THE BILLIONAIRE'S SECRET WIFE

CHAPTER ONE THE BLACK ENVELOPE Rain poured over Manhattan. It had been falling since sunset, turning the streets of New York into a blur of headlights, umbrellas, and reflections. Inside Collins Books, Avery Collins stood behind the counter, staring at the clock. 9:47 PM. She sighed. "Another successful day." She looked down at the nearly empty cash register. "Eighty-six dollars." A bitter laugh escaped her lips. "Who said dreams were expensive?" The bookstore had been in her family for more than thirty years. Her father had opened it when he was young, and her mother had transformed the back corner into a tiny reading area filled with comfortable chairs and warm yellow lamps. Avery had grown up between these shelves. Every book reminded her of home. Unfortunately, home was slowly becoming something she couldn't afford. She looked at the red notice taped beside the register. FINAL PAYMENT NOTICE. Her stomach tightened. The bank had given her thirty days. Thirty days to pay the outstanding loan. Otherwise, Collins Books would belong to someone else. Avery slowly removed the notice and folded it. "I'll figure something out." She always said that. Even when she had no idea how. Her eyes drifted toward the photograph sitting on the shelf behind the counter. Her parents. Six years. It had been six years since she had seen them smile. Six years since that terrible phone call. A car accident. That's what the police had called it. Avery had spent years trying to accept it. But something about the accident had never felt right. Her father had always been careful. He never drove recklessly. He never drank. He never took unnecessary risks. Yet both her parents had died on a quiet road outside Manhattan. Together. At the same time. Avery swallowed. She didn't want to think about it tonight. She grabbed her coat and switched off the lights. One. Two. Three. The bookstore became dark. She reached for the front door. Then stopped. Something was lying on the floor. An envelope. Black. Completely black. Avery frowned. She hadn't seen it when she came in that morning. She walked closer. There was no stamp. No address. No return information. Only her name. AVERY COLLINS Her heart skipped. She looked through the glass door. The sidewalk outside was nearly empty. A few cars passed through the rain. No one stood nearby. Avery unlocked the door, quickly picked up the envelope, and locked herself inside again. She stared at it. Something told her not to open it. Something else told her she had to. Finally, she tore it open. A photograph slid onto the counter. Avery froze. Her father. Standing beside a man she knew immediately. Richard Sterling. The legendary billionaire who had built Sterling International into one of America's largest corporations. He had died fifteen years ago. Avery stared at the photograph. Her father had never mentioned him. Why? She turned the photograph over. A handwritten message covered the back. Her fingers began shaking. YOUR FATHER DIDN'T DIE IN AN ACCIDENT. Avery stopped breathing. "No." She read it again. YOUR FATHER DIDN'T DIE IN AN ACCIDENT. She dropped the photograph. "This isn't funny." The bookstore remained silent. Avery grabbed her phone. Maybe someone was trying to scare her. Maybe it was a sick prank. Then her phone rang. UNKNOWN NUMBER. She hesitated before answering. "Hello?" Nothing. "Hello?" A man's voice finally came through. Deep. Calm. Almost emotionless. "Did you receive the photograph?" Avery's heart began pounding. "Who is this?" "You don't need to know." "Then why did you send me this?" "Because you deserve to know the truth." Avery tightened her grip on the phone. "What truth?" "The truth about your parents." Her face went pale. "What do you know about my parents?" Silence. Then the man spoke again. "Your father was investigating the Sterling family before he died." Avery stared at the photograph. "Why?" "I can't tell you." "Then who can?" "The man who is coming for you." Avery frowned. "What are you talking about?" The call ended. She stared at her phone. "Hello?" Nothing. Avery slowly lowered the phone. Then she heard something outside. A car. She looked toward the window. A black limousine had stopped directly in front of the bookstore. Her heart began beating faster. The rear door opened. A man stepped out. Tall. Broad-shouldered. Dressed in an expensive black suit. His dark hair was slightly wet from the rain. Even from a distance, Avery knew exactly who he was. She had seen him on television. In newspapers. On business magazine covers. Alexander Sterling. The grandson of Richard Sterling. The current CEO of Sterling International. Avery's eyes widened. "Why is he here?" Alexander stood beneath an umbrella. Then he looked directly at the bookstore. Directly at her. Their eyes met through the rain-covered glass. Avery couldn't move. There was something strange about his expression. He didn't look surprised to see her. He looked like he had been expecting her. Three knocks sounded against the glass. Knock. Knock. Knock. Avery swallowed. She shouldn't open the door. Every instinct told her not to. But she unlocked it anyway. Alexander stepped inside. Cold air followed him. For a moment, neither of them spoke. Then his eyes moved toward the photograph on the counter. His expression changed. Barely. But Avery noticed. "You have it," he said. Avery stepped in front of the photograph. "Have what?" His eyes returned to hers. "The photograph." "How do you know about it?" "Because I know who sent it." Avery's heart jumped. "Who?" "I don't know his name." "Then what do you know?" Alexander walked closer. Avery instinctively stepped backward. "Your father worked for my grandfather." She stared at him. "My father owned a bookstore." "That's what you believed." Her eyes narrowed. "What are you saying?" "I'm saying your father had another life." Avery shook her head. "No." "He kept secrets from you." "You're lying." "I wish I were." Avery picked up the photograph. "What happened between my father and your grandfather?" Alexander's expression hardened. "Your father discovered something." "What?" "I don't know." "You expect me to believe that?" "No." He looked toward the window. "You shouldn't be involved in this." Avery laughed bitterly. "My parents are dead. My bookstore is about to be taken from me. Someone just told me their deaths weren't an accident." She stepped closer. "So forgive me if I don't feel like staying out of it." Alexander stared at her. For the first time, something softened in his eyes. Then his phone vibrated. He checked the screen. His expression immediately changed. Avery noticed. "What happened?" "Nothing." "You're lying." Alexander put the phone away. "We need to leave." Avery shook her head. "I'm not going anywhere with you." "You don't understand." "Then explain it." Alexander stepped closer. "Someone is watching this building." Avery's blood ran cold. "What?" He looked toward the window. "Get away from it." Avery moved instinctively. A second later— CRASH! The front window shattered. Avery screamed. Alexander grabbed her around the waist and pulled her down behind the counter. Glass scattered across the floor. Avery's heart pounded violently. "What was that?" Alexander didn't answer. He pulled out his phone and made a call. "Lock down the building." Avery stared at him. "Who are you calling?" "My security team." "You have a security team?" "Yes." "Why?" He looked at her. "Because people have been trying to kill me for years." Avery's eyes widened. Before she could respond, his phone vibrated again. A message. Alexander read it. His face went completely still. Avery reached for the phone. "What does it say?" He hesitated. Then turned the screen toward her. A photograph appeared. Avery. Standing inside the bookstore. Taken only minutes earlier. Underneath it were six words. SHE DIES IF YOU TELL HER. Avery's blood ran cold. She looked at Alexander. "Tell me what this means." He stared at her for several seconds. Then he spoke quietly. "It means whoever killed your parents knows you're looking for the truth." Avery's lips parted. "And they're coming for me?" Alexander nodded. "Yes." She looked at the broken window. Then back at him. "What am I supposed to do?" Alexander's eyes remained fixed on hers. "Come with me." "Where?" "My home." Avery shook her head immediately. "No." "It's the safest place in the city." "Why would I trust you?" Alexander stepped closer. His voice dropped to a whisper. "Because I'm the only person standing between you and the people who want you dead." Avery stared at him. She hated that part of her believed him. Then a loud sound echoed from outside. BANG! Avery jumped. Alexander pulled her against him. For a moment, everything disappeared. The rain. The broken window. The danger. All Avery could hear was his heartbeat. Fast. Strong. For the first time, the cold billionaire looked genuinely afraid. Not for himself. For her. Alexander lowered his voice. "Avery..." She looked up at him. "What?" His eyes searched hers. "If you stay here tonight, you might not survive until morning." Avery's heart stopped. She slowly looked toward the black envelope still lying on the counter. Then she looked back at Alexander. "What happened to my parents?" Alexander didn't answer immediately. Finally, he whispered: "Your father discovered a secret that could destroy the Sterling family." Avery's breath caught. "What secret?" Alexander's jaw tightened. "That's what we're going to find out." He reached for her hand. Avery stared at his fingers around hers. She should have pulled away. She didn't. Because somewhere deep inside, she already knew— Her life had changed the moment she opened that black envelope. And the man holding her hand was about to become the most dangerous person in her life... or the only person capable of saving it. TO BE CONTINUED...