SECRET BILLIONAIRE

Chapter 1

 "There’s no way I marry you, Benjamin."

Emily said, staring at the small box in front of her with cold eyes.

Benjamin was still on the floor. He remained on one knee, staring up at her in confusion.

Emily let out a bitter smile and shook her head. 

"You really thought I’d say yes?"

"Benjamin, let’s be honest," she said, her voice calm but distant. "The gap between us has grown too wide. Can’t you see it?"

"I run a successful company. And you? You have nothing."

"Nothing?" Benjamin repeated in disbelief.

Maybe in her eyes, they came from different financial worlds. But he had believed, truly believed, that she loved him for who he was.

Clearly, he had been wrong.

Maybe Emily did love him. But she never cared about love. All she cared about was profit.

Even though Benjamin wasn’t the nobody she thought he was.

"We've been together for three years," he said, his voice steadier than he felt.

Emily sighed, her expression indifferent.

"Look, I’m sorry, Benjamin," she said, though there wasn’t any apologize in her tone. "You’ve been good to me. Better than anyone."

"But if all I wanted was ‘good,’ I’d just get myself a puppy."

Benjamin’s stomach twisted.

A puppy?

Everything he had done for her, out of love, and she saw him as nothing more than an obedient dog?

"I need someone who’s good for my business."

"Marriage is a profit and loss statement, Benjamin. And you? You bring me no benefits."

Benjamin felt something inside him snap.

"You can't be serious." His voice was low, almost deadly quiet.

The door to her office swung open, and another woman strutted in.

Her pencil heels clicked against the carpet, each step deliberate, demanding attention.

Celine.

"Perfect timing," he muttered under his breath.

Celine had been Emily's best friend since high school. They shared a lot more than just good looks.

She always played watchdog, ensuring Emily’s decisions as CEO of Strat Corporation were flawless.

Her sharp green eyes flicked over the scene. 

The balloons, the little red box, the man kneeling one knee on the floor.

And she let out a low whistle.

"Oh, wow," she sneered. "Someone actually had the balls to propose."

"Stay out of this, Celine," Benjamin said, his tone measured. "This is between Emily and me."

Celine smirked, crossing her arms.

"Last time I checked, there was no ‘Emily and you.’"

"My girl’s been patient enough."

She shot Benjamin a look of mock sympathy.

"Sure, you two had a thing in college. Maybe you even saved her life once or twice. But three years?" She scoffed. "That’s more than enough payback for your worthless efforts."

Benjamin clenched his fists in his pockets, keeping his anger on a tight leash.

"This is just because you think I’m poor?" He directed his question at Emily, each word carefully measured.

“What if I tell you, I’m not the one you thought.”

“I have money, and I have power.”

“Will you change your mind?”

Emily didn’t answer and just frowned slightly.

Celine burst out laughing beside her.

“Come on, don’t be ridiculous. You have nothing but your old pants.”

She smirked and dropped a bigger bomb.

"And our Emily won’t change her mind. In case you don’t know, she’s already moved on."

" She’s engaged to Marcus Roberts!”

“The dashing, wealthy, and powerful catch she deserves. Unlike you, he can support Emily’s business!"

Benjamin’s head snapped toward Emily so fast it nearly gave him whiplash.

"Emily, is this true?"

Emily met his gaze, her face unreadable.

Although there was turbulence beneath the surface, her composure never cracked.

"Leave, Benjamin," Celine cut in, her voice sharp. "Emily has said all she needs to say. This is where it ends."

"Pack up your little circus of a proposal and take your cheap, junkyard ring with you."

She laughed, nudging the red box toward him with the edge of a folder.

Benjamin stared at Emily, a thousand thoughts swirling in his mind. He never thought it would end like this. 

Not after three years of standing by her, supporting her.

He had stood by her for three years.

He had loved her.

And yet, in the end, he was nothing to her.

Slowly, he picked up the box and slipped it into his pocket.

“You will regret this, Emily.” Benjamin said quietly.

With one last look at Emily, he walked out of the office.

Celine smirked as the door clicked shut.

"Good riddance," she said. "That was way easier than I thought."

She turned back to Emily with a victorious grin.

"Now, let’s get back to the real wedding plans. Trust me, babe, you’re making the smartest decision of your life."

Emily nodded faintly. "Of course," she murmured.

Marrying Marcus was the smart choice. He would bring her wealth, power, stability.

Benjamin was a loss she couldn’t afford.

Yet, as the sound of his footsteps faded into the distance, an emptiness settled in her chest.

Why did it feel like she had just lost something irreplaceable? Something more valuable than all the wealth and power she could ever gain?

***

Benjamin stood inside the elevator, a heavy weight pressing against his chest.

After everything he had done behind the scenes to support her, she had tossed off their relationship like toilet paper.

His sharp grey eyes glowed with restrained anger. A storm he had learnt to control over the years.

Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out the small, dull red box, which he had offered to Emily for his proposal.

He flipped it open, and a shiny red stone dazzled as it caught the elevator light.

The Dragon's Eye.

A red diamond so deep, so vivid, it looked like the eye of a dragon.

It was a masterpiece, worth a staggering 10.5 million dollars. Rare. Irreplaceable. Even "being successful" like Emily couldn’t dream of affording. Not to rent, let alone own.