All Chapters of The Billionaire Replaced Me With My Assistant : Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

Sophia's POV Less than an hour later, Emma was at my door, her eyes wide with worry, still holding the takeout bag she must have ordered on the way. "Sophia, for God's sake, what's going on? You look... terrible." I pulled her inside and closed the door, turning the key with a decisive click. I took a deep breath, looking at my best friend. "Emm," I began, my hands still trembling. "Remember that job offer in Chicago? The one I said I'd think about? Well, I changed my mind. Actually, I was forced to change my mind." "Forced? By the Senator? Speak clearly, Soph, you're scaring me." She dropped the bag on the floor and held my shoulders. "Yes, it's Pierce. For the past week, he's been blackmailing me. Besides threatening me... he also threatened you." "Me?" She let out a short, incredulous laugh. "What do I have to do with this? What does that old impotent creep want?" "It's about our investigations, Emm. All those clues we gathered about his shady dealings with Alexander

Emma's POV The doorbell rang like a divine signal. Salvation in the form of carbohydrates. I opened the door to find a guy in a suit with an expression about as lively as a door and a huge thermal bag. "Authorized deliveries," he said, in a tone that suggested his only emotion was having memorized the manual. "Thank you." I closed the door with my foot and lifted the bag. "Soph, come here! I think they sent the whole menu. It's heavy and smells amazing." I tossed the bag onto the dining table and started unpacking. They really didn't skimp. "Look at this. They're even celebrating our house arrest with class." It was when I lifted my head to call Sophia again that I saw her. She hadn't moved from the sofa. She was hunched forward, elbows on her knees, her face buried in her hands. The new cell phone—that sinister brick—was lying on the floor beside her foot. The excitement I was forcing evaporated instantly. "Sweetie?" My voice came out softer. I put down the cheese breads

Sophia's POV The black limousine came to a smooth stop in front of an imposing steel-and-glass skyscraper in the heart of Chicago's financial district. Discreet silver letters on the main entrance announced: "Pierce Global Holdings." It sounded grand and vague enough to hide any real kind of business. Irina got out of the car first, her silhouette elegant and severe against the building's modern facade. "Let's go, Miss Morgan. Punctuality is a virtue we value." I followed her, feeling absurdly inadequate in my simple pantsuit next to her impeccable attire. The lobby was a temple of polished marble, indirect lighting, and an almost religious silence, broken only by the discreet click of our heels on the floor. People in expensive suits passed by, speaking softly into headsets or typing furiously on their smartphones. The air smelled of money and power. Irina didn't slow her pace, heading directly to a private elevator with a security panel. Her fingerprint was scanned and the

Alexander's POV The Reed Corporation boardroom breathed opulence. Soft lights reflected off the polished rosewood table, illuminating contracts worth more than the economies of some countries. I was seated at the head of the table, in an impeccable Italian-tailored suit, a gold watch on my wrist—the very picture of success. But every signature on those documents cost a piece of my pride. Richard Pierce, seated to my right, let out a puff of bluish smoke from his Cuban cigar. His green eyes, sharp as a hawk's, scanned the pages with satisfaction. "Excellent numbers, Alexander," he said, his voice a soft rumble. "The capital injection from Pierce Holdings has worked miracles. Your company was on the brink of collapse three months ago. Now... well, now half of it is mine." A muscle in my jaw twitched involuntarily. "And the other half is worth twice what it was before your 'rescue,' Richard. It's not charity." He laughed, a deep, condescending sound. "Of course not. It's business. A

Sophia's POVMy heart raced as if it were about to burst out of my chest. Emma was pale, sweating cold, and holding her temple as if her head were about to explode."Emma! Talk to me, please!" My hands trembled as I touched her face. "What's happening?"She tried to shake her head, but the movement seemed to cause more pain. "It's... it's nothing, Soph. Just a sudden dizziness. It's already passing." Her voice came out weak, forced."Nothing? You almost fainted!" I insisted, holding her arm carefully. "I'll get some water."I ran to the kitchen, my legs shaky. I filled a glass with cold water and ran back, afraid of finding her unconscious on the bed. To my relief, she was still sitting, although she looked as fragile as a feather."Drink slowly," I instructed, holding the glass for her.Emma took a few sips and took a deep breath. The color slowly began to return to her face. "Thank you. I'm better already."I sat next to her on the bed, studying every detail of her expression. "Emma