The billionaire I was forced to live with

PROLOGUE

BRIE'S POV

The office still smells new.

Fresh paint, polished oak, white lilies sitting on the corner of the desk.

My desk.

I slowly lower my fingertips onto the smooth wooden surface, tracing the silver trim around the edges as if touching it would somehow convince me it was real.

Ten years. Ten years of chemistry textbooks stained with coffee. Ten years of burnt formulas. Ten years of skipping parties because I had another experiment to run.

And now...standing here in this office…..it feels unreal.

I look down at the folder lying in front of me. Transfer of Ownership.

One signature had officially made VEREA mine.

"What are you doing?" A voice asks snapping me out of my trance.

I look up to find Cassie leaning against the doorway, one hand supporting the small of her back while the other balanced a cup of iced coffee.

She smiles knowingly.

"Getting acquainted with your throne?"

I laugh softly, my head still else where

"Something like that."

She waddles inside, lowering herself onto the sofa with an exaggerated sigh.

"I swear this baby is trying to kick his way into the world."

I grin and make my way to sit beside her

"You've been saying that for three months."

"Because he's been trying for three months."

We both laugh. The silence that followed wasn't awkward. It was comfortable.

Cassie has always believed in me more than I did in myself. Long before VEREA had labs and offices, when it was just a 12 year old girl binge watching your tube tutorials, scribbling formulas in a note book and a cousin who never hesitated to be a test monkey

I stare back at the office.

"This doesn't feel real."

Cassie glances at me rubbing her belly.

"What doesn't?"

"Being CEO. Owning..all this." The words tasted strange ."I've always been the person in the lab. The one creating formulas... testing ingredients... just the background character."

I rubbed my palms together. A sudden chill creeped through me.

"What if I can’t do this? Lead. Be in Charge. What if they don’t respect me? What if I end up destroying everything you’ve built?"

"Brie."

"No, seriously."

She reaches over and flicks my forehead.

"Ouch!"

"You started planning this company when you were fifteen. You have been writing formulas since you were 12."

I open my mouth to speak but she holds up a finger.

"Let me finish."

I sink into the sofa,

"You earned two degrees."

Another finger.

"You spent countless nights sleeping in laboratories."

"You built products before you could legally drink. While your friends were busy buying brands you were building one. I might have been the one in front but this company is where it is because your formulas are that good. You’ve always been the one leading this company Brie.”

I blinked. A tear fell.

"Cassie..."

"I've just been warming the seat."

The lump in my throat grew impossible to swallow. She grabs my hand placing it against her stomach.

A tiny kick meets my palm making me smile.

"Oh my God."

"There he goes."

We both burst into laughter.

My phone rings.

Elizabeth Fanning

It’s the agent helping me get an apartment.

I answer immediately putting it on speaker.

"Hello?"

"Miss Shepherds? Good afternoon. I've just received confirmation from the landlord. Everything is ready if you'd still like to sign today."

I look at Cassie .She raises her eyebrows excitedly.

"I'll be there in thirty minutes."

"Wonderful. I’ll text you where we’ll meet."

Cassie was already struggling to stand.

"I still don't understand why you're renting."

I offer her a hand but she stubbornly refuses.

"I've told you, I want the first property I own to be one I'm actually ready to settle down in."

She rolls her eyes

"That’s just ridiculous." She grabs her handbag after successfully getting herself up

“Wherever we are going better have food."

I laughed.

"Pedro's?"

She gasped dramatically.

"Italian?"

I nodded.

"I suddenly forgive all your bad decisions."

The lease was straightforward. A few signatures, a quick handshake, and then he slid a small black key fob across the table.

"Congratulations, Miss Shepherds. Welcome to your new home."

I pick up the key, smiling. Nothing seems real.

Cassie drops me back at the office to pick up my car. Before pulling out of the parking lot, I text Caroline.

You:

Meet me at my new place (142 Mercer Street. Penthouse B.) Tomorrow, 9 a.m. don’t be late.

Carol💕

Damn, you like to live bid huhn. See you at 9.

Next, I called the storage company.

"Craig's Storage? Hi, this is Sabrina Shepherds. I'd like my belongings delivered tomorrow morning."

"Address?"

"142 Mercer Street. Penthouse B."

"We'll be there at nine."

"Perfect. Thank you."

I tossed the keys into the passenger seat, started the engine, and pulled into Manhattan traffic.

Tomorrow was the beginning of my new life.

ARJUN’S POV

I rolled up my sleeve and tucked my tablet under one arm, correcting a worker who almost made a mistake that would have cost her life.

She herself didn’t realize what she was doing; she just tiredly nodded as I corrected her.

This is a brand new factory, our biggest so far and our new headquarters.

The moving and restructuring and retraining have been no walk in the park; everyone’s exhausted but no one is ready to give up or fail so we’re pushing through the frustrations and stress.

“Mr. Raj, Mr. McCarthy’s lawyer just sent their corrections on the contract.” My assistant, Tyrell, walks up to me handing me a file.

I grab the file and walk towards the direction of my office, looking through it shaking my head in disbelief.

“He can’t be serious.” I say slamming the file down on my desk as I sit

“He insists on it sir.”

“Tell him I’m walking.”

“But sir…..”

“If it costs more than it saves I don’t buy it. That always has and will always be how I operate and I don’t care how good it looks on paper.”

“Yes sir.”

“Perfect! Now go give Mr. McCarthy back his little piece of paper and remind him to recycle.”

“Yes sir.” He said bowing awkwardly and picking up the file and scurrying out.

He stops as he gets to the door then he turns to face me “The agent called, said he found a new place; a penthouse down on Mercer Street.”

“Call him back; tell him I’ll be there First thing tomorrow, 8am.” He nods and leaves shutting the door behind him.

I lean back in my chair and let my mind drift.

Thinking about every step I’ve taken to get here; every meeting, contract, late night, rejection, setback and victories.

We have not only survived but have thrived and have surpassed the competition.

A tear almost slips from my eye as I reminisce and all the sacrifices I had to make along the way.

Then I remember people who never had to work a day in their life but can easily bring down those who’ve worked their asses off.

I’m suddenly filled with rage so I decide to call it a day.

It’s still 2:15 so I figure I’ll go visit my mom, have dinner with her and then prepare for my meeting with the agent.

I get to the building at exactly 8:20.

142, Mercer Street. Not Bad. I think to myself as I walk into the building.

I meet the desk clerk “I’m here to see a Maxwell Clarke.”

She nods toward the direction of one of the arm chairs in the lobby. I walk up to him and tap him on the shoulder.

“Ahhhhhhh, Mr. Raj you’re here. Well let’s get to it then.” He says leading me to the lifts. He pushes 'P' which I’m guessing leads up to the pent houses.

We ride in absolute silence; I stand upright in the center while he hides in a corner. The doors open and we step out to the floor.

“Its ‘B’ “He says walking over to a door with a big golden ‘B’ on it.

We step in and I instantly accept the place, the natural wooden floors and the abstract yet warm theme of the interior complement each other perfectly but there’s still a hint of hominess to it.

“I’ll take it.” I say cutting of Maxwell I didn’t even realize he was talking

“Excuse me?”

“I’ll take this one.” I repeat walking around; it’s a two bed, three bath place with a big living room, kitchen a study and a laundry. There’s a patio, a pool and a mini outdoor bar and kitchen.

“Well sir, since you love it so much I believe all that’s left is to sign the lease documents. Are you sure you don’t want to buy instead? It’s up for sale.”

“If I ever want to buy you’ll be the first to know.” I say signing the dotted line

“Well then, I believe my work here is done.” He says extending his hand for a hand shake.

I look at his hand then back at him with a blank expression on my face. I guess he got the message because he retracts his hand awkwardly.

“Hello? Miss Shepherds?” a voice calls out walking in carrying a box with two other men behind him also carrying boxes

“Who are you?” I ask annoyed

“Barry Gilmore, Craig’s storage.”

He shows me his work ID; setting down the boxes in his hands

“We’re dropping off Miss Shepherds belongings.”

“Who is Miss shepherds?” I ask

“The lady who lives here.” He says turning to walk out.

I turn to Mr. Clarke with a questioning look.

“Excuse me?”