All Chapters of Plaything For Hire; A Billionaire In Disguise : Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

Kate’s POVI sat in the living room, twirling a strand of my hair absentmindedly around my finger. The sunlight was spilling through the curtains, but I hardly noticed it. My mind was a whirl of thoughts, all swirling around the same one: Francis.Ever since the auction fiasco, everything had changed. He wasn’t the man I thought he was or at least, the one I wanted him to be. The money, the status, the image it all mattered. And now? He had made a fool of himself, over something as trivial as a necklace. One hundred million for a piece of jewelry. Ridiculous. And worse, he looked weak in front of everyone.I heard the front door click behind me, and my mother walked in. She was dressed immaculately as always, a sharp blazer over a pencil skirt, her hair perfectly set. She glanced at me and immediately noticed the tension on my face.“Kate, what’s going on?” she asked, her tone sharp, almost impatient.“I… I don’t know,” I muttered. I could feel my hands trembling slightly. “It’s just…

Evian’s POV18+The meeting with the richest man had gone better than I expected. Somehow, sitting across from someone who could literally bend markets with a single decision made me feel both nervous and alive. He had asked insightful questions about the company, my plans, and my vision for its future. I hadn’t lied—I had answered truthfully, even if part of me still felt uncertain.By the end, he leaned back in his chair, a small smile on his face, and said he would consider everything and get back to me. That tiny promise felt monumental. Someone like him, someone who could invest, could help me finally take control of my mother’s company without the interference of my father, stepmother, and Caleb.I stepped out of the office with a sense of relief and a heartbeat that refused to calm. I needed… someone. Someone who understood everything I had been through and who didn’t see me as fragile or inexperienced.Cassian.I called him as I left the building, expecting a few minutes of sm

Evian’s POVThe boutique doors slid open, and I walked in without hesitation, my heels clicking softly against the polished marble floor. The place smelled like luxury clean, expensive, and deliberate. Racks of designer pieces lined the walls, each item carefully displayed like it was art.A sales assistant approached immediately. “Welcome, Miss. How may I assist you today?”“I’m not browsing,” I said simply. “Show me your new arrivals.”She nodded quickly and led me further inside.I didn’t come here to think. I came here to spend.I moved from rack to rack, picking out pieces without overanalyzing them. Dresses, heels, a handbag I didn’t even check the price for. The assistant followed behind me, carefully carrying everything like it was fragile glass.“Add that one too,” I said, pointing at a silk dress on display.“Yes, Miss.”I was halfway through selecting another piece when a familiar voice cut through the air.“Well, isn’t this surprising.”I didn’t need to turn around to know

Evian’s POVThe conference room was already filled when I walked in, and from the way everyone was seated and quietly talking among themselves, it was obvious they had started forming conclusions long before I arrived.That didn’t bother me.If anything, it made things easier.I walked straight in with Laura behind me, my steps steady and my expression calm. Conversations died down almost immediately, and all attention shifted toward me. I didn’t greet anyone. I didn’t smile. I simply took my seat like I belonged there, because I did.Caleb was sitting across from me, looking relaxed and confident, like he had already won. The small smirk on his face made it clear he believed this meeting would go exactly the way he wanted.He was wrong.One of the senior board members cleared his throat and leaned forward slightly. “Miss Evian, thank you for joining us.”“I own a significant part of this company,” I replied. “There was no scenario where I wouldn’t be here.”A few of them exchanged gl

Kate I was pacing my room. My head was full of one thought—Francis. I couldn’t stand him anymore. I couldn’t deal with him. He was sweet, yes, but he was weak. He had no money, no power, and he could never give me the life I wanted. I wasn’t going to waste any more time hoping he would change.I looked out of the window at the city lights, but it didn’t calm me. Nothing could. I had to end this now.I took out my phone and texted him. “We need to talk. Now.”I didn’t care if it sounded harsh. I needed him to understand that this was serious.When I got to the café, he was already there. He looked nervous, fidgeting with his tie. He saw me and smiled, but I didn’t return it.“Kate,” he said carefully, “are you okay?”I dropped my bag on the chair across from him and crossed my legs. “I’m fine,” I said, trying to sound casual. My eyes never left him. “I just needed to talk.”“About what?” he asked, frowning.I leaned forward. “About us. About how I feel.”His eyes widened. “How you fee