The Billionaire's Secretary

Infatuation

Elizabeth's POV:

I feel surprisingly calm about meeting my mom. Not scared and I think I'm getting over the whole thing.

“What do you want to know? ” mom says snapping me out of my thoughts.

“Well... Everything. From the beginning.”

She takes a deep breath.

“Um... Something important I should tell you is that me and Cindy are cousins and we grew up in the same home.”

I raise my brows in surprise.

“My mom took care of the both of us along with Cindy's brother Leonard, who was the oldest among us. Cindy was about 5 years younger than me so I had to watch out for her and make sure she stays in line. Leonard was too busy with university to mind her. She was just a twelve year old kid so it wasn't difficult keeping track of her. When I was seventeen, I met your father.”

A realization hits me. Up until this moment, I had never asked or been told who my father was.

“I fell in love and we got married as soon as I turned 18.” she continues, “We moved into a small apartment ,not so far from my mom and Cindy. Leny had already moved out and also gotten married. Two years passed and Cindy was fourteen now. She got very rebellious at this age. And then... she got pregnant...She wouldn't give you up or tell me who your father was. God knows why. She gave birth to you a few weeks after she turned 15 and wouldn't let you out her sight for a bit. I have no idea how... but she developed post partum depression. She turned to drugs. So I was given the responsibility to look after you. And... I fell in love with you. So I lied that...that she... had tried to harm you...And I got full custody of you. She hated me so much but she couldn't do anything to get you back. She was underage, addicted to drugs and everyone believed she tried to hurt you on several occasions... So I adopted you and moved to New York after Randy inherited this house from his parents. Last I heard of Cindy is when she moved back to her mother's house in the UK to start a new life. From what I heard, she never found out where we are. Up until now. And she pressed charges against us. ”

I'm speechless after what I heard. My mom was the most honest person I knew up until 2 weeks ago. She had no right to lie and do that to Cindy.

“So you thought she'd never find you? What is wrong with you people? ” I ask with a mixture of hurt, disgust and disbelief.

“I'm sorry... ” she sobs quietly.

“I'm moving out.” I say getting up and rushing to my room.

I take out two suitcases and stuff all my clothes and other things. Mom just cries and begs me not to go but I'm so angry and hurt. I leave the house with my bags and drive off. In the rear view mirror, I can see mom crying in front of the house.

I stop my car on the roadside and cry until I can't anymore. When I reach Angeline's penthouse, my eyes are red and puffy but I have no more tears left. So I don't cry at all. I just sit in my new room and stare out the window.

Cody's POV:

I hadn't been able to get Elizabeth off my mind for days. I would think about her all the time and I wanted to see her but I'd run out of excuses to visit the office. And when I went there, I couldn't seem to reach her. She was sad and exhausted. She would not even notice me most of the times. When I talked to her, she seemed disinterested.

Britney noticed something was up but she didn't know what. So to distract me from everything, we went to Alaska along with a couple of friends. And it worked. We went skiing, snow tubing and at night, we would lay under the stary sky and drink hot chocolate. I actually stopped thinking about Elizabeth all the time.

I have no idea why I haven't fallen in love with Britney. She is the most beautiful girl I have ever seen in my entire life. She has long strawberry blonde hair and beautiful brown eyes. She is tall and has a nice figure. But most importantly, she has a great personality. She's funny and sweet and so patient with me. We have been best friends for years and she is still the same Britney I had met in my mother's office for the first time when she was just 15. I had watched her grow from an arrogant bitchy teen to a wonderful, caring and independent young woman. I just hadn't liked her like that for some reason. She had told me she had feelings for me once, a long time ago but I told her that I only liked her as a friend. From then we just moved on and got over it. I don't like like Britney. I love her. She's been the best friend a guy could ask for. Just in the most platonic way possible.

Britney has been single for as long as I can remember. According to her, she waiting for the right guy to come along. That's good and all but there's a guy in our friendship circle whose clearly in love with her. I know he'd be good for her but Britney takes no notice of him. It's either she has no idea or she knows but acts like she doesn't.

Elizabeth's POV:

The last two weeks have been eventful. I've been terribly lonely since Angeline went to visit her family in Italy about a week ago. Cindy went back to the UK but skypes me almost everyday. Cody doesn't talk to me when he visits the office. I heard from Kate that he went to Alaska with Britney for a ‘baecation’. I even saw a couple of photos on the internet. They looked so happy. And here I am. Alone and sad. The only good thing that happened was Cindy dropping charges against my parents. The telephone rings, saving me from what would have been a full on mental breakdown.

“Melody Milore's assistant speaking. How can I help you?” I say trying to sound normal.

“Elizabeth. Hi.”

My heart beats faster by the second. It's Cody!

“Mr Milore. How can I assist you?”

“You can go out with me for a lunch date. ”

“What?” I spout in surprise.

Cody chuckles lightly at my reaction.

“Allow me to elaborate. I would like to like to take you out on a lunch date. Please?”

“But what would your mother say? And the other coworkers? We would be overstepping our boundaries sir.”

“They don't have to know do they?” he says mischievously.

“And the paparazzi that follows you everywhere?” It's not that I'm trying to find excuses not to go. It's taking all my willpower not to say yes. But I don't want to sound easy by saying yes immediately.

“I'll book out the restaurant. And have tight security. I'll even wear a disguise if I have to. Just please, don't say no. ” he pleads.

“Ok.” I agree finally. “On one condition.”

He sighs gently.

“You'll be the end of me. What's the condition?”

“Your mother can't find out I went out with you.” I don't know how she'll feel about the whole thing.

“Done.”

“So where are we going and when?”

“Tommorow. It's a Saturday so you'll be off. It'll be a surprise and I'll pick you up at...2pm. I can only tell you it's by the beach.”

“Alright. I'll see you soon then.”

“Bye Lizzy.”

“Lizzy?” I ask a little confused.

“Oh sorry I just came up with a nickname for you. I'll stop if you don't like it.”

“No no that's not it. I love it.” I say blushing.

“Cool. Bye Lizzy.”

“Bye.” I say smiling like an idiot

This us the best thing that's happened to me in weeks! A date with Cody Milore! And he has a personal nickname for me!

Just then in the middle of my celebration, my phone rings.

“Hello?”

“Beth! It's Cindy!”

“Cindy! How are you?”

I realize I missed her. We had gotten to meet up and get to know each other a couple of times before she left.

“I'm alright Beth. I just wanted to know how you're doing.”

“Well... I'm a little lost but I'll be ok.” I say honestly.

“Well I also called to tell you that I'm coming back to New York in two days time!”

“Really?!” I ask excited.

“Yes and guess who I'm bringing over?”

I can hardly stop myself from smiling.

“Victoria!” I exclaim.

“Yes! We're so excited to see you. I just have to finalize a few things before we leave.”

“Ok. Bye then.”

“Bye Elizabeth.”

I guess this horrible week is finally taking a turn. My mom and Victoria are coming here!

Victoria is my mom's younger sister and she's the sweetest girl ever. I skyped her a couple of times and she's just amazing. And Cindy? She's like the older version of me. We look the same, we like the same things and we even have the same mannerisms! It's crazy.

At 8pm, I gather my stuff and go home. At this point, the penthouse is my home too. I mean it always was before but now I lived there full time.

As I get out of my car, I notice the lights are on. That's weird. Could it be that Angeline is back? That's ridiculous she's only returning in a months time. I run inside and smile at the sight in front of me.

“Angeline!” I scream hugging her, no, squeezing the life out of her.

“Whoa whoa! Too tight! I missed you too kiddo.” she says hugging me back.

“You know that it's weird that you call me kiddo right? I'm three years older than you!” I say, still hugging her.

“It's not weird. It's cute.”

We burst out laughing heartily.

“Oh I have a surprise!” She says pulling me upstairs.

We stop in front of the guest bedroom, which was now my room. She knocks on the door and I'm confused until someone opens the door.

“Brad!” I say completely surprised. “How?” I say throwing my arms around him.

“I decided to visit. Or should I say we decided to visit.” he says making way for his wife Jennifer who also comes out of the room. Whoever said pregnancy makes you ugly is a joke. Jennifer is 7 months pregnant and looks amazing!

“Oh you guys. ” I say hugging her.

Brad is Angeline's older brother who is also a very good friend of mine. He is 27 years old a tall athletic handsome man who looks more or less like Angeline's twin. His wife Jennifer is a pleasant looking woman, about a few months older than me . She is like a sister to me and Angeline. And I am so happy they're here. It's definitely not a coincidence though. I know Angeline told them the whole situation with my family and they're here for support. And I really appreciate it.

“Ok ok you'll catch up later. There's one more person to see!” Angeline says yet again pulling me to her room.

She opens the door.

“Ta-da!” she says gesturing to her childhood cat Lolo who lives with her parents in Italy.

“Lolo! You're here!” I say picking her up.

“And that's not all of it.” she says running into her walk in closet.

“No this is more than enough. You bought Brad, Jennifer and Lolo. What more could I possibly want?” I say sitting on the bed.

She comes out of the closet with a small box in her hand.

“You didn't think I'd go to Italy and not bring you a present did you?” she says sitting beside me.

“You didn't have to.” I take the box and open it to find two beautiful bracelets embroidered with emeralds and diamonds. They look like they cost A LOT.

Tears spring into my eyes. What did I do to deserve a friend like Angeline? I pull her in for a hug and after what seems like an eon I let go.

“Drama queen much?” she says wiping a tear from her eye. She takes the box from me.“One for you and one for me. Friendship bracelets.”

We put on the bracelets and I thank her a million times before going downstairs to join Jennifer and Brad for dinner.

Later that night, as we lay in Angeline's bed, I told her everything about Cody and how he asked me on a date.

“Really?!” she squeals with excitement.

“Yes. I can't believe it myself.”

“Girl do you know how beautiful you are? Don't put yourself down.”

“Not as beautiful as Britney Grace. Did you see they went to Alaska together last week?”

I say showing her the pictures on my phone.

“Yes but it wasn't just the two of them. They went with a bunch of friends. Appearantly the purpose of the trip was to cheer up Cody. He wasn't doing so good.”

“And how do you know this?” I ask skeptical.

“One of my girlfriends was on that trip.”

“Oh.” I don't doubt it. Of course she would be friends with rich models. “So you don't think he's trying to sleep with me?”

She laughs as if I just said that world's funniest joke.

“If Cody wanted s*x he would f**k all those models that are always following him around.”

“Ouch. But you have a point. He has really hot girl friends and I'm sure if he wants s*x they won't refuse.”

“Exactly.” Angeline says already half asleep.

I laugh light heartedly and turn over. That night, I dream of me and Cody having wild s*x.