Married To My Step Brother

Chapter 6

CHAPTER 6

Belle stumbled out of the café, her vision blurred by tears. The bustling sounds of the city felt muted, drowned by the storm of revelations in her mind. She didn't know if she should be shocked by the fact that her mum had an affair, or that Adam is her step brother, or that she's not even a true blood of the Bailison family.

Jane’s words echoed relentlessly, threatening to shatter everything Belle believed about herself, her family, and her future.

She returned to the penthouse in a daze. Inside, Adam stood by the window, his silhouette framed by the city's glittering skyline. He was on the phone, his voice low and commanding. When he turned and saw her enter, his expression was unreadable.

"You're late," he said, slipping his phone into his pocket.

"I...ran into someone," Belle replied, avoiding his eyes as she dropped her purse onto the nearest table.

"Who?" Adam’s tone was clipped, his gaze sharp.

Belle hesitated. "Just an old friend," she lied, her voice steadier than she expected.

Adam watched her for a moment, as though weighing the truth of her words, before nodding. "Fine. But tomorrow night, there's a gala. It's important, we need to be there together."

Belle blinked, surprised by the sudden change of topic. "A gala?"

"It's expected of us," Adam replied. "As a couple."

The word hung in the air, heavier now that Belle knew the truth. For a fleeting moment, she considered telling him everything – about Jane, the affair, and their shared bloodline. But then she caught herself. “No. Not yet. Not until I’m officially the CEO.” She thought to herself.

"Fine," she said, her voice calm. "I'll be ready."

Adam nodded and left the room, but Belle remained frozen in place, her thoughts racing. Six months. That was how long it would take before the stakeholders finalized her position as CEO. After that, she’d figure out what to do about Adam and the unbearable truth.

For now, she decided, she could endure it. After all their contract was clear: no emotional or physical involvement. Adam had his agenda, and she had hers. There was no reason to complicate things further.

Belle took a deep breath, steadying herself. “What’s the worst that could happen?” It wasn’t like Adam could suspect anything, and she was sure he’d honor the boundaries they’d set in their arrangement.

Still, as she prepared for bed that night, a sense of unease crept over her. She wasn’t sure if it stemmed from Jane’s revelation, Adam’s inscrutable nature, or the precarious situation she’d trapped herself in.

All she knew was that the next six months would feel like a lifetime.

* * * * *

James Bailison stood by the floor-to-ceiling window of his study, staring out at the city lights. In his hand was a copy of “The Daily Chronicle”, its headline screaming in bold letters: "Bailison Heiress Ties the Knot in Mystery Wedding." The accompanying photo of Belle and Adam from their wedding ceremony only deepened his scowl.

“She’s playing house now,” James muttered, tossing the paper onto the nearby table. “As if that’s all it takes to be CEO.”

Behind him, Rachel Lee entered the room, her heels clicking softly against the hardwood floor. She picked up the paper, skimming the headline with a bemused smile.

“Well, well,” Rachel said, dropping the paper back onto the table. “She’s certainly making headlines. The board must be eating this up.”

James scoffed, pouring himself a glass of whiskey. “The board is full of fools. They’re blinded by the Bailison name and Belle’s sob story, they can’t see the mess she’s about to make of this company.”

Rachel took a seat, crossing her legs elegantly. “And the husband? Adam Hamilton. What do we know about him?”

“Not enough,” James admitted, taking a sip of his drink. “But I don’t trust him. He came out of nowhere, swept Belle off her feet, and now he has a foot in our company.”

Rachel tilted her head, her lips curling into a sly smile. “It sounds like you’re jealous, James.”

James’s eyes darkened. “Jealous? No. Angry? Yes. She’s too inexperienced to see the trap she’s walked into. Adam Hamilton isn’t here for love. He’s here for power.”

Rachel raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “You sound almost...concerned.”

“I’m not concerned for Belle,” James snapped. “I’m concerned for the company. The board may have given her six months to prove herself, but if we let her and that man run unchecked, the damage could be irreversible.”

Rachel leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand. “So, what’s your plan?”

“We start with surveillance.” James replied.

Rachel leaned back in her chair, her eyes glinting with cold calculation. “So, we gather intel. We start with Hamilton – see what skeletons he’s hiding. But we’ll need someone who’s discreet, someone who can dig without drawing attention.”

James nodded, his face darkening with determination. “I’ve already got someone in mind. There’s a private investigator I’ve used in the past. He’s thorough, and he knows how to keep a low profile.”

Rachel raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “And what’s his track record?”

“Clean,” James said, his tone sharp. “He’s never failed me. If there’s dirt to find, he’ll find it.”

“Good,” Rachel replied. “And what’s the first step?”

James set his glass down with a quiet thud, his fingers tracing the rim thoughtfully. “First, we start with Adam’s business dealings. Hotels, investments, associates. We need to see who he’s connected to, what his weaknesses are. If we find anything that might raise suspicion, we’ll press it until the board has no choice but to question his intentions.”

“And if we don’t find anything?” Rachel asked, a glint of amusement in her eyes.

James smirked, the corners of his mouth curling. “Then we make something. Adam Hamilton isn’t as untouchable as he thinks. And Belle? Well, she’ll be tangled up in the mess, whether she likes it or not.”

Rachel’s smile widened. “I like your thinking, James. Let’s make sure this marriage is the first of many mistakes Belle makes.”