena might have thought she was useful, but she was holding me back. A man in my position needs a goddess on his arm, not a heavy weight dragging him down."

Suddenly, the glass door to his office slammed open. Julian’s chief financial manager burst in, pale as a sheet, holding a tablet.

"Julian! We have a massive problem!"

"Learn to knock, Greg," Julian snapped, unbothered. "What could possibly be so urgent?"

"Mercer Enterprises just released an official public statement!" Greg yelled, slamming the tablet onto the desk. "They didn't sign our contract, Julian. They officially canceled all negotiations with Vance Media! The bank just saw the news and froze our $500,000 credit line!"

Julian’s face drained of all color. He pushed Chloe off his lap so fast she nearly fell to the floor. "What?! That’s impossible! I spoke to Mercer’s VP yesterday!"

"It gets worse," Greg said, his voice trembling. "Look at the front page of the Global Financial Times."

Julian snatched the tablet. The headline burned into his eyes:

MERCER ENTERPRISES LAUNCHES LUXURY DESIGN DIVISION, APPOINTS ELENA VANCE AS CCO WITH A $10M STARTING BUDGET.

Below the headline was a stunning, high-definition photo of Elena. She looked breathtaking, powerful, and utterly out of reach, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Alexander Mercer—the most powerful billionaire in the city—who was looking down at her with intense, unmistakable pride.

"Elena...?" Julian breathed, his hands shaking so violently the tablet almost slipped from his grip. "No... no, this is a mistake! She’s nothing without me!"

"Julian, what about my bracelet?" Chloe whined, picking herself up from the floor with a scowl. "And what does he mean your credit line is frozen? How are you going to pay for my apartment?"

"Shut up, Chloe!" Julian roared, slamming his fists onto the desk.

His phone began ringing frantically.

Investor 1: Canceled.

Client A: Terminated.

Bank Manager: Immediate Repayment Demanded.

In less than ten minutes, everything Julian had built on Elena’s back collapsed into dust. He sank into his leather chair, staring at the photo of Elena looking like royalty on Alec Mercer's arm. A suffocating knot of panic and dark, sickening regret began to twist in his gut.

He had thrown away a queen for a girl who was already complaining about money—and now, Elena belonged to the most dangerous man in the business world.

Meanwhile, at Mercer Enterprises, the elevator doors opened to the top floor.

Alec led Elena past dozens of bowing executives and staring employees, holding her hand firmly in his, making sure the entire world saw who she was to him.

He opened the doors to a massive corner office overlooking the entire city, fully equipped with state-of-the-art design tablets, marble desks, and a panoramic view.

"Your empire, CCO Vance," Alec whispered, stepping up behind her and wrapping his arms around her waist, resting his chin on her shoulder.

Elena looked out at the city skyline, feeling the solid, hot press of Alec's chest against her back. "He’s going to call me, isn't he?"

Right on cue, the phone in Elena’s pocket began to vibrate furiously.

She pulled it out and looked at the caller ID: Julian.

Alec’s low, dark chuckle echoed against her neck as he reached over, slid the screen to answer, and put it on speaker.

"Elena?!" Julian’s desperate, panicked voice blasted through the phone. "Elena, baby, please answer me! There's been a huge mistake!"