The Billionaire Hidden in Plain Sight

Chapter Six

Liam stood alone in the empty living room, his phone still in his hand. He sighed deeply, a rare expression of frustration crossing his face.

He had told them the truth. He could help Emma secure a partnership with Titans Global Holdings. But no one believed him.

Why would they? To them, he was nothing. A parasite. An animal. Less than human.

Upstairs, a door opened and closed. Footsteps hurried down the stairs.

Emma appeared, already dressed in a business suit despite the early hour. Her hair was pulled back severely, her makeup minimal but professional. She didn't look at Liam as she grabbed her briefcase from the table.

"Emma—" Liam started.

"I'm going to the company," she said quickly, not meeting his eyes. "I need to figure out how to get a meeting with Titans Global. Maybe I can find someone who knows someone who works there. There has to be a connection somewhere."

"I already told you, I can—"

"Liam, please." Emma finally looked at him, her expression a mixture of exhaustion and pity. "I don't have time for this right now. I need to focus."

She walked past him toward the door.

"I'll have dinner ready when you get home," Liam said quietly.

Emma paused for just a moment, her hand on the doorknob. Something flickered across her face—gratitude, maybe, or sadness. But she said nothing. The door closed behind her with a soft click.

Liam waited until he heard her car pull away. Then he went to the garage and pulled out his bicycle—an old, rusty thing that squeaked with every turn of the pedals.

It was daytime. If he showed up at Titans Global Holdings in a luxury car with bodyguards, people would ask questions. They would take photos. Word would spread.

He wasn't ready for that yet.

So Liam rode his bicycle through the morning traffic, weaving between expensive cars and ignoring the honks and curses thrown his way.

The Titans Global Holdings headquarters was a massive tower of glass and steel in the heart of the business district. It dominated the skyline, its golden logo gleaming in the sunlight.

Liam parked his bicycle in the rack outside and walked toward the entrance.

That's when he heard the laughter.

"Oh my God, is that Liam?"

He turned. Tara Harper stood at the entrance with Patrick Miller, both of them staring at him with identical expressions of cruel amusement.

"It IS him!" Tara cackled, pointing. "Emma's worthless husband! What are you doing here, Liam? Did you get lost on your way to the grocery store?"

Patrick grinned, adjusting his expensive tie. "Actually, I bet I know why he's here." He walked closer, looking Liam up and down with contempt. "You're trying to find a job, aren't you? Probably hoping to apply as a janitor now that you've realized how pathetic your life is."

"That's adorable," Tara cooed mockingly. "But even the janitor position is too good for someone like you."

Liam looked at them calmly. "I'm here on business."

Both of them burst into hysterical laughter.

"Business?!" Tara could barely breathe. "Did you hear that, Patrick? He says he has BUSINESS at Titans Global!"

"What kind of business?" Patrick sneered. "Are you delivering food? Taking out the trash? Oh wait—" He snapped his fingers. "You're here to beg ME for a job, aren't you? Because you know I'm a manager here?"

"That's it!" Tara squealed. "He wants to grovel at your feet and beg you to hire him!"

"I'm not here for you," Liam said simply.

Patrick's smile turned cold. "Listen, you pathetic animal. I don't know what fantasy you're living in, but let me make something very clear. You don't belong here. People like you don't even get through the front door of a place like Titans Global."

"He's right," Tara added, her voice dripping with venom. "You're a nobody. A worm. You should crawl back to whatever hole you came from before you embarrass yourself even more."

Liam's expression didn't change. "Are you finished?"

Patrick's face flushed red. "You—how dare you talk to me like that! Do you have any idea who I am?!"

"A manager who's about to be late for his meeting," Liam said calmly.

"That's right!" Patrick stepped closer, his voice rising. "I'm about to go upstairs and meet with President Nina Leonardo herself! While you—" He poked Liam's chest. "—will be standing out here like the worthless garbage you are."

Liam looked down at the finger poking his chest, then back up at Patrick. "I wouldn't do that if I were you."

"Oh yeah?" Patrick sneered. "What are you going to do about it? Hit me? Go ahead. I'll have you arrested for assault. You'll spend the rest of your pathetic life in prison."

"Patrick, darling," Tara said sweetly. "Don't waste your energy on him. Let's just go inside. We have important business to attend to."

"You're right." Patrick stepped back, smoothing his suit. He turned to the security guards standing at the entrance. "Hey! You two!"

The guards straightened to attention. "Yes, Mr. Carter?"

"See that man?" Patrick pointed at Liam. "Don't let him inside. If he tries to enter the building, throw him out. And if he puts up a fight, call the police. Understand?"

"Yes, sir," both guards replied immediately.

Tara smirked triumphantly. "Come on, darling. President Leonardo is waiting for us. We're going to secure this partnership and make me the new company president."

"After you, my love." Patrick offered his arm gallantly.

They walked past Liam without another glance, disappearing through the golden doors of the headquarters.

The security guards moved to block Liam's path.

"Sorry, sir," one of them said gruffly. "You heard Mr. Carter. You can't come in."

Liam didn't argue. He simply pulled out his phone and dialed a number.

"Yes, sir?" Ryan answered immediately.

"I'm outside Titans Global headquarters," Liam said quietly. "Tell Nina I'm here."

"Right away, sir."

Liam ended the call and slipped the phone back into his pocket. The security guards watched him nervously, hands hovering near their batons.

Less than two minutes later, chaos erupted inside the building.

The golden doors burst open. A woman came running out—literally running—her high heels clicking frantically against the marble floor.

Nina Leonardo was stunning. She wore a perfectly tailored black dress, her dark hair swept up elegantly. But her professional composure had completely shattered. Her face was flushed, her eyes wide with panic.

"Mr. Brooks!" she gasped, skidding to a stop in front of Liam.

The security guards' jaws dropped.

Nina bowed deeply—a full ninety-degree bow. "I'm so sorry! I didn't know you were arriving today! Please forgive me!"

Liam nodded calmly. "It's fine, Nina. I should have called ahead."

"No, no, the fault is entirely mine!" Nina straightened, her hands trembling slightly. "Please, come inside. Let me—"

Several people nearby had pulled out their phones and were recording. Whispers spread like wildfire.

"Is that President Leonardo  ?"

"Who's that guy?"

"She's bowing to him?"

"Post this on social media! Quick!"

Nina noticed the phones and paled even further. "Mr. Brooks, perhaps we should go inside where there's more privacy?"

"Lead the way," Liam said simply.

Nina gestured urgently toward the entrance. The security guards scrambled to open the doors wider, their faces white as sheets. They'd just tried to block the person their own president was bowing to.

Liam walked through the doors without acknowledging them. Nina hurried after him, practically jogging to keep up with his steady pace.

They entered a private elevator. Nina pressed the button for the top floor with shaking fingers.

"I'm terribly sorry about the scene outside," she said breathlessly as the elevator rose. "If I had known you were coming—"

"I told you it's fine," Liam interrupted calmly. "I prefer to keep a low profile."

"Of course, sir. Of course." Nina nodded rapidly.

The elevator doors opened directly into a massive office. Floor-to-ceiling windows offered a panoramic view of the city. Expensive artwork hung on the walls. Everything screamed power and wealth.

Nina gestured to a leather couch. "Please, sit. Can I get you anything? Coffee? Tea? Water?"

"I'm fine." Liam sat down, his expression neutral. "Tell me why Titans Global opened a branch in this city."

Nina sat across from him, her posture perfect. "We've been planning this expansion for six months, sir. This city has significant economic potential, and we identified several key opportunities for growth. Additionally..." She hesitated.

"Additionally?" Liam prompted.

"Additionally, when we learned that your wife lived here, we thought it would be advantageous to establish a local presence. To be close by in case you ever needed our services."

Liam's expression softened slightly. "Nina, I appreciate the thought, but I don't need you watching over me."

"Of course not, sir. But we wanted to ensure—"

A knock at the door interrupted her.

"Come in," Nina called, her professional mask snapping back into place.

The door opened, and a young woman in a business suit entered—Nina's secretary. She looked nervous.

"President Leonardo  , I apologize for the interruption," the secretary said quickly. "But there's a Manager Patrick Miller and his girlfriend Tara Harper waiting in the lobby. They say they have an appointment with you to discuss a potential partnership."

Nina glanced at Liam, whose expression had gone cold.

"Patrick Miller," Liam said quietly. "How did someone like that get hired here?"

The temperature in the room seemed to drop ten degrees. Nina's face went pale, and cold sweat formed on her forehead.

"I—I don't know, sir," she stammered. "We have hundreds of managers across all our branches. I can look into his hiring immediately—"

"He was standing outside when I arrived," Liam continued, his voice like ice. "He ordered the security guards to keep me out. He called me garbage."

Nina looked like she might faint. "Mr. Brooks, I—I'm so sorry—"

"His girlfriend is Emma's cousin," Liam added. "She's trying to steal Emma's position as company president."

Nina stood up abruptly, her hands clenched into fists. She turned to her secretary with fury blazing in her eyes.

"Fire Patrick Miller," she said coldly. "Effective immediately. Security escort. No severance package. And make sure his termination is flagged in every industry database."

The secretary's eyes widened. "Ma'am, do you mean—"

"I mean exactly what I said," Nina snapped. "Furthermore, send a company-wide memo. Any business—ANY business—that hires Patrick Miller after today will face immediate retaliation from Titans Global Holdings. We will terminate all partnerships, withdraw all investments, and blacklist them from future opportunities. Is that clear?"

The secretary went pale. "Yes, ma'am. Perfectly clear."

"Do it now."

"Yes, ma'am!" The secretary hurried out, closing the door behind her.