The Billionaire Hidden in Plain Sight

Chapter Six

Liam stood in the empty kitchen, watching dust motes dance in the morning sunlight streaming through the windows. The house felt hollow after the chaos earlier that morning… echoes of angry voices and shattered expectations still clinging to the air.

He sighed deeply, running a hand through his hair. The truth was a burden no one wanted to carry when lies were so much more comfortable. Every word he’d spoken had been honest, yet honesty seemed to be the one thing his wife’s family couldn’t stand.

The sound of hurried footsteps broke the silence. Emma appeared in the doorway, her purse clutched tightly in her hands, determination hardening her features.

“I’m going to the office,” she said, not quite meeting his eyes. “I need to find contacts, research Titan Global Holdings’ requirements, figure out how to approach them.”

“Emma—”

“Don’t.” She lifted a hand, halting him mid-sentence. “Please, Liam. I have work to do.”

She turned and walked away, heels clicking  sharply against the marble floor. The door shut softly behind her, leaving Liam alone with his thoughts.

He looked down at his simple clothes—faded jeans and a plain white shirt that had seen better days. Then he glanced toward the garage where his bicycle waited. No point in drawing attention during noon time. Better to blend in. To remain invisible.

Twenty minutes later, he was pedaling through the city’s traffic, weaving between cars and buses as the morning bustle surged around him. Ahead, the headquarters of Titan Global Holdings rose like a monument to corporate power—fifty floors of glass and steel that caught the sunlight and threw it back in brilliant flashes. 

He was still half a block away when he spotted two familiar figures walking toward the building's entrance.

Patrick Miller strode confidently up the marble steps, his expensive suit perfectly tailored to his tall frame. Beside him, Tara Carter clung to his arm like a trophy, her designer dress and jewelry sparkling in the morning light.

“This is it, darling,” Tara purred, her voice carrying across the plaza as Liam approached on his bicycle. “Our moment of triumph.”

“Don’t worry, sweetheart,” Patrick replied, straightening his tie with smug satisfaction. “After today, your family will be begging you to take over the company.

Liam dismounted near the building’s entrance, securing his bike to a nearby rack. The simple movement drew Patrick’s attention.

“Well, well,” Patrick called, amusement dripping from his tone. “Look what the cat dragged in.”

Tara turned and gasped, her eyes widening with delight, malice flashing in her eyes when she saw Liam. “Oh my God! What are you doing here?”

Liam strengthened, brushing dusts from his jeans. “Good morning, Tara. Patrick,” Liam said calmly.

“Good morning?” Tara burst into laughter, the sound sharp and mocking. “Do you even know where you are?”

“This is Titan Global Holdings headquarters,” Liam replied in the same calm manner which seemed to irritate the hell out of both Tara and Patrick. 

“Exactly!” Patrick spread his arms theatrically. “I'm glad you at least know where you are. This is the most powerful corporation in the region. What could someone like you possibly want here?”

“Maybe he’s looking for work,” Tara suggested with mock sympathy. “Though honestly, even if you wanted to apply as a janitor, Liam, it would be useless because you’d never get in.”

Patrick chuckled harshly. “A janitor? Look at him, Tara. They wouldn’t even let him clean the lobby.”

Liam’s expression didn’t change, though something cold flickered in his eyes. “Is that so?”

Patrick smirked. “ Yes.” he confirmed, puffing out his chest. “You’ve got no education, no connections, no skills. What could you possibly offer a company like this?”

“More than you might think.”

The words were spoken quietly, but they carried an edge that made Patrick’s grin falter slightly.

“Excuse me?” he said, voice rising with indignation. “Did you just…”

“Did I just what?” Liam asked mildly. But beneath the calm, there was steel.

Patrick's face flushed red with anger. "You think you're clever? You think you can come here and—"

“And what? Speak to you as an equal? I suppose that must be hard for someone with such a fragile ego,” Liam said, smiling faintly.

"Fragile ego?" Patrick took a threatening step forward, his hands clenching into fists.

Tara caught his arm. “Patrick, don't. Not here.”

He hesitated, glancing around, suddenly remembering where they were. The Titan Global plaza buzzed with employees and visitors; all of whom would witness any scene he might cause. A public outburst would ruin his reputation and he couldn't afford that kind of scandal, especially now.

“You’re right,” he muttered through gritted teeth. Then he turned toward the security guards stationed near the entrance. "Officers! This man is harassing us. Please remove him from the premises."

Two uniformed security guards approached, their expressions professionally neutral.

“Sir,” one of them said addressing Liam, “I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”

“He doesn’t belong here,” Patrick added proudly. “Keep him out. My girlfriend and I have an important appointment with the company president.”

Tara flipped her hair. “That’s right. We’re expected upstairs.”

The guards positioned themselves between Leon and the entrance, their stance clearly indicating they intended to enforce Patrick’s request.

Liam nodded calmly. “I understand.”

Patrick’s smile was triumphant. “Good. Maybe now you’ll learn to know your place.”

Instead of arguing or pleasing, Liam simply pulled out his phone and dialed a number.

“Hello,” he said quietly. “It’s me. I’m downstairs.”

Patrick and Tara exchanged puzzled glances.

“That’s it?” Tara sneered. “You’re making phone calls now? Who could you possibly know here?”

Liam ended the call and slipped the phone back into his pocket. “You’ll see.”

"See what?" Patrick demanded. "Some delivery friend of yours? A janitor you met somewhere?"

Before Liam could respond, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed from inside the building. Through the glass doors, they could see a figure descending… actually running—down the grand staircase at full speed.

The glass doors burst open—and Nina Leonardo, president of Titan Global Holdings, rushed out. She was breathtakingly beautiful, with long dark hair and sharp intelligent eyes. Her tailored suit screamed of authority; it was worth more than most people’s cars. Her presence commanded immediate attention from everyone in the plaza.

She stopped directly in front of Leon and bowed deeply.

"Sir," she said, her voice respectful but slightly breathless from her sprint. "I apologize for keeping you waiting."

The entire plaza froze. Every conversation stopped. Every person within sight turned to stare.

“Is that—?” someone whispered.

“Oh my God,” another said. “That’s Nina Leonardo. The president!”

“She’s bowing to him?”

Patrick’s face had gone completely white. Lisa's mouth hung open in shock.

"This... this is impossible," Peter stammered.

Several people had already pulled out their phones, snapping pictures and recording videos. The image of Titan Global’s president bowing to a man in simple clothes would explode online within minutes.

“President Leonardo,” Liam said gently, “please, there’s no need for formality.”

“Of course there is,” Nina replied, straightening but maintaining her respectful posture. “Shall we go upstairs to discuss your business?”

She gestured toward the entrance, completely ignoring the stunned crowd around them.

“After you.” Liam said.

They walked past the security guards, who quickly stepped aside with expressions of confusion and growing panic. They passed Peter and Lisa, who stood frozen like statues.

As they entered the building, Leon could hear the whispers exploding behind them.

"Who is that man?"

"How does he know President Leonardo?"

"Did you get a video?"

"This is going to be all over social media in five minutes."

The elevator doors closed, carrying Liam and Nina upward while the lobby below erupted in chaos.

~~~

Nina’s office occupied the entire top floor, with floor-to-ceiling windows offering a panoramic view of the city. The décor was elegant, powerful and minimalistic… everything designed to impress without being ostentatious.

"Please," she gestured to a leather chair across from her massive desk.

“Sit,”

Liam settled into the chair while Nina took her place behind the desk, her posture still respectful despite the privacy.

"I have to ask," Liam said, his casual tone contrasting with the formal setting. "Why did you open a branch here? This city wasn't in our expansion plans."

Nina’s gaze softened. “I thought it would be beneficial to have a presence close to your wife’s family business. In case you ever needed support.”

“Ah, I see.” he nodded slowly. “And how long have you been here?”

“Three months. We’ve been building relationships and establishing connections quietly. I wanted everything in place if you ever required assistance.”

A knock at the door interrupted their conversation. Nina’s secretary stepped in, her expression nervous.

“Ma’am, I'm sorry to interrupt, but there is a  manager named Patrick Miller here with his girlfriend, Tara Carter. They claim they have an appointment with you.”

Liam’s expression darkened. The temperature in the room seems to drop several degrees.

“How,” he said quietly, “did trash like that get hired here?”

Nina's face went pale, beads of cold sweat forming on her forehead. She understood immediately—Patrick must have offended Liam somehow, and that was unforgivable.

 “Laura,” she said to her secretary, her voice steady despite her obvious distress. “Fire Patrick Miller immediately. Security should escort him out of the building.”

"Ma'am?" Laura looked confused.

"Now," Nina’s voice carried absolute authority. "And Laura? Send word to all our partner companies and subsidiaries. Any business that hires Patrick Miller afterward loses Titan Global’s business. Make sure that message is clear.”

Laura’s eyes widened with understanding. "Yes, ma'am. Right away."

As the secretary hurried out, Nina turned back to Liam, her expression apologetic.

"I'm sorry, sir. I should have been more careful about our hiring practices."

Liam’s smile was as cold as winter. “Don’t worry, Nina. Some lessons are best learned the hard way.”