Owned By The Billionaire Devil

Chapter 9

Maisie ~

After listening to Chloe’s ‘best strategy’ seduction method, the drive home was quiet, but my mind was a roaring crowd of doubts and fears. Hunter’s face, voice, his infuriating smirk flashed behind my eyes. Then Chloe’s advice looped over it. Two minutes. Just feel his arm. Maybe… maybe I should give it a shot. What was the worst that could happen? He’d laugh at me? I was already humiliated. There was no harm in trying....

...Right?

When I got home, the lights were still on. My mother was in the living room. She looked up the moment I walked in.

"You're back. How was dinner with the Grimshaws." she asked, her tone too light.

I sighed. "It was… surprising. I just found out Alistair has an identical twin."

"Hunter is back?" Dad’s voice came from his study doorway.

"Yes. He’s… wait. You know him?" I asked, brows furrowed in surprise.

He cleared his throat, exchanging a quick look with mom. "Well, of course. The Grimshaws have two sons. Hunter is just… a very private person. He dislikes being discussed, so it’s become a habit not to bring him up."

This made no sense. A cold trickle of suspicion ran down my spine.

Alistair never told me. His parents acted like it was a state secret. And now my own parents had known and said nothing?

This wasn’t just an oversight; it felt planned. Like everyone had agreed to keep this from me.

“Is there something you’re not telling me?” I snapped. My voice came out sharper than I meant. “Why am I marrying into a family where the existence of an identical twin is treated like classified information? What if I mistake one for the other? This is insane!"

"You don’t have to worry about that, Maisie," mom said, standing up and walking toward me.

She tried to put a comforting hand on my shoulder, but I subtly shifted away.

"With the Grimshaws, there will be nothing like that. And Hunter… well, he isn’t that kind of person."

"Isn't’ what kind of person? What does that even mean?"

"It’s late," dad said firmly, ending the conversation. "We’re going to bed." He gave my mom a look, and she nodded instantly, following him toward their bedroom without another glance my way.

Something was very, very off. But what could it be? The walls of this house, which used to feel safe, now felt full of secrets.

"I’ll ask Alistair," I whispered to myself, as I went up to my room.

I got ready for bed, but sleep wouldn’t come.

I looked at the clock. It was past midnight when my phone lit up with Alistair’s name.

I answered, but he didn’t let me speak.

"Maisie, I just got home. Listen, my family decided right now to throw a last-minute welcome party for Hunter tomorrow night. Just a family thing, but since you’re my fiancée, Mom and Dad said you have to be there so I can finally introduce you to my uncles and a few others. I’ll be swamped during the day, so I won’t be able to call you. Goodnight, alright? I love you."

He said everything in one rushed breath, like he’d practiced it, then ended the call before I could say a word.

I let out a long sigh that made my chest ache, tossed my phone onto the bed, and dragged my hands through my hair. I fell back onto the mattress, staring at the ceiling as I waited for sleep that never really came.

…..

The next morning, I woke up late, groggy from the restless night. After my morning routine, I descended the stairs to find my parents huddled together at the dining table, my mom just hanging up her phone.

"Who was that? Mrs. Grimshaw?" I asked, not bothering with greetings. Seeing them like that, it had to be about the Grimshaws.

“Yes,” Mom said as she stood. She walked over and led me to a chair with a force that felt more controlling than caring. “They called about the party tonight. They said they have an important announcement to make.”

I raised a brow. "What kind of announcement?"

"Oh, you’ll find out soon enough. It’s only nine hours away," she said with a tight smile that didn’t seem real.

I looked at my dad for clarification, but he just gave a single, firm nod.

What was going to happen tonight?

"You should go out and get some new outfits," dad added, not looking up from his tablet. "Heard a few of the more… important Grimshaw relatives will be there. Make a good impression."

It didn’t sound like parental advice, it sounded like an order. Like I was being sent on a mission. Without arguing, I just nodded, ate a quick breakfast, and left the house.

I spent hours shopping, but my heart wasn’t in it.

When I got home, exhausted, I slept lightly for a few hours and set an alarm.

As it got closer to time and I started getting ready, Alistair called.

“I’ll pick you up,” he said.

“No,” I replied too quickly. If I went with him, my half-formed plan to get close to Hunter would fall apart. I needed to arrive alone, to move freely. “It’s fine. I’ll drive myself.”

There was a short silence.

“Alright,” he said finally. “I’ll wait for you at home.”

The call ended.

After finishing my makeup and getting dressed, I drove to the Grimshaw mansion, nervous but determined.

Alistair wasn’t waiting at the entrance like before, and honestly, I wasn’t even surprised.

I made my way inside, the sounds of a party being set up drifting from the back of the house.

In the large living room, Mr. and Mrs. Grimshaw were giving instructions to the staff. When Mrs. Grimshaw saw me, her face lit up with a wide smile.

“Maisie, darling, you’re here!” she said, air-kissing my cheek. “You look lovely.”

"Thank you. Where..."

"He stepped out briefly on a call. Business, you know. He’ll be back soon," Mrs. Grimshaw cut in.

I nodded, standing awkwardly as they bustled around. "The party is set up by the pool in the yard," Mrs. Grimshaw added distractedly before a caterer pulled her away.

"Make yourself at home," Mr. Grimshaw said, finally glancing at me before following his wife.

Make yourself at home. The irony was almost funny. I waited, watching them disappear down a hallway.

This was my chance. The house was buzzing with pre-party noise, but the upstairs would be quiet.

My heart hammered against my ribs as I made my way up the grand staircase. I moved quickly, my heels silent on the thick runner. I stopped at the door I’d seen Hunter go through the other night and knocked softly, but there was no answer.

I knocked again, a little louder. Nothing but silence from within.

Standing out here in the hallway felt insane. I turned the knob and surprisingly, it wasn’t locked.

I pushed the door open just a crack. "Hello?" I whispered into the dim room.

No response still.

Swallowing my fear, I slipped inside and closed the door softly behind me. The room was different from the rest of the house. It was clean, modern and smelled like him.

I looked around the large space, but he wasn’t there.

I was about to leave, my mission feeling foolish and doomed, when the door opened again, causing my head to snap in the direction.

Hunter stood there, filling the doorway. His shirt was half unbuttoned, hanging open to show part of his toned chest and stomach. His hair was slightly damp, as if he’d just showered.

He didn’t look surprised. He looked… amused.

He stepped fully into the room and shut the door behind him with a quiet click. The sound made me flinch. He just stood there, watching me with those impossible mismatched eyes.

“I… I think I got the wrong room,” I stammered, my voice higher than usual as I tried to move toward the door.

"You did?" he asked lowly, turning to look at me.

He took a slow step forward.

I instinctively stepped back. He took another. I retreated again until my back met the door.

I was trapped.

He leaned in, one hand planted on the door beside my head, caging me in. He was so close I could see the different flecks of color in his blue eye, feel the heat coming off his skin, smell the clean, dangerous scent of him.

"Are you sure," he murmured, his breath ghosting over my lips, "you got the wrong room?"