THE BILLIONAIRE'S UNSEEN HEART

CHAPTER 3

Emily staggered back into the peaceful haven of her bookshop, the weight of the evening events firmly on her. The air silent, and around her like a consoling hug were the familiar smells of old books and worn-out wood. But contentment passed through quickly. She kept replaying the exchange she had with James Sterling at the door, his words vague and full of a warning she couldn't quite understand. She now had more questions than answers since he had departed as fast as he had seemed.

Emily realised she could not afford to stay in the dark. Hesitancy had passed its allotted time. She had to study more about the past of her father and the empire he had unannouncedly passed on. She settled down at her workstation and opened the envelope Daniel had given her in the café. Inside were various papers, legal documents, and a hefty file labelled Confidential—financial reports.

Her heart picked speed as she opened the file. The first page gave a synopsis of her father's business, but as she read further she discovered differences that made her tummy turn over. Some financial data didn't add up; there were transactions that appeared to be covered-over or hidden. Emily's head hummed with mistrust. What had her father engaged in, and why were these details hidden in the fine print?

Driven to find the truth, Emily went over the records, her eyes looking for any hints to explain the variances. With investments in sectors she had never heard of and alliances with people whose names she knew not, her father's business activities were considerably more complicated than she had imagined. She had never lived in this world, one in which money and power ruled all.

Emily became more annoyed as the hours passed. She owned a bookshop, not work for corporate investigation. Although this was not her world, it was now her obligation. The weight of it all felt too much, yet she knew she couldn't walk away. Not when so much was on the line.

She was about to close the file in defeat when something caught her eye: Sterling Enterprises, a name she kept running across in the papers. Emily's breath choked. Wasn't that James Sterling's family enterprise? Why did her father's files repeatedly highlight this? Her mind rushed to link the dots, and her fingers shook as she turned the pages.

Reading more helped her to see how closely Sterling Enterprises was interwoven with her father's company, not just as a business partner. James's family has fingers in almost every facet of her father's company, from joint ventures to shared assets. But for what? What were they expecting to achieve from this close involvement? More significantly, then, why had her father kept this from her?

Emily's phone chimed, pulling her from her thoughts as she worked through these disclosures. She looked at the screen, and it was Olivia. Too caught up in the whirl of events to even think straight, she had not notified her best friend about the inheritance. But now she needed someone to talk to since so much uncertainty was fogging her head.

Emily answered the call trying to keep her voice constant: "Hey, Liv."

"Em, are you good?" You sound off, Olivia's worried voice came through the queue.

Emily massaged her temples and let out a sigh. It's been an absolutely wild couple of days, Liv. I still find it difficult to make sense of everything.

"Would you like to discuss it?" I'm all ears.

Emily hesitated for a split second. How could she even start to articulate what was happening? But Olivia had always been her rock, the one she could rely on almost totally. Olivia was the one person who could help her make sense of everything.

" Actually, I could use some advice," Emily said. "Can you come over??"

"Of course. "I'll be there in ten."

Emily hung back, a tiny sense of comfort. She needed to go over this with someone who wasn't personally engaged but could provide a different viewpoint. But her thoughts kept returning to James and the complex web of secrets encircling him and his family even while she waited for Olivia.

Olivia showed up within minutes, true to her word, her demeanor a mix of interest and concern as she entered the bookshop. "Alright, spill. "What's going on?"

Emily inhaled deeply and started to go over everything that had happened—from the unanticipated bequest to her conversations with James—and lastly, the disturbing revelations she had lately.

Olivia listened very carefully, her eyes expanding with every insight. "So let me clarify, once Emily has finished," she replied gently. "Your father left you a massive fortune and a company you know nothing about; you have six months to take control, or it all goes to James's family??"

Emily said, clearly frustrated: "That's what it seems like." "But all of this seems off-target. James's manner of speaking to me, the secret elements in these files—it seems as though there is another layer to this that I am not seeing.

Olivia wrinkled her chin, giving careful taps. "It certainly seems fishy. Really, why would your father go to such great measures to keep you in the dark only to pass this load on you now? And why is James's family so very involved?

Emily answered, "That's what I'm trying to figure out," running a hand through her hair. This calls for more than just business. I just have no idea what.

"Well, it sounds as though you will have to face James once more," Olivia advised. "He might be the secret to knowing what's truly going on if he is as linked to all of this as you believe."

Understanding her friend was right, Emily nodded. But she felt uncomfortable thinking of running across James once more. Their most recent encounter had been uncomfortable, to put it mildly, and she wasn't sure how she would approach another one with him. She knew, meantime, she couldn't turn back now. No matter how tough it would be, she had to discover the truth.

Olivia's eyes flashed with a fresh thought just as she was ready to share her worries. "Hold on a second—aren't you meant to be at that renowned event tomorrow night?" The one where all the A-listers from the corporate sector will be?

Surprised, Emily blinked. "How come you are aware of that?"

Olivia shrugged and added, "I saw the invitation on your desk last week when I visited. "You were not particularly eager to travel, but perhaps now it would be the ideal chance. Should James be present, this offers an opportunity for you to probe further for further details. Moreover, interacting with such kinds of people could help you to better understand your opposition.

Emily had not even thought about going to the event, but now with everything that had transpired, it felt like the sensible next action. She was ready to make an attempt even if she had no idea how to negotiate the realm of high society; if it meant getting closer to the truth.

"Okay, I'll go," Emily responded with conviction in her voice. But I must be ready if I am going to face James. No more being caught off guard.

"That's the attitude," Olivia remarked with a smile. And relax; I'll help you get ready. We'll find you something saying "I'm in control," and we'll make sure you arrive for that occasion appearing as though you own the venue.

Grateful for Olivia's help, Emily managed a little smile. "Thanks, Liv". Without you, I am not sure what I would do.

"That's what best friends are for," Olivia remarked, giving her a reassuring shoulder pat. "Let us now get to work. We have some preparations to make.

Emily found a new sense of direction with Olivia's support. She was the heir of a great legacy, not only the owner of a bookshop anymore; it was time she started living according to that. Though there was plenty of uncertainty ahead, one thing was certain: she would not let anyone—not even James Sterling—stand in her way.

One of the files dropped a slip of paper as Emily and Olivia sieved through the last ones. It was a classified memo addressed to her father about a contract with Sterling Enterprises. Emily felt a shiver run down her spine at the last line: "Make sure the asset transfer goes smoothly. The Sterling’s must not know what our true motives are." What actual goals did her father have in mind, and how were the Sterling’s part of this covert agenda?