All Chapters of Billion Dollar Illusion: Chapter 11 - Chapter 17

Skylar's POV Truly, I’m lost. Like genuinely lost.Not metaphorically or emotionally, but I mean physically lost inside this giant billionaire maze.And who do I get to blame? I can't blame myself because it's still my first day... my first actual day, and I'm praying I don't mess it all up, but it seems exactly like what is happening. What excuse do I give for wandering around the exclusive floors of Ford Corporation like an unpaid intern in a legal drama?I probably look stupid right now, and I can't help but wonder what Carter Ford thinks of his new employee standing in front of him."I think you're lost."Caught red-handed and in 4k.I turn slowly, and there he is.Same white suit and silver tie from earlier this morning. His hands are folded across his chest as he leans lazily against the wall like he has nowhere else to be despite literally owning half the building.His eyes stay on me, studying me quietly.I get so nervous from his stare that suddenly, I become hyperaware of

Skylar’s POVIt's been a whole month now, and somehow, I’m still surviving Ford Corporation.Not like I ever expected the worst but I've been thriving a little compared to my first week here which consisted of getting lost in elevators, almost dying from sexual tension and accidentally meeting Amy Stone Ford while internally panicking over the fact that I once made out with her husband.But now? I've gotten the hang of things, and I'm familiar with almost all the floors now, and my legal team is surprisingly sweet and cooperative. Mr. Hargrove, the senior legal advisor, has been patient with me despite the terrifying amount of work this corporation somehow produces daily.I’m currently seated in my office, flipping through acquisition files while trying to ignore the tiny thought forming in my brain.It's about Carter. I haven’t seen him physically in almost four weeks.Not once.Well, the internet keeps everyone posted, and we know his father’s presidential campaign is consuming half

Skylar’s POVCourtney’s collaboration launch event finally comes to an end, and my brain relaxes a bit. At least I can leave this space of too many cameras and too many celebrities casually existing in the same room like this is normal life.The New York evening air hits differently as Carter and I step outside the venue. The city glows around us while luxury cars line the street waiting for important people.Carter walks beside me toward the waiting Tesla while security keeps photographers at a distance exactly like he promised earlier, so there won't be any internet humiliation on my side.I slide into the backseat beside him again, and the drive back to the residence is quiet. We're both exhausted.Courtney’s voice still rings inside my head, "Bring your plus one tonight."So I'm really going to the Ford mansion today. Crazy.I glance beside me briefly, and Carter’s looking through something on his phone while loosening his tie, and somehow, that tiny movement is so sexy.“You’re

Skylar’s POVI take Carter's hand, and his fingers wrap around mine firmly, warm against my skin. He leads me out of the mansion, out onto the open field behind it.The moon is brightly lit tonight, and the air feels so fresh and peaceful. I catch the faint sweetness of flowers blooming somewhere in the gardens.We walk in silence, further and further, until the mansion slowly disappears behind us, and all I can see are towering trees stretching toward the sky and a quiet lake reflecting the moonlight.The Ford mansion is literally so big, and it's crazy we're still on the same property.Neither of us says anything for a while. I don't even know what to say anymore. Everything that happened inside is still fresh in my head, and honestly... I think this conversation belongs to him now.Finally... Carter exhales, breaking the silence. "I know experiencing Amy might have been uncomfortable for you." His voice is calm. "She usually isn't like this.""Oh really?" I glance sideways at him.