No one has ever seen the mysterious heiress of the McKenzie empire, but everyone knows her name—Bianca McKenzie, the girl with power, wealth... and secrets. Craving a normal life beyond her last name, Bianca disguises herself as a man—Brian—to land a job in a company where women aren’t welcome. Hired by the cold yet devastatingly handsome CEO Justin Miller, Bianca is determined to hide her true identity, no matter the cost. But neither of them is prepared for the emotional collision that follows. What begins as friction turns into fragile friendship, then spirals into forbidden desire. One drunken night ignites a passion that changes everything. But when the truth is exposed, Justin feels betrayed and casts her away. He never meant the words. She never forgot them. Five years later, she returns—no longer hidden, no longer Brian, but as the stunning, untouchable heiress now set to inherit her grandfather’s kingdom. And she’s not alone… she carries a secret that could shatter everything. Now, with the media circling, a jealous ex on the warpath, and the man who once broke her heart trying to fight for her again, Bianca must decide: Will she protect her heart, or let the man who once destroyed it be the one to mend it?
view moreIt started like every other night — laughter, drinks, and stories that made us who we are. But it never felt this right before.
Me, staring at the man I've come to love, wishing he knew me for me and not the lies I made him believe.
His laughter, the way it echoed in the room, and how my heart responded was a completely different thing. The peaceful look on his face and how casually he talked when not being stressed of confusion made my heart swell.
Can this ever happen? Us? I doubt it has always been in my heart and having it happen in reality will be a complete miracle.
Yes, a miracle.
I was pulled out of my heavy thoughts by his call.
"Are you okay? Brian?" His eyes, the concern it held as he stared deeper into my soul left me weak to my knees.
I nodded with a smile that only he could give me, "yes" I glanced at the file on the table, "it's indeed amazing how far you've come, congratulations, sir!"
Today, he just struck another deal with the Hilton's Empire, the second largest to the MCKENZIE'S and it was indeed a big achievement.
I've watched him grow, I've watched him forget himself in his attempt to please his family. Love? That's very far from him, happiness? I guess the devil snatched that away the moment he was asked to date a girl be never like.
Friend? I've become the only one he can call a friend and I feel so broken, betrayed by my love for him knowing he trusted me but I ended up falling for him.
"No... congratulations to Us, we did it together" he reached for my hand and grabbed it, " I don't know what I would have done if it wasn't for you, thank you, Brian" every sound that left his mouth made my heart flutter, but the sound of him calling me name that wasn't mine shattered all the small hopes I had.
I forced a smile, "you shouldn't thank me" I pulled my hand away not wanting to let the idea of us linger more than they already do, "I'm your PA, it is my duty and responsibility to help you grow"
I chuckled, "after all, I get paid for it" I joked and he laughed.
"Indeed you get paid for it, but still, you put in a lot of effort for us to achieve this, so thank you "
He stood up, grabbed the file on the table and said,
"Common, we have to celebrate this...a day off for me and you" he turned and walked out of the room.
I sat there, still in a daze. Seconds turned to minutes, only then did I move. I went out, got into the car and we kicked off.
*********
*At the club*
It was a celebration, a success celebration. But when you are stuck with your feelings for your boss and knowing you can't tell him exactly how you feel, all you have to do is drink and laugh along, pretending to be happy and okay.
We both drank, danced and beat ourselves to whatever tension was between us until we were both knocked out, not completely but enough to roll at the comma of alcohol.
"Let's go, it's getting late" I tried to stand but ended up falling. The room was swaying and everyone in it.
"Right!" Justin forced himself up, and was about to leave when he saw me on the couch, helpless.
"Gosh, you are so wasted" He helped me up and supported me as we walked outside.
Indeed, it was late. We both were drunk, too drunk to drive and it will be risky for us to leave.
We booked a hotel. There were supposed to be two rooms but only one room was available, unfortunately. In our mindless state, Justin walked me to the bed and dropped me, his legs and body failed him and he fell on me.
And that was how it started, that was how I knew it can't be over so soon. I tried to push him off but his weight was too much. His face was just an inch away from mine and I trembled at his hot breath on my skin.
Then, he did the unthinkable. He kissed me, like he's been wanting to do it all along. I wanted to push him away, but I wanted him. I've imagined this moment for far too long that I couldn't give it all up now.
I kissed him back, my fingers worked their way through his hair as I pulled him closer, wanting more. If it's just in my head, or a dream caused by my longing and the effect of alcohol on me, then, I'll choose to live in it and enjoy it.
The night was long, heated and raw. A night I will leave to remember, a memory that I'll forever savor.
It was beautiful, but fleeting. It vanished with the night and the morning came with pain I had expected but was never prepared.
He saw it, he saw through my secret and now, he knows me and all the lies I told him, and the truth clearly evident before him, I knew it would tear us apart.
We walked through the dark corridors with Justin leading the way, his figure nothing more than a shadow against the endless black. My footsteps echoed faintly as I trailed after him, each step pulling me deeper into the unknown. I didn’t know what he was up to, what secret destination he had in mind, but here I was — following him anyway, like some lovestruck fool caught between his claws, unable to escape even if I wanted to.The silence pressed on my chest, and finally, I broke it. “Are we not there yet?” My voice sounded smaller than I intended, almost swallowed by the darkness.I could barely see anything, the thick shadows wrapping around me, gnawing at my nerves. A part of me hated to admit it, but the darkness scared me.“Why? Are you afraid?” he teased. I couldn’t see his face, but his tone was enough. That familiar edge in his voice told me everything I needed to know — he was enjoying this.“What? No…” I said quickly, trying to sound firm. My denial was shaky at best.That w
Justin told me I had spent almost two weeks in the hospital after that incident at the pool. Two weeks—just gone. The world outside hadn’t stopped spinning for me. By now, I was sure everyone else had slipped back into their steady rhythm of work, obligations, and ordinary responsibilities, weaving their lives back together like threads in a fabric I’d been torn away from.The doctor only agreed to discharge me after he was certain I could walk out without collapsing again. Even then, his warning carried a weight that lodged itself in my chest. Be careful this time. His voice was firm, and his words cut deeper than I wanted to admit. He said I was alive by sheer luck, that the shock my brain endured after the fall could have easily left me in a state far worse than just unconsciousness. The thought made me shiver.We were still in the Southern region of the country, and Justin made no move to take us back. He wasn’t in any rush. His silence about it carried a meaning of its own—he had
Hours slipped past like a single blurred heartbeat. I lay on the bed exactly as Justin had ordered, the sheets cool against my skin, and watched the ceiling until my eyes went tired. He left to see the doctor, the door closing behind him with a soft click that felt far away, like the rest of the world had been pushed out of reach.When the door finally creaked open, it was as if time remembered how to move again. His tall silhouette filled the doorway, and he stepped inside without a word. He didn’t look around the room or at the pale window — his gaze locked on me, sharp and relentless, as if nothing else existed.Those eyes. They cut through me like knives wrapped in ice. For a moment I thought I could read every thought inside him. They were full of anger, but there was something else tangled inside it — a depth that made my stomach twist and left my limbs trembling.Then he moved. Before I could find my voice or plan a plea, his hands were at my throat, cold and implacable. Pressu
The day's activity was up, and everyone was happily getting ready, laughter bouncing across the poolside, the clatter of flip-flops on tiles, and the low hum of conversations blending with the faint scent of chlorine. I lingered in the hallway, hesitant. Swimming had never been something I fancied, but because Justin was partaking, a small stubborn part of me wanted to join in too.Even after what had happened between us in that room, he still ignored me. That sting was sharper than any bruise I carried. I hated it—hated how quickly the warmth we’d shared could dissolve into this cold nothingness, where we existed as strangers who had once been more than just friends, more than just a fleeting connection that left its mark on my skin and my heart.Standing before the mirror, I traced the bruises around my neck. One, a tiny but deep cut near my collarbone, bore the remnants of his nails, digging in with a force that seemed both violent and intimate. It hurt—not as much as I expected, j
I went ahead and poured myself some coffee, the hot liquid steaming up and warming the air as it splashed into the cup. My left hand was already occupied with a plate of toast, its golden crust slightly burnt at the edges, the smell of it mixing with the sharp aroma of roasted beans.Everyone was already seated, clustered in pairs, talking in low tones as they ate. There was laughter here and there, little whispers exchanged, the clink of cutlery filling the silence between them. As much as the room felt alive, the air thick with chatter, I knew I wasn’t welcome. Or rather—my presence wasn’t welcomed. Their eyes slid past me deliberately, pretending I didn’t exist, but I felt their judgment like knives on my back.Then my gaze found the manager. He sat alone at the far end, eating without hurry, shoulders slightly slouched but eyes calm. He wasn’t one for empty stares or cruel whispers. I could deal with his words of advice—sometimes sharp, sometimes softer—but they were far better th
I was still lost in my thoughts when I heard the manager talking right behind me. I turned, half-distracted, only to find Justin standing there, casual yet striking in his shorts and a simple T-shirt that perfectly matched the Nike Pegasus on his feet. He looked effortlessly confident, as though the world bent itself around his rhythm.“Are the others ready?” Justin asked the manager, his tone calm but commanding.The manager nodded with assurance. “I’m sure they are. Are you?” He returned the question with a knowing look.Justin gave a slight nod, and then, as though he had just remembered I was there, his eyes fell on me. That brief gaze was enough to tighten something in my chest. Then his words came, cool and direct:“Get ready. We’re going out for a run.”I frowned immediately, blinking at him in disbelief. “What? Why don’t I have any idea about this?”It was ridiculous. How was I only being told now? Didn’t I have the right to know the schedule of our stay here? Or was I just ex
Welcome to GoodNovel world of fiction. If you like this novel, or you are an idealist hoping to explore a perfect world, and also want to become an original novel author online to increase income, you can join our family to read or create various types of books, such as romance novel, epic reading, werewolf novel, fantasy novel, history novel and so on. If you are a reader, high quality novels can be selected here. If you are an author, you can obtain more inspiration from others to create more brilliant works, what's more, your works on our platform will catch more attention and win more admiration from readers.
Mga Comments