The Billionaire Hidden in Plain Sight

Chapter Seven

In the lavish waiting lounge on the executive floor, Patrick Miller lounged on a leather chair with his feet propped up on the glass coffee table. Tara sat beside him, scrolling through her phone with a satisfied smile.

"I can't believe how easy this is going to be," Patrick said smugly, adjusting his watch. "President Leonardo  will sign the partnership within an hour. Maybe less."

Tara giggled, leaning against his shoulder. "And then I'll be the new company president. Grandmother Margaret will have no choice but to give me the position."

"Your cousin's face is going to be priceless," Patrick laughed. "Especially when she realizes her worthless husband was outside begging to get in while we were up here sealing the deal."

"Liam is such a pathetic animal," Tara sneered. "Did you see his stupid bicycle? I can't believe Emma actually married that garbage."

"She's as dumb as he is," Patrick replied. "But it doesn't matter. After today, the Harper family will belong to you, and that loser will be living on the streets where he belongs."

"We should celebrate tonight," Tara said excitedly. "Champagne at that new five-star restaurant downtown. My treat—well, the company's treat once I'm president."

"Perfect." Patrick pulled her closer. "And after that, we can—"

The door to the lounge opened.

Nina's secretary walked in. Her expression was ice cold, her jaw set in a hard line.

Patrick immediately sat up straighter, plastering on his most charming smile. "Ah, perfect timing! Is President Leonardo  ready to see us?"

The secretary didn't return his smile. She looked at him like he was something disgusting stuck to the bottom of her shoe.

"Mr. Carter," she said coldly. "You're fired."

Silence.

Patrick blinked. "I'm sorry, what?"

"You're terminated. Effective immediately. Security will escort you out of the building."

Patrick laughed nervously. "That's—that's a joke, right? Some kind of test?"

"Do I look like I'm joking?" The secretary's voice could have frozen fire.

Patrick stood up, his face going pale. "There must be some mistake. I'm a manager here! I have an excellent performance record! You can't just—"

"There's no mistake," the secretary interrupted sharply. "Your employment with Titans Global Holdings is over. You will not receive severance. Your company accounts are being frozen as we speak. And your access badges have been deactivated."

"But—but WHY?!" Patrick's voice cracked. "What did I do?!"

The secretary took a step closer, her eyes blazing with fury. "You offended someone powerful without even realizing it, you idiot! Someone so important that you almost got ME fired just for being associated with you!"

The color drained completely from Patrick's face. "I—I don't understand—"

"You don't need to understand!" the secretary snapped. "You just need to leave. Now."

Patrick's legs buckled. He collapsed back into the chair, his hands shaking. "No... no, this can't be happening. This can't be real."

Tara stared at him in horror. Then her expression twisted with rage.

"You IDIOT!" she screamed, jumping to her feet. "What did you do?! WHO did you offend?!"

Patrick looked up at her with wild eyes. "I don't know! I swear I don't know!"

"Think!" Tara grabbed his collar, shaking him. "Who did you talk to today?! Who did you insult?!"

Patrick's mind raced. "I—I didn't talk to anyone except—" His eyes widened. "Liam. That worthless nobody. But he's just—"

"Oh my God," Tara breathed, her face going white. "It was him. It had to be him."

"That's impossible!" Patrick shouted. "He's NOBODY! He rode here on a bicycle! He's just a pathetic live-in son-in-law who—"

"He's obviously not nobody if you just got FIRED!" Tara shrieked. She shoved him away violently. "You ruined everything! EVERYTHING!"

"Tara, please—"

"We're done," Tara said coldly, backing away from him. "I'm breaking up with you. Right now. This second."

Patrick stared at her in disbelief. "What?! You can't be serious!"

"Do I look like I'm joking?" Tara's voice dripped with venom. "You're useless to me now. You're worse than useless—you're a liability!"

"But—but you said you loved me!" Patrick's voice was desperate, pleading.

Tara laughed bitterly. "Loved you? I loved your POSITION. I loved what you could do for me. But now you're just another worthless nobody." She crossed her arms. "Actually, you're worse than Liam. At least he knows his place. You thought you were important."

Rage flooded Patrick's face. He stood up, pointing an accusing finger at her. "You gold-digging SNAKE! This is what you really are!"

"Excuse me?!"

"You heard me!" Patrick shouted. "When I was a manager, you were all sweet and loving! You called me 'darling' and hung on my every word! But the SECOND I lose my job, you abandon me like garbage!"

"Because you ARE garbage now!" Tara screamed back.

"At least I'm not a backstabbing leech who only cares about money and status!" Patrick shot back. "You're disgusting! You're worse than an animal—you're a parasite!"

"Better a parasite than a FAILURE!" Tara shrieked. "I could have been company president! I could have had EVERYTHING! But you ruined it because you're too stupid to recognize someone important when you see them!"

"How was I supposed to know?!" Patrick roared. "He looked like a HOMELESS PERSON!"

"That's your problem!" Tara jabbed her finger at him. "You judge people by their appearance instead of using your brain! You're an IDIOT!"

"You're a WHORE!"

"You're a LOSER!"

They lunged at each other, screaming and shoving.

"That's ENOUGH!" The secretary's voice cut through the chaos like a whip.

The door opened, and four security guards rushed in. They grabbed Patrick and Tara, pulling them apart.

"Get them out of here," the secretary ordered coldly. "And make sure they're banned from entering any Titans Global property ever again."

"You can't do this!" Patrick struggled against the guards. "I have RIGHTS!"

"You have nothing," the secretary said flatly. "Take them away."

The guards dragged them both toward the door. Patrick and Tara continued screaming at each other all the way down the hall, their voices echoing through the executive floor.

"This is YOUR fault!"

"No, it's YOUR fault!"

"I hate you!"

"I hate you MORE!"

Their voices finally faded as they were thrown into the elevator.

The secretary stood in the empty lounge, taking a deep breath to calm herself. Then she straightened her jacket and walked back toward President Leonardo  's office.

Inside Nina's office, Liam sat calmly on the couch while Nina paced back and forth.

"I've blacklisted him from every major company in the region," Nina was saying. "Patrick Miller will never work in this industry again. I've also flagged Tara Harper's name in our system. If she ever tries to approach Titans Global for anything, she'll be turned away immediately."

"Good," Liam said simply.

Nina stopped pacing and looked at him. "Is there anything else you need, Mr. Brooks?"

Liam was quiet for a moment, his expression thoughtful. "There are two things."

"Of course. Anything."

"First," Liam said, his voice growing cold. "Ethan  Morgan and his family. I don't want Titans Global to have any business dealings with them."

Nina pulled out her phone and made a note. "The Morgan family. I'll ensure all potential partnerships are cancelled immediately. May I ask why?"

"He has inappropriate intentions toward my wife," Liam said flatly.

Nina's expression hardened. "Understood. The Morgans are blacklisted as of this moment."

"Second," Liam continued. "I want Titans Global to launch a new project here in the city. A five-star luxury hotel."

Nina's eyes lit up. "That's an excellent idea, sir. This city has been lacking high-end hospitality options. The market research would support—"

"The Harper family's company specializes in construction and development," Liam interrupted gently. "I want them to be considered as the primary contractor for this project."

Understanding dawned on Nina's face. She smiled. "Of course. It would be a perfect partnership. The Harper company has an excellent reputation for quality work, and this project would significantly boost their financial standing."

"Make sure the contract terms are generous," Liam added. "I want this to be a genuine opportunity for them, not charity."

"Absolutely, sir. I'll have my team draft a proposal immediately." Nina paused. "Should I reach out to Mrs. Brooks directly?"

"No." Liam shook his head. "Present it as a normal business opportunity. She shouldn't know I'm involved."

"Understood." Nina made another note on her phone. "I'll handle this personally. Mrs. Brooks will receive a formal invitation to bid on the hotel project by tomorrow morning."

"Good." Liam stood up. "That's all I needed. Thank you, Nina."

"It's my pleasure, sir." Nina bowed slightly. "Will you need a car to take you home?"

"No. I have my bicycle."

Nina looked pained but said nothing. She walked Liam to her private elevator.

"Mr. Brooks," she said as the doors opened. "If you ever need anything—anything at all—please don't hesitate to call. Titans Global exists to serve you."

Liam nodded. "I know. And Nina?"

"Yes, sir?"

"Keep this conversation between us."

"Of course, sir. You have my word."

The elevator doors closed, and Liam descended alone.

Outside, he retrieved his rusty bicycle from the rack. Several people were still lingering, whispering and pointing, their phones out.

Liam ignored them all and rode away.

Behind him, social media was already exploding with photos and videos of President Nina Leonardo  bowing to a mysterious man on a bicycle.

But Liam didn't care about any of that.

He had work to do.

And his wife's future to protect.