All Chapters of Underrated Secret Billionaire: Chapter 11
- Chapter 20
98 chapters
Chapter 11: The Man Behind the Curtain
The moment the President of Orion Hotel stepped forward, the entire lobby collapsed into stunned silence. It wasn’t just quiet, it was reverent. The kind of silence that sweeps through a funeral just before the final rites.The air shifted. Even the mockers; the bloated guest still puffing from laughter, the sequined woman still smirking at her own joke, the frozen receptionist, and the now-pale manager; all stilled mid-motion.Lights from phone cameras glinted across the marble floor like broken stars. Some were still recording, others discreetly lowered their devices, suddenly unsure of the drama unfolding before them.The President walked past the crowd with measured grace. His black Italian shoes tapped with authority against the polished floor. He didn’t glance at anyone else; not the guards, not the staff, not even the guests.His eyes locked only on Jalen, steady, unwavering. He didn’t bow. He didn’t smile. But the weight in his posture spoke volumes. It was the kind of quiet d
Chapter 12: When the Veil Falls
The morning sun danced lazily through the high windows of the Brooks’ residence, bathing the living room in a golden calm.Tiana sat on the edge of the couch, her voice was rich with pride as she gestured animatedly while speaking. Her mother, Evelyn, listened from the armchair with a glass of juice in hand, nodding slowly, her interest piqued.“I’m telling you, mummy,” Tiana said, her face glowing, “just one call. One call to Carlos’s father and everything turned around. You should’ve seen how the Torres board changed their tone last night. One moment my company was blacklisted, the next it was reinstated like nothing ever happened.”Evelyn chuckled, her eyes lighting with approval. “You see why I said you should stay close to people with influence? Men like Carlos know how the world works. He is not like that glorified cleaner you called husband. I’m proud of you, my daughter.”Tiana smiled, basking in her mother’s praise. She felt accomplished again; like her world was returning to
Chapter 13: When Power Speaks
The elevator hummed to a gentle stop at the tenth floor. Tiana’s breath was shallow, her fingers nervously clutching the strap of her purse.The security guard stepped out first and motioned for her to follow.They walked through a tastefully lit hallway, the walls adorned with hand-painted art and golden wall lamps that cast a warm glow.They stopped before a large, glossy mahogany door. On the glass panel was a bold inscription: CEO’s Office.The guard pressed a button at the side. A low buzz sounded, and the door opened slowly.Inside was a grand space; high ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the skyline, and a quiet authority that blanketed everything.Directly opposite the door sat a man behind a massive desk, facing the tall glass window, his back turned.The security bowed slightly. “You may go in now, ma. He’s waiting.”Tiana gave a brief nod and stepped inside. The door closed behind her with a soft click.She swallowed and greeted the man ahead. “Good afternoon,
Chapter 14: The Accident
Tiana drove away from Orion Hotel like someone escaping from a battlefield. Her hands gripped the steering so tight that her knuckles turned pale.The air conditioner was blowing softly, but it couldn’t calm the fire burning inside her. Regret pressed heavily against her chest, like a boulder that wouldn’t move.She had walked into the hotel with pride in her steps, carrying her proposal file like a weapon. But she had come out stripped, emotionally naked and humiliated.She thought she was going to meet the President of Orion. She had met her past. And her past wasn’t just alive, it was richer, stronger, and untouchable.It was Jalen.The name alone made her head spin.Her ex-husband was not only the CEO of Orion Hotel, he was the owner. The same man she had once tossed aside with scorn now sat above rooms filled with men like Carlos.It didn’t feel real. It couldn’t be real.For thought shifted to what Jalen said about Carlos.Was he right about that? Did Carlos actually lied about h
Chapter 15: A Quiet Place in His Heart
It was six minutes past 6PM when Sonia arrived at Orion Hotel. The last trace of sunlight was slipping beneath the skyline, leaving a soft amber glow on the walls of the tall buildings around.As she stepped into the hotel lobby, a quiet breeze followed her in, carrying her perfume gently into the air.Most of the staff had already closed for the day. The bright smiles of the day-shift workers had given way to the calm faces of the night shift. The atmosphere was quieter now, more intimate.She walked toward the reception desk, heels tapping lightly on the marble. “Good evening. I’m here to see Mr. Adesina,” she said softly.The receptionist looked up with a pleasant smile. “Yes, ma’am. He’s expecting you.” She pointed towards the elevator. “Top floor.”Sonia nodded politely and made her way to the lift.As the doors closed, she found herself glancing around, her heartwarming with every detail she noticed. The design. The finish. The elegance of the place.She knew Jalen was wealthy,
Chapter 16: New Trouble? Or New Deal?
Tiana didn’t drive home. She couldn’t. The thought alone sent a fresh wave of exhaustion through her body. She wasn’t ready for her mother’s heavy sighs, those eyes that scanned every part of her face like they could read her thoughts. Nor was she in the mood to hear her brother’s careless jokes or his attempts to force laughter into a room that didn’t need it. No. Not tonight. Her soul was tired, and her heart heavier than it had ever felt before.So she drove. Past their street. Past the blinking traffic lights and quiet intersections. Her mind was in a fog, but her hands stayed on the wheel until she found herself at a quiet hotel, one of those where no one asked questions. She parked, walked in, paid for a room, and let the door close behind her like she was locking the world outside.She collapsed into the armchair by the window, her heels slipping off her feet. Silence wrapped around her like a thick blanket. The room smelled faintly of lavender and cleaning spray, but it wa
Chapter 17: The Mask Falls
Tiana rose from her chair as the door opened and Mr. Arturo walked into her office, tall and graceful with an air of quiet dominance.She greeted him with a warm smile, masking the mixture of surprise and curiosity swirling inside her.She had never met him in person before, only seeing him on television and heard of his name and reputation. The chairman of Arturos Corporation, a global powerhouse whose stakes ran deep in energy, finance, and technology.She offered him the seat opposite her, which he accepted with a polite nod. Though her lips curved, her thoughts were racing.What brought him here? She wanted to ask, to thank him even, for what she assumed was a business courtesy extended through Carlos. But before she could find the right words, Arturo spoke first.He didn’t waste time.“I have a business proposal for Black Blossom,” he said, his tone firm, clipped. “My company is looking to develop a new high-end cosmetic tech product. It’ll merge AI skincare diagnostics with real
Chapter 18: The Long Road to Atlanta
“Ready?” Jalen asked, standing by the car door, watching Sonia step out of the guest room, already dressed in her soft peach blouse and a pair of fitted jeans that hugged her frame gently.“Yes,” she replied, slipping her phone into her purse. “Let’s go.”It was 4:02 AM. Still dark. The streets were quiet, except for the sleepy birds beginning their morning cries and the hush of streetlamps flickering off.They had a long journey ahead; from Baltimore to Atlanta. A ten-hour ride.Sonia had begged him to book a flight instead, several times. But Jalen, in his usual calm stubbornness, insisted they take the road. “We’ll see more of the country this way,” he had teased, trying to lighten her frown.She didn’t argue too hard. Deep down, she didn’t mind the time. She was going to spend ten uninterrupted hours with a man she had grown so fond of; no office, no distractions, just the two of them and the open road.But a part of her wished he’d just say it. That thing. That small, powerful th
Chapter 19: When Tables Turn
Sonia gently parked her car in front of the Torres Group headquarters. The breeze that brushed her face as she stepped out felt calm, but the storm she carried in her heart, well-anchored by poise, made her steps even more majestic.Her eyes caught the black car stationed at the visitors’ parking space.A soft smile appeared on her lips.That car. She had seen it before. Days ago, when she stepped in to help a woman humiliated on the road after scratching a man's SUV.Tiana.She was here already. That was impressive.For a moment, Sonia nodded with silent applause. “At least she takes business seriously,” she muttered, fixing her bag as she walked toward the automatic glass doors.Just then, Jalen’s voice echoed in her head: “How do you think this is going to turn out?”Sonia chuckled softly. “Well, it’s up to her. Only she can decide her fate in this case.”The security doors opened as she approached, and the two men inside bowed respectfully. She returned a light smile and walked pa
Chapter 20: The Men Behind the Masks
It was a few minutes past 8 PM. The night sky hung low, painted in thick darkness. Jalen stood at the window, eyes fixed on the quiet road. Sonia still wasn’t back. Her phone had rung endlessly earlier, but now it went straight to voicemail. Again. And again. And again.He sighed heavily, pressing his palms into his temples. Where could she be? He didn't have her parents number, not even any of her staff at work. She was the type with very few friends had built a quiet world around herself and guarded it. Now, that silence felt like a prison. He tried her number one more time. Voicemail.Jalen’s chest tightened with worry. Something didn’t feel right. His instincts weren’t the panicky kind, but tonight, they whispered caution into his ears. He decided he would go to her office. Maybe she had dozed off while working late or something held her back. The thought of danger crept in like a slow fog. That odd preacher’s warning earlier in the day was still ringing loud: “Be careful… some