Semua Bab MARKED BY THE BILLIONAIRE : Bab 1 - Bab 5

Opaline’s POVThe heels were killing me.I knew it the moment I stepped into Heliox Global, but I kept walking.Rent was due in forty-eight hours.My landlord had already called three times.And the last twelve dollars in my bank account wouldn't keep me off the street.So I walked faster.The borrowed heels pinched my toes. My secondhand skirt was slightly too tight around my hips, and the white blouse I'd bought from a thrift store was one wash away from becoming transparent.Perfect.Exactly the kind of woman a billionaire company wanted nowhere near its executive floor.“Heliox Global doesn't accept walk-ins.”The receptionist didn't even look up.She was younger than me, perfectly dressed, with manicured nails and the kind of confidence that came from never wondering where her next meal was coming from.I straightened my shoulders.“I'm not a walk-in.”That got her attention.Her eyes moved from my shoes to my skirt, then to my face.“I have a nine o'clock interview with HR,” I s

The outer office wasn’t empty.That was the first problem.I sat behind a desk larger than my old kitchen table, surrounded by three assistants who seemed determined not to acknowledge my existence.Not once did they look at me.It was as if I were invisible.Or contagious.Probably both.9:03 a.m.I had been “filing” for exactly three minutes when the intercom on my desk crackled.“Opaline. My office. Now.”The three assistants froze.None of them looked at me.But somehow, I knew they were listening.I pushed my chair back and stood.My legs were still shaky from the morning. I smoothed my skirt, took one careful breath, and walked toward the glass doors.Ignis was on a call when I entered.He didn't look at me.He simply lifted one hand and pointed toward the spot in front of his desk.Rule one.I swallowed and knelt.His office was almost unnaturally quiet except for his voice.Low.Controlled.Dangerously calm.“—I don't care what the board thinks, Gareth. If the numbers aren't c

The boardroom was on the ninety-eighth floor.Glass walls.Twenty executives.One enormous table that could seat thirty if necessary.And me, hidden beneath it.8:59 a.m.I knelt beneath the conference table, concealed by the floor-length cloth.The carpet was soft beneath my knees. The air smelled faintly of lemon polish and expensive cologne.At the head of the table sat Ignis Heliox.Calm.Immaculate.Completely unreadable.He was preparing to lead the Q3 review as though I wasn't there.Rule one.No sound.No movement.No reaction.My black dress from the previous evening clung to me, deliberately chosen to make me feel exposed.Before we'd left his office, he'd inspected it carefully.“Be ready,” he'd told me.I hadn't understood what he meant then.I did now.My earpiece clicked.“Opaline.”Ignis's voice was barely audible.“Stay still.”I lowered my eyes.The meeting began at exactly nine.Gareth appeared on the enormous wall display.Fyorra, the Head of Ethics, sat three seats