The Billionaire Prince and His Secretary

Chapter 20

Ember POV

Wearing a cap and sunglasses, I rushed out of my apartment early in the morning, aiming to catch the bus en route to my parents’ house, which is located on the outskirts of the city. As I walked briskly to the station, a good two blocks away, I left a message for John on his phone to let him know I was on my way and to wish him good luck on his tennis match. I deliberately omitted that I had not called my driver, as John had instructed the previous night. While I understood his concern for my safety, the idea of arriving at my parents’ house with an expensive car and driver didn’t sit well with me. My parents would surely roast me, and it would only give the nosy neighbors more reason to gossip. Anyway, I believed my only real enemy was fear itself. If the man appeared again, I planned to confront him. Inside my bag was the pepper spray John had given me, and I had rehearsed various scenarios in my mind using it the previous night.

I arrived at the bus stop a few minutes early. As I considered sitting on the bench to wait, the sound of approaching footsteps caught my attention. I turned around and froze with fear. A few feet away stood the same man who had been following me. I noticed a slanting scar across his cheek. Up close, he looked even more sinister. Clutching my bag, I slowly crept my fingers inside, ready to grab the pepper spray.

The man spoke first. “Miss, I’m not going to hurt you. I promise.” He seemed to be catching his breath as if he had run to catch up with me. I debated whether to run, but he spoke again. “My boss wants to talk to you.”

I put on a brave face. “I don’t care who your boss is. Stay away from me! Or you won’t live another day!” I shouted, hoping to attract attention. However, it was too early on Sunday, and people were likely still asleep. I shouted again. “Go away! Now!” But he didn’t budge. His gaze shifted from me to the road. My heart sank as a black private car pulled up to the curb.

The back window rolled down, and I saw a familiar friendly face. It was unexpected but I felt lucky he chose to be in that situation. “Ember! So nice to see you so early!” It was Mr. Blackwood. Relief washed over me. “Where are you going? Come, I’ll take you there.”

With no bus in sight, I jumped inside the car and locked the door immediately. I took off my glasses before rambling. “Oh, Mr. Blackwood, thank you so much! I–” I began, but my relief was short-lived. The man with the sunglasses opened the passenger door at the front and got inside. My heart plummeted. I knew then I was doomed.

“Ember, don’t look so alarmed,” Mr. Blackwood said smoothly, turning to face me. “I just want to have a little chat.”

I tried to keep my composure. “What do you want from me?”

“I don’t mean any harm. I promise,” he said. He looked like he was going to cry. “I have waited for this day. I’m so sorry I would have to bring you to my office for a little private chat. You have become quite a sensation in this place that I can’t talk to you in public.”

I didn’t understand what Mr. Blackwood was saying, but I knew I needed to get out of there right away. My nerves were shot, and anxiety was taking over. I wanted to cry and apologize to John for not doing what he told me. Regret filled me. I had to think fast and act smart before it was too late.

“My parents are waiting for me,” I said partly lying as I tried to buy time. They knew I wouldn’t be there until before lunchtime. “They’ll look for me if I don’t turn up when expected.”

“Oh, my child,” Mr. Blackwood said, his tone almost fatherly.

“Don’t call me that. I’m not your child,” I snapped, my anger flaring up.

“I had been looking for you. Do you know that, Ember? I’ve been everywhere just to see you!” Mr. Blackwood said, his features softening.

“Is that why you bid in that auction? You had this creepy, ugly boy of yours following me?” I blurted out, feeling a mix of anger and fear. “Whatever you have to say, spill it now. I have to be somewhere else right at this moment.”

Mr. Blackwood laughed heartily, and the driver couldn’t help but snort. “Oh, my lovely Ember. I’m just so glad to see you after all these years. Don’t mind Max. He might be stupid sometimes, but he does the work.”

His words brought more confusion. Why would he have been looking for me for years? Did he know me before we met? The thought seemed absurd. I considered attacking them with my pepper spray once we stopped. We arrived at their office building and entered the parking area in the basement. But when the car stopped, I didn’t get the chance to do what I thought of doing. Men surrounded the car as Mr. Blackwood got out.

If Mr. Blackwood wanted information about John and his trade secrets, I would not talk. I would rather die and stay loyal to John until my final breath. However, it seemed like that wasn’t what he wanted. When we got to his office, he offered me food. I didn’t move an inch from where I was seated. Then he started his little speech, telling me his story.

“I fell in love once,” Mr. Blackwood began, sitting across from me. “Got involved with a wonderful woman. She got pregnant, but she went away, and I never found her again.”

I remained silent, my eyes fixed on him. He sighed and continued. “I searched everywhere for her. I wanted to find her, to find the child she bore.”

“Why are you telling me this?” I demanded.

“Because, Ember,” he said softly, “you are that child.”