Alle Kapitel von Plaything For Hire; A Billionaire In Disguise : Kapitel 11 – Kapitel 20

Evian POVThe call from the company came a little after nine in the morning while I was reviewing some financial documents in my room. The number belonged to the corporate office, so I answered immediately.“Good morning, Miss Evian,” the voice on the other end said politely. “The board of directors will be holding a meeting today at eleven. Your presence has been requested.”Requested.The word alone already told me something was wrong. The board did not “request” my presence unless there was something they wanted. I had been working at Aurora Holdings for months now, holding a senior executive position after officially taking over part of the management structure. If there was a board meeting, I was usually part of the discussion from the beginning.“Who called the meeting?” I asked.There was a short pause. “Mr. Crowley initiated it.”My father.Of course.“I’ll be there,” I said calmly before ending the call.For a moment I remained seated at my table, thinking about what this mee

Evian’s POVThe next morning felt strangely calm.After everything that happened the previous night, I had expected to wake up feeling angry or exhausted. Instead, I felt clearheaded. The confrontation with my father and Caleb had confirmed something I had already suspected for a while: they were running out of ways to control me.That was why they were becoming more aggressive.I finished getting ready and headed downstairs. The house was quiet this morning. No one was waiting in the living room to argue, and no one stopped me as I walked out the door.Fine by me.The drive to Aurora Holdings took about thirty minutes. Traffic was heavier than usual, but I didn’t mind the delay. It gave me time to think about the meeting from yesterday.My father had tried to use the board to pressure me into giving up authority. That meant he believed he still had enough influence among the shareholders to push decisions through without my approval.But yesterday had also shown something else.The b

Evian’s POVI woke up to the soft glow of the morning sun streaming through the windows of my new apartment. The city stretched out beneath me, a thousand lights flickering in the distance, but I barely noticed them. My thoughts were already racing, and for the first time in a long while, I felt a sense of clarity.I had a mission. I would take back my mother’s company, no matter what it took. Every insult, every slight, every attempt my father and Caleb had made to undermine me—I would use it as fuel. I wanted to prove that I was not just Evian, the obedient daughter trapped under the thumb of her family. I was Evian, the woman who could reclaim what was rightfully hers.Of course, the truth was, I knew almost nothing about running a company. I had been pushed into positions, given titles, and expected to perform, but the reality of business—contracts, negotiations, investments—was a world I barely understood. And yet, the thought of failure didn’t terrify me. It never had. I had sur

Evian’s POVThe auction hall was even more extravagant than I had imagined.Crystal chandeliers hung from the high ceiling, reflecting soft golden light across the polished marble floor. Rows of elegant chairs were arranged in front of the stage, and well dressed guests moved around the room holding glasses of wine while discussing art, investments, and things that probably cost more than most people’s houses.I stood near the entrance for a moment, taking everything in.Beside me, my assistant, Laura, leaned closer and whispered, “This place is impressive.”“It better be,” I replied quietly. “People here spend millions like it’s pocket change.”Laura glanced at the guests walking past us. “Most of them probably do.”We moved further into the hall and found our seats. The invitation had placed us fairly close to the stage, which meant the company’s name still carried some weight despite the internal chaos surrounding it.I crossed my legs calmly and placed the bidding paddle on my lap

Evian’s POVBy the time I arrived back at the apartment, the city was quieter. The bright noise of the auction hall was gone, replaced by the calm hum of late night traffic and distant streetlights. Laura had insisted on making sure I got home safely before leaving, and after she drove away, I finally allowed myself to relax.I stepped inside the apartment and slipped off my heels. My feet ached slightly from standing for hours, but my mind was still alert. The events at the auction replayed clearly in my head. Francis’s face when the final hammer struck. Kate’s excitement slowly turning into confusion. The whispers from the crowd.It had been chaotic.But satisfying.I walked further into the living room and immediately noticed Cassian sitting on the couch. He looked completely at ease, one arm resting along the back of the sofa while a tablet sat on the coffee table in front of him.“You’re back,” he said calmly.“You sound surprised.”“Not surprised,” he replied. “Just curious how