The Billionaire’s Hidden Heir

Chapter 4: Unseen Forces

Leila’s thoughts swirled in chaos as she hurried out of the building, her pulse hammering in her ears. The letter. The portrait. The warning from a mysterious source. What did all of it mean? She tried to piece it together, but no matter how she looked at it, one thing was clear: she was caught in something far deeper than she had imagined.

By the time she got home, her mind was still reeling. She dropped her keys on the table and collapsed onto the couch, staring blankly at the ceiling. "Who you are". The letter’s words haunted her. What did it mean? And why had Ethan—this powerful, enigmatic billionaire—chosen her, of all people?

Her phone buzzed, pulling her out of her thoughts. She grabbed it, half-expecting another ominous message, but it was a text from her best friend, Mia.

“Haven’t heard from you in days! Are you alive? Wanna grab drinks?”

Leila hesitated. A night out with Mia sounded like exactly what she needed—a distraction, something to take her mind off the bizarre mystery unfolding around her. But she knew she wouldn’t be able to enjoy herself with all these questions hanging over her.

Before she could decide how to respond, her phone buzzed again. Another text. But this time, it wasn’t from Mia.

Unknown Number: “You didn’t listen. Stop now, or the consequences will be worse.”

Leila’s blood ran cold. She stared at the message, her fingers trembling as she reread it. Worse consequences? What did that even mean? Was she in danger? And from whom?

Her first instinct was to call Ethan, but she immediately dismissed the thought. He wouldn’t give her answers—not without a cost. He was hiding something, and whatever it was, he didn’t want her to know.

Instead, she decided to play it cool. She typed a quick reply to Mia, agreeing to meet her at their usual bar later that evening. Maybe talking things over with Mia would help her clear her head. At the very least, it would get her out of the apartment—and away from her growing paranoia.

Later that night, the bar was buzzing with energy as Leila met Mia at their favorite spot. Mia greeted her with a tight hug and a wide grin. “Girl, you’ve been MIA! Spill everything!”

Leila forced a smile, trying to shake off her unease. She couldn’t tell Mia everything, not yet. How could she explain that she was working for one of the most powerful men in the country, who was somehow connected to her past in ways she didn’t understand? How could she explain the cryptic messages and the strange letter without sounding paranoid?

“I’ve just been super busy with the new job,” Leila said, sipping her drink. “It’s... intense.”

Mia raised an eyebrow. “Intense? That’s not the word I’d use to describe working for a billionaire. I’d say it sounds glamorous. And, let’s be honest, a little bit dangerous.”

Leila’s heart skipped a beat at the word “dangerous,” but she forced herself to laugh it off. “Yeah, something like that.”

Mia studied her for a moment, her eyes narrowing. “You’re holding something back. What’s going on? Is this about that guy you’re working for? What’s he like?”

Leila hesitated. She wanted to open up, to tell Mia everything. But how could she, when she didn’t even know the full story herself?

“He’s... complicated,” she finally said. “He’s not what I expected.”

Mia’s eyes lit up with curiosity. “Oh, now we’re getting somewhere. Complicated how? Is he like one of those mysterious billionaire types with a dark secret?”

Leila froze. If only Mia knew how close to the truth she was. “Something like that,” she muttered, taking another sip of her drink.

But before Mia could press for more details, Leila’s phone buzzed again. Another message.

Unknown Number: “This is your last warning. Walk away, or you’ll regret it.”

Leila’s heart pounded in her chest as she stared at the message. The threats were becoming more frequent—and more direct. Whoever this person was, they weren’t going to stop until she left Blackwood Enterprises. But why?

She looked up at Mia, who was watching her closely. “Everything okay?” Mia asked, her voice filled with concern.

Leila swallowed hard. She couldn’t tell Mia about the messages, not yet. But she couldn’t ignore them either. “Yeah, I’m fine,” she lied, slipping her phone back into her bag. “Just... work stuff.”

Mia didn’t look convinced, but she let it go, turning the conversation to lighter topics. Leila tried to keep up, but her mind was elsewhere, spinning with questions and doubts. She needed answers, and she knew she wouldn’t find them in the bottom of a drink.

The next day, Leila returned to Blackwood Enterprises with a newfound determination. She had stayed silent long enough. It was time to confront Ethan. She needed to know what was going on—and why someone was trying so hard to push her away.

As she stepped into the building, her phone buzzed once again. Another message from the same unknown number. Her heart raced as she unlocked it, half-expecting another threat.

But this time, the message was different.

“Meet me at the old marina tonight at 9 p.m. Come alone if you want answers.”

Leila’s breath caught in her throat. Answers. Whoever this was, they were finally offering her something other than threats. But could she trust them? Was this a trap, or was it her one chance to learn the truth?

She knew she had to go. But if she did, there would be no turning back.

As the day dragged on, Leila’s anxiety grew. By the time the clock hit 8:30 p.m., she was standing at the edge of the marina, the cool night air biting at her skin. The water was eerily still, the sound of waves lapping against the shore the only noise in the darkness.

She checked her phone—no new messages. But she wasn’t alone. From the shadows, a figure slowly emerged, his face hidden in the dark.

Leila’s heart raced as she stepped forward, her voice barely a whisper. “Who are you?”

The figure moved closer, and in the dim light, she could finally make out their face. Her breath hitched in her throat as recognition hit her like a wave.

“It’s you?”