The Billionaire's Secret Daughter

ANDREA 

At twenty-two, I know exactly what I want.

I have known since I was fifteen and it has never changed. Marry the love of my life. Build something beautiful with my hands. Wake up every morning feeling like my life belongs to me.

Tomorrow I graduate from the most prestigious fashion school in Madrid. The day after, Marcus stands before both our families and asks my Uncle Felix formally for my hand. La Petición. 

The moment that makes everything real, everything binding, everything official in the eyes of everyone who matters.

Forty-eight hours from now my life begins.

I am still smiling about it when I walk out of my stylist's studio with my engagement ceremony dress in a coverup over my arm. 

The fitting went perfectly. Everything is going perfectly. I get into my car and sit for a moment with the dress across my lap and think about Marcus's face when he sees me in it and I cannot stop smiling.

Veronica left twenty minutes ago to check on the event planner. I should go home, rest, be sensible.

Instead I find myself starting the engine.

I just want to see him. One hour, maybe less. I'll be back before Veronica gets home and nobody has to know I couldn't wait two more days to look at my fiancé's face.

I rest my head back for a moment thinking about Marcus and what it is going to feel like watching him ask for my hand in marriage from my uncle. I suddenly find myself missing him.

"Alexa, call Marcus," I say as I pull out of the curb.

He picks up after four rings. "Hello, soon-to-be-official fiancée," he greets and I cannot help but blush.

"Hey, soon-to-be-official fiancé," I respond happily.

"Missing me?" he asks, as though he can read my mind.

"Yeah, what are you up to? Are you out? Has your cousin arrived yet?" I ask.

"No. He hasn't arrived yet. I'm home, trying to set up the place for my fiancée-to-be to move in," he says and I grin.

We had spoken earlier about me moving to his place once the ceremony is done, to get used to the feeling of living together before we get married.

"What about you? What are you doing?" he asks with interest.

"Just laying down and thinking about you. I just got back from my stylist," I lie.

"Okay, I can't wait to see you in your graduation gown tomorrow and as my fiancée the next day. I love you so much," he says, making me smile.

"I love you so much more. I'll let you get back to whatever you were doing."

"I'll finish up and call you back, okay?" he says and I grin.

"Alright baby," I say, and with that I hang up and hit the pedal hard with a smile on my face.

I cannot wait to see the surprise on his face when he sees me standing in front of him.

Twenty minutes later I arrive at his place and ride the elevator up to his apartment.

Wanting to surprise him, I don't bother ringing the doorbell and enter the passcode for his door.

The moment I walk into the house the smile on my face disappears as soon as I see a black stiletto by the door.

Does he have company?

I take off my shoes and continue inside.

I want to call out his name when I see a familiar dress on the arm of his couch, along with a blue shirt.

My eyebrows pull together when I recognize the very familiar clothes. Those are the exact clothes Veronica was wearing earlier.

I know this because I designed the dress for a class project and gifted it to her after she modeled it so well during my presentation.

I look back at the stilettos. Those are the exact pair I bought for her for the presentation.

Why is Veronica here and not at the venue? And why didn't Marcus mention that she was here?

My heart races as I make my way towards the bedroom.

A part of my brain already analyzes the situation and knows what is going on, but another part of my brain doesn't want to believe it.

I want to believe that perhaps Veronica is here to plan a surprise for me with Marcus and maybe something spilled on her dress and she is looking for something else to wear.

But as I get closer to the bedroom the less I believe the excuse I am making for myself.

Veronica's laughter echoes through the half-opened door of the bedroom. "You need to hear what she said earlier," I hear Veronica say.

"I already feel like the most beautiful bride, Vee. This feels like a fairytale and I'm beginning my happily ever after," Veronica says, mimicking what I said earlier, and Marcus chuckles.

"Sometimes I forget how naïve she is," Marcus says lightly. "If it weren't for everything she comes with… I don't know how I'd survive it."

And the perfect world in front of me shatters into pieces.