Prince charming

~~Emilia POV~~

My head felt like it was going to explode into a million pieces when I opened my eyes.

I sat up abruptly, groaning as a wave of intense nausea hit me, I winced, holding my throbbing temples as the room spun around me.

Where was I?

I looked around in absolute shock, the bed I was lying in was massive. Covered in crisp, white silk sheets, the bedroom itself was huge, featuring floor-to-ceiling glass walls overlooking the glowing city skyline, sleek minimalist furniture, priceless abstract art, and state-of-the-art security monitors mounted near the entrance; it looked like the private penthouse of a powerful corporate kingpin.

Panic set in like a shockwave.

Has someone kidnapped me? Was I taken by Gerald’s thugs to be silenced?

I quickly checked under the blanket, my clothes from last night were completely intact, though wrinkled. But where was my phone? I needed to call Mia immediately.

Heavy footsteps suddenly echoed from the hallway outside.

I scrambled out of the large bed in a blind panic, my eyes darting frantically around the room for anything I could use to defend myself. My gaze landed on a heavy, solid obsidian paperweight resting on a polished mahogany desk. It had sharp edges and felt heavy in my hand, it would definitely knock someone out.

I snatched it up, sprinted toward the door, and flattened my back against the wall next to the frame, holding the paperweight high over my head.

The handle clicked, and the door swung open forcefully.

A man stepped inside, tall, broad-shouldered, with messy dark brown hair, wearing a crisp black designer shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows.

The moment he crossed the threshold, I swung the obsidian paperweight downward with all my strength, aiming straight for his head!

"Whoa…!"

Before the heavy stone could strike his temple, his hand shot out with terrifying speed, clamping around my wrist like a vice.

He twisted my arm back smoothly, spinning my body around in one fluid motion, my back slammed flush against his broad chest, his other arm wrapping tightly around my waist to lock me in place.

"Easy, wildcat," his deep, gravelly voice vibrated against my back, sending a jolt straight down my spine. "I'm not in the habit of hurting my guests."

I struggled against his grip, my heart pounding against my ribs. "Let me go!"

He released me instantly, stepping back with his hands raised in mock surrender. "I'm not the one who attempted murder with my own corporate decor."

I stumbled forward, putting distance between us, my cheeks burning with embarrassment and leftover adrenaline. I finally got a full look at his face in the daylight, sharp jawline, piercing silver eyes, and an aura of supreme power.

"Who are you?!" I demanded, holding my breath. "Where am I? Why did you bring me here?!"

He crossed his arms, leaning casually against the doorframe. "You don't remember anything from last night?"

"Obviously not!" I snapped. "Answer my questions!"

"Right." His silver eyes glinted with amusement. "Let's start with the fact that you got blackout drunk, wandered into my private VIP restroom, called me a pervert, tried to lecture me about club lighting, and then collapsed directly into my arms. I brought you to my penthouse because I wasn't about to leave a helpless woman at the mercy of the vultures at that bar. You're welcome, by the way."

I blinked, the memories flooding back in humiliating detail, the men's room, the plaque, me screaming at him.

"I... the men's restroom?" I mumbled, feeling like jumping out the window.

"Yeah." A faint smirk touched his lips. "You were very passionate about the bad signage."

Before I could dig a hole and crawl into it, the front door of the suite opened, and frantic footsteps hurried down the corridor.

"Emyyy!"

Mia burst through the bedroom door, looking disheveled and terrified, she rushed over, grabbing my shoulders and inspecting my face. "Oh my God! You're awake! Are you okay? Did anyone hurt you?"

"Mia?" I pulled back slightly. "How did you find me here?"

"Mr. Callahan called me," Mia explained, pointing toward the man. "He found your phone, pulled my emergency contact from your lock screen, and had his private security bring me up." She turned to him, bowing slightly with deep respect. "Thank you so much, Mr. Callahan. Thank you. I don't know what would have happened if you hadn't stepped in."

Callahan?

As we prepared to leave, an older woman dressed in a sharp butler's suit walked into the room holding a silver tray stacked with high-end legal notices.

"Mr. Callahan, I apologize for interrupting, but the notices from Miss Serena's legal team keep arriving," the butler said cautiously. "Her representatives are calling the main corporate line repeatedly, threatening a press conference regarding her claims, I don't know how to proceed."

Brody's posture instantly turned ice-cold, the playful amusement vanished.

"Throw them in the trash," Brody ordered coldly. "Tell security to ban her legal team from entering Callahan Enterprises. If she hosts a press conference, I will destroy her family's firm by sunset."

"Understood, sir," the butler bowed and left.

I watched him closely, Serena, whoever she was, she was clearly trying to back him into a corner but I had my own nightmare to deal with.

"We'll get out of your hair now, Mr. Callahan," Mia said quickly, pulling my arm.

As we walked toward the door, Brody's smooth, low voice stopped me in my tracks.

"Hey, wildcat."

I turned around, my face hot. "What?"

His lips curved into an infuriating smirk. "Next time you go drinking, try to avoid private executive suites, other CEOs won't be as polite as I was."

"You're insufferable," I gritted out.

"And you're very entertaining when you're drunk." He winked. "Get home safely, Emilia."

I grabbed Mia's hand and stormed out of the penthouse.

"Do you have any idea who that was?!" Mia screamed the second the private elevator doors closed.

"Brody Callahan," I grumbled, rubbing my forehead. "Some arrogant billionaire."

"Some arrogant billionaire?!" Mia gripped my shoulders, shaking me. "He is THE Brody Callahan! CEO of Callahan Global, the biggest hedge fund and tech conglomerate in the entire country! He is worth tens of billions, Emy! He makes Gerald’s family look like street vendors!"

I blinked in shock. "He's... that powerful?"

"Yes!" Mia pulled out her tablet, clicking on a trending news notification. "And while you were sleeping, Gerald released another official statement to the press. Look!"

I snatched the tablet from her hand, scanning the headline.

“Whitmore Group Heir Betrayed: Emilia Lambert Exposed for Embezzlement and Extortion Before Splitting.”

The article was filled with vile lies, claiming I had stolen funds from Gerald's family, tried to blackmail his mother, and fled when Benjamin stepped up to save her life.

"He's completely destroying my life," I whispered, tears of helpless rage stinging my eyes. "He stole my organ, framed me as a thief, and if I say a single word, he cuts off my dad's life-saving treatment, he controls everything!"

"Not everything," Mia said slowly, her eyes lighting up with a sudden, radical thought. "Gerald controls middle-tier corporate politics but someone like Brody Callahan? Brody can squash Gerald with a single phone call."

"What are you saying?"

"Did you hear his butler?" Mia urged excitedly. "That woman, Serena, is trying to trap Brody in a massive public scandal to force a corporate settlement or marriage! Brody needs a clean, fierce, believable girlfriend to crush Serena's reputation and you need a powerful backer to protect your father and obliterate Gerald!"

I stared at her like she had lost her mind. "You want me to ask Brody Callahan to be my fake boyfriend?!"

"Think about it, Emy!" Mia insisted. "It's a mutually beneficial business deal! You help him kill Serena's scandal, and in return, he uses his unlimited wealth to move your father to a top private hospital and unleashes his legal team on Gerald!"

"This is insane," I breathed, my heart pounding in my chest. "I almost hit him with an obsidian paperweight! He'll laugh in my face!"

"Or he might say yes," Mia countered, holding up her phone with a triumphant grin. "And lucky for you, I saved his personal assistant's number while we were in his living room. Just in case."

I stared at the number on the screen, my mind spinning with desperation. Gerald was destroying me, taking away my future, and holding my father hostage.

I had nothing left to lose.

"Give me the phone," I said softly.