The CEO's Heiress

Paul's Confession

"Tomas, I love you, but I need to go to bed." I laughed softly and put the third glass of wine back on the bar. It was left untouched, and that was mostly due to the fact my feet hurt from all the dancing. Tomas hadn't stopped talking about the wedding and all his ideas. I zoned about after theme three, but I was trying to appease him because he was about to make a damn miracle happen. He whined, but I had noticed how almost everyone had gone already and had hoped to slip away before I was forced to say goodbye to another person I didn't even know.

"Okay, it is getting let. Remember bright and early tomorrow!" He called after me as Andrew jumped up and started to drag him away. He, too, seemed ready to go home. I waved them off, stood up and groaned. It had been too long since I spent more than an hour on my feet in four-inch heels. I thanked Marcus silently for cheating on me because our reception would definitely have been much longer than this party. Cassius was deep in conversation with one of his business partners, and I decided not to be the bad guy.

"Hey, yes you. Thank you. Will you please tell Mr. Yearling I went inside? Thank you." I sent an innocent server to get scolded and nearly ran out of the banquet hall with a crowd of people. The silver dress didn't make me invisible, but I was able to sneak away pretty easily. Waving the group off, I started back up the path to the main house. My feet happily groaning as I pulled them off when I reached the backdoor or one of them. I found myself in the kitchen and hesitated. I had been here a few times with Marcus, but we had stayed in the sitting room or the living room, so the lay of the land was going to take me a while.

"Elena?" A male's voice made me jump and go for a weapon. I found a rolling pin near me and lifted it, trying not to show how I was second guessing myself. What damage could a rolling pin really do? He laughed softly, closed the fridge door and put down whatever he had pulled out to eat. "Don't worry, I don't plan to harm you. I'm not Marcus."

"Paul, it's you." I sighed in relief and put the rolling pin down. I walked over to the counter he was standing at and looked at the bowl of something. It was obscured from vision by plastic wrap. "That looks, appetizing."

"I am sure whatever the chef prepared two days ago will be just fine. So did you enjoy the party? I would have gone, but seeing Marcus and Madison was a little too hard to stomach." Paul leaned back against the counter and I blew out a breath.

"It was great. I didn't know many people, of course, but Tomas kept me company. And I agree. Seeing them together did make my stomach hurt a little bit." I smiled at him, brushing a curl from my face as it fell loose.

"Can I tell you something, without you getting angry at me?" Paul's question made me forget about how much my feet hurt right now. I looked at him but didn't respond. He looked down and ran a hand through his very blonde hair. "I kinda knew Madison and Marcus were a thing, I didn't want to believe it, but I had proof a long time ago. When I first started trying to date her, I had a PI follow her and report back what they found. Mostly so I could make sure I could trust her. As the heir to the family estate, I can't have my fiancé or wife screw me over. They came back with pictures of them together, but when I confronted her, she said they were only friends and those were innocent goodbye kisses and lunches. She was so beautiful I just wanted to believe her and brushed it off. I should have told you, I wanted to, but you were so happy. I am sorry for any issues I may have caused because of my cowardice."

"It's okay Paul. I wouldn't have believed it myself. I was that in love with him, but when I saw him with Madison, with my own eyes, it gave me the courage I needed to leave. To realize I fell out of love with him a long time ago." I stood up to walk away, he jumped in my way, making me stop dead and look up, since he had about a foot on me right now.

"Listen, I know you have this deal with Cassius, but I have always thought you were so beautiful. If you ever decide he isn't the one for you, I would be happy to court you." Paul reached out for me, but I flinched away from him.

"Thank you, Paul, but I am settled and happy to marry your uncle in three weeks. However, I will take the name of your PI and if you want to get in on the revenge I am about to pull on Madison and Gwen, I won't stop you." I slipped past him and headed into the main hall. He didn't answer me back, but I had no doubt he would jump on revenge. I did feel a little bad about taking away his title as heir, but it would be for Cassius to break it to his nephew once I kept to my end of the bargain. All I wanted was for him to help me with my revenge and help me end Marcus and Gwen for good.

Bea was waiting when I got into my room, already pulling out pins in my hair as I walked so. She helped me out of the dress, hair and jewelry before leaving to let me get ready for bed. I washed my face, did my night routine and put on the silk pajamas I was prone to wearing. There was a knock on my door as I pulled my bed down. When I opened it Cassius was there still in his suit and looking as handsome as ever. I smiled and leaned against the door frame.

"Mr. Yearling. What can I do for you this late?" I asked, and he looked me up and down a few times.

"I wanted to check on you. I didn't see you leave, and some poor intern got yelled at." He gave me that devilish smile of his. I smiled innocently and shrugged. "I see you're settling in, good. I hope you enjoyed yourself tonight?"

"I did thank you, except for my family, of course. I think if my stepmother wasn't married to dear ol' dad she might try to move in on my man." He laughed but I wasn't kidding. She wasn't at all subtle about not loving my father. At least not because of who he was. She only loved his money. Still, I smiled as he chuckled.

"You don't have to worry about that. I think the most eligible bachelor of the year has found the perfect match to take him off the market. Paul wanted me to hand this to you. I don't know what you got my nephew doing for you, but he seems eager to help. Just dont' get hurt, or trust he has your best interest. They both have no idea what real hard work is like, or who really built this company. Have a good night, Ms. Edgington." He stepped away, getting ready to head to his room, which was across from my own. He paused at his door and looked back. "And you should find something better to wear, you're positively irristable in silk."

"Noted." I turned and closed my door, first giving a slight wiggle to my ass before I did. I heard a small growl outside the door and smirked. Oh yes, seducing this man had been far too easy. I was a red head. What could I say? Smiling to myself I locked my door, just to be safe, and headed back to bed. My phone was already charging, but I put on the alarm and curled up. Tomorrow began the next step of my plan, getting a wedding together in three weeks and hiring this PI. I wanted everything on Gwen and Madison. On their whole damn family just so I could prove to my dad who they really were. Who they all are. I had entered my villain era, and they would all feel the wraith in my veins soon. I would be sure of it.