The Secret Billionaire Holds My Heart

Elara Quinn hated the way her stepsister, Selene Quinn, rubbed Alexander Langford's chest and laughed as they talked with Harrison Trent, the leader of Trent Conglomerate, whose multi-million dollar deal had made this evening's event a resounding success.

The Grand Hall shone brightly like a trophy, its crystal lights reflecting to the power and prestige of the guests who filled its floors.

Three years ago, Elara had told her mother she was marrying Sebastian Langford—the heir to the Langford empire—and Selene had turned into a totally different person.

Since then, her stepsister had been relentless in her pursuit of Sebastian, flirting shamelessly, and acting like she was the one married to him. Elara on the other hand had grown used to it, but to her, it still left a bitter taste.

As Elara watched the scene unfold in front of her, Selene whispered something into Sebastian's ear, her breath grazing his skin, and he chuckled, oblivious to the manipulation unfolding before him. Elara's eyes narrowed.

Why couldn't he see it? Why couldn't he see the way Selene's eyes sparkled with delight whenever she touched him?

Selene caught Elara's gaze and smiled, her fingers lingering on Sebastian's chest. It felt like Selene was teasing Elara. Elara felt a surge of discomfort and looked away, pretending like she didn’t care, her eyes scanning the room for an escape.

"Elara, darling, why standing there all alone, you won’t go stand beside your husband," a voice said beside her. It was Rachel, one of the event coordinators, smiling warmly. "One might think Selene is Sebastian’s wife.” She nudged her hands towards, Selene and Sebastian. When Elara gave no reaction, she decided to change the topic.

“Since you’re here standing alone, would you care for another drink?"

Elara shook her head, forcing a smile. "No, thank you. I'm fine."

Elara loved to drink at business events, but tonight was different. The Ardent Group's annual deal-closing banquet had turned out to be a great success, all thanks to the team's effort. She didn't want to mess it up by drinking too much or acting out of sorts.

Just as she was thinking that, Sebastian appeared beside her, a proud smile on his face. "Harrison, come meet my wife," he said, gesturing to a tall, imposing man with a chiseled face.

Harrison Trent, the leader of Trent Conglomerate, approached them, his eyes circling at the corners as he smiled.

"Sebastian, delighted to meet the woman behind the scenes."

Sebastian placed a hand on Elara's back, guiding her forward. "Elara, this is Harrison Trent. I’m sure you know him. His company is going to change the game for us."

Elara's smile was warm and genuine as she extended her hand. "Mr. Trent, it's an honor. Congratulations on the deal. We're thrilled to have you on board."

Harrison's gaze lingered on her face, his eyes sparkling with appreciation as he licked his lips. "The pleasure is mine, Elara. Your beauty is only matched by your intelligence. I'm told you were instrumental in securing today's deals."

Elara's cheeks flushed with pleasure as she nodded at him. "Thank you, Mr. Trent. It was a team effort, really. I don’t think I deserve such praise."

“So modest.” Harrison's smile deepened. "Please, call me Harrison. And I must say, because of you, I'm inclined to invest even more in Ardent Group. You have a rare combination of charm and business acumen."

Selene's sudden cough interrupted the exchange. "Ahem, excuse me, Harrison, Sebastian, I think you two should mingle. We don't want to monopolize your time."

Harrison chuckled, his gaze lingering on Elara for just a second before he turned to Sebastian. "Indeed. Lead the way, Sebastian."

As the two men walked away, Elara turned to Selene, her voice low. "You enjoying yourself?"

Selene's smile was suddenly forced back, her eyes were holding a cold glare. "Immensely. You, on the other hand, seem to be making quite an impression."

Elara paused examining her look before speaking, “If you had a husband of your own, you wouldn’t be jealous or bothered about me making an impression.” Elara uttered trying to annoy Selene.

Selene's face fell before a forced smile appeared on her lips, her eyes tinning as her lips spread wide, annoyance written on her cheeks.

"Jealous? Of you?" she scoffed, her voice dripping with condescension. "I have all I want, Elara. Why would I be jealous?"

Elara brows arched, her tone dry. "Really? Just as you have Sebastian wrapped around your finger, you've got the family's approval, and you're climbing the corporate ladder faster than anyone else. What could you possibly be jealous of?"

Selene's gaze lingered on Elara, the two ladies having a staring contest before Selene laughed widely, her hand covering her mouth cutely.

"I'm just saying, Elara, you seem to be getting a lot of attention tonight. But we both know who really runs this family.” She explained, her shoulder flexing slightly, then she added, “For a matter of fact, I don’t want your man. Eww….no! that’s disgusting to even think about."

Elara's stomach churned with distaste as she looked at her stepsister. She hated the way Selene manipulated people, using her charm and beauty to get what she wanted. She hated the way Selene seemed to revel in the chaos she created. And most of all, she hated the way Selene's presence made her skin crawl.

"You're unbelievable," Elara said, her voice sounding annoyed.

Not awaiting further conversations, She turned and walked away, her anger simmering just below the surface. She couldn't stand to be around Selene Quinn for another minute, not after the way she'd been acting all night. She made her way through the crowd, smiling and nodding at the guests even though within her she was pissed at her stepsister’s gut.

Finally, the event began to wind down, and Elara started to say her goodbyes. Selene appeared at her side, her expression contrite.

"Hey, can we talk?” Selene coyly said.

When Elara noticed her presence, she rolled her eyes in a ‘what does she want now’ look. Elara forced a smile greeting another guest who were leaving.

“Elara, I'm so sorry," she continued, her voice soft. "I didn't mean to offend you."

Elara wanted to brush her off, to tell her it was too late for apologies, but something about Selene's words stopped her.

Maybe it was the sincerity in her voice, or maybe it was just the exhaustion that had been building all night. Whatever it was, Elara found herself agreeing to have a drink with Selene, just to put the night behind them.

As they left the venue, Selene suggested they go to the Velvet Lounge, a posh hotel bar that was a favorite among the city's elite. Elara Quinn agreed, and they drove there in silence, the tension between them insane.

When they arrived, Selene Quinn booked a table and ordered a shot of tequila for each of them. Elara who had been holding her pee since the event ended excused herself to go to the restroom, and as she was gone, Selene quickly pulled out a small vial from her purse.

She poured a clear liquid into Elara's shot, her eyes darting around the room to make sure no one was watching. She capped the vial and slipped it back into her purse, just as Elara Quinn returned.

Selene handed Elara the tequila, and they smiled fake at each other. Elara, none the wiser, gulped the shot down in one go, feeling the burn of the liquor slide down her throat. Selene's smile grew wider, and she raised her glass in a silent toast.

Elara blinked, feeling a strange sense of unease as Selene stared at her. "Why are you looking at me like that?" she asked, her voice slurring slightly.

Selene's expression cleared, and she smiled innocently. "Nothing, I just... you know…oh never mind."

Elara shook her head dismissively to her stepsister’s suspicious look. Just then, Elara's eyes felt blurry, and her head was foggy. She held her head, trying to shake off the feeling.

"I... I don't feel good," she said, her words barely making sense.

Selene's face transformed into a mask of concern. "What's wrong? Are you okay?"

Elara tried to respond, but her tongue felt heavy, her body weak. She shook her head, trying to clear it. "I... I don't know..."

Selene quickly moved to her side, wrapping an arm around her waist. "Okay, let's get you to a room. You need to lie down."

Elara stumbled, her legs feeling like lead, and Selene guided her into the elevator. Excited within her. They rode up to the fifth floor in silence, Elara's mind growing more and more hazy.

When they reached the room, Selene led Elara inside and gently pushed her onto the bed. "Rest your head here, I'll be back," she said, her voice soft and soothing.

Elara collapsed onto the bed, her eyes closing as the room's dim light enveloping her. Selene smiled, a cold glint in her eye, her plans were all playing out perfectly. After taking another look of her stepsister, wasted on the bed, she slipped out of the room, closing the door behind her.

The sound of the lock clicking into place was the last thing Elara heard before everything went black.

The next morning, Elara groaned, her eyes fluttering open as she turned onto her back. Her hand brushed against a firm, hard body, and she froze, thinking it was a pillow.

But as she moved her hand down, she felt the sensation of someone's skin, the contours of a chest, and the ridges of abs. Her eyes snapped open, and she sat up abruptly, the bedspread falling to her chest.

She looked to her side, and there was a man sleeping soundly beside her, his face relaxed in slumber. He was handsome, with chiseled features and a strong jawline, looking to be in his late thirties. Elara’s mind was a fog, that she knew she didn't know who this man was.

She questioned herself inwardly, How did this man get into her room? And what happened last night?!

Panic set in as she started to remember the previous night. She had been at the event, and then... and then she had been talking to Selene. Oh no, Selene had given her a drink, and... Elara's eyes widened as she covered her mouth to stifle a scream.

The man stirred, and Elara's gaze snapped to his face. Elara's thoughts were really a mess. She looked around then she knew she wasn’t in her room but a hotel’s room. As she tried to process properly what was happening. Who was this man? Did they...? Oh God, did they have sex?!

Her phone vibrated, shattering the silence. Elara grabbed it, her eyes scanning the screen. 20 missed calls, 14 messages. She touched the first message, and her heart sank as she read the words on the screen:

"How could you cheat on me? "

It was from Sebastian.