The Billionaire’s Hidden Heir

Chapter 3: Unanswered Questions

Leila’s hands shook as she held the phone, the ominous message glaring up at her. “You’ll be sorry.” There was no name, no number—just a nameless threat hanging over her. This wasn’t paranoia. Someone didn’t want her working for Ethan Blackwood, and they were willing to scare her away.

She considered reporting it to Ethan, but a sinking feeling told her that wasn’t a good idea. His reaction to her earlier question about his private study had been icy enough. If she brought this up, would he dismiss it? Worse, would he fire her for prying? She couldn’t afford to lose this job, not when everything in her life depended on it.

But the question nagged at her—who was behind this? And why? The message was too specific to be random. Whoever was sending these warnings knew Ethan well.

Leila shook off the fear and walked faster, eager to get out of the building. Once outside, the cool evening air hit her face, but it did nothing to calm her racing thoughts. She needed to think. She needed a plan. But above all, she needed answers.

The next few days passed in a blur of work, emails, and tasks that kept Leila too busy to think. Yet the questions still lingered at the back of her mind. The strange messages, Ethan’s secrecy, and the warning about his private study—they all pointed to something much bigger than her new job. But what?

It wasn’t until Thursday evening that things took another strange turn.

Leila had stayed late at the office, finishing up some documents Ethan had asked for by morning. The building was quiet, most employees were gone for the day. She stretched, glancing at the clock—it was already past 8 p.m.

Deciding to pack up for the night, she made her way toward the elevator when a movement caught her eye. Down the hall, just past Ethan’s office, she saw a door open slightly—his private study. The one he had specifically told her to stay out of.

Her breath caught. The door was never open. It was always locked, secured, off-limits. But now, it stood ajar, as if inviting her in. Curiosity clawed at her, but so did the memory of Ethan’s warning. He had been crystal clear about staying out of that room.

Yet… something felt off. Why would the door be open now? Was it a mistake, or was someone else in there?

Her feet moved before she could stop herself. She walked down the hall, her heart pounding with each step until she was standing right in front of the door. She hesitated for a moment, listening for any sounds from inside. Silence.

Leila’s fingers hovered over the door handle, trembling slightly. She knew this was a terrible idea. If Ethan caught her, she’d lose her job for sure. But the questions, the warnings, and the mystery surrounding him— they all led here. This was her chance to find out what he was hiding.

With a deep breath, she gently pushed the door open and stepped inside.

The room was dimly lit, filled with shelves of books and old papers. At first glance, it looked like any other home office. But as Leila’s eyes adjusted to the darkness, she noticed something strange. On the far wall, there was a large painting—an old, faded portrait of a woman. She stared at it, feeling an odd sense of familiarity wash over her.

The woman in the painting was beautiful, with dark hair and piercing eyes. But what struck Leila most was how much the woman looked like her. The resemblance was uncanny, almost unsettling.

As she moved closer to inspect it, she noticed something odd at the edge of the frame—an envelope, half-tucked behind the canvas. Leila’s fingers hesitated before gently pulling the envelope free. It was old, the edges yellowed with time, and the handwriting on the front was faded but legible.

Her name.

Leila Moore.

How was that possible? Her heart pounded in her chest as she carefully opened the envelope. Inside was a letter, written in the same faded handwriting. She held her breath as she began to read:

“If you’re reading this, then the truth is already starting to come out. You deserve to know who you are, and why you’ve been drawn to this place. Ethan has tried to protect you, but there are things even he can’t hide…”

Leila’s eyes widened as she continued reading, her mind spinning. What was this? What truth? Protect her from what?

Before she could finish the letter, the sound of footsteps echoed from the hallway. Someone was coming. Panic surged through her as she stuffed the letter back into the envelope and slid it behind the painting once more. She had just enough time to slip out of the study and close the door before the footsteps reached her.

She ducked around the corner, her heart racing, as Ethan appeared in the hallway. He glanced at the door to his study, then walked past, unaware that Leila had been inside just moments before.

Leila leaned against the wall, her mind racing. The letter’s words echoed in her head: “You deserve to know who you are…” What did that mean? What was Ethan hiding from her? And how was she connected to him in ways she didn’t yet understand?

But one thing was certain—she wasn’t just Ethan’s new assistant. She was part of something much bigger, something that had been hidden from her all her life. And now that she had started digging, there was no turning back.