The Billionaire Hidden in Plain Sight

Chapter Three

Derek Enzo’s knees hit the marble floor with a painful crack.

“Please!” His voice broke as tears streamed down his face. “I’ll fix everything! I swear on my mother’s grave!”

Liam stood above him, hands clasped behind his back. His expression was calm—too calm.

“Go on,” he said quietly.

“I’ll restore full cooperation with the Harper family immediately!” Derek stammered. “Better terms than before! And I’ll—I’ll personally visit Mrs. Harper to apologize!”

“When?” Liam’s tone held no emotion.

“Tomorrow morning! First thing! I’ll grovel at her feet if I have to!”

Liam studied him for a long moment before speaking.

“This is merely a small lesson, Mr. Enzo. Remember it well.”

“Yes! Yes, I will! Thank you for your mercy!”

Liam turned and walked away, leaving Derek sobbing on the office floor.

~~~

The house was silent when Liam returned home. Moonlight spilled across the polished floors as he climbed the stairs.

Emma’s bedroom door was closed; soft breathing inside told him she was finally asleep.

He paused outside the door, his hand hovering over the handle—then withdrew it. She needed rest. Tomorrow would bring its own storms.

~~~

Morning sunlight painted the kitchen golden as Liam prepared breakfast. The aroma of coffee and warm pastries filled the air.

Emma appeared in the doorway, dark circles shadowing her eyes. Her usually flawless hair hung limp around her shoulders.

“Good morning,” Liam said gently, placing a plate before her. “You should eat something.”

“I’m not hungry.” She poured herself coffee with trembling hands. “I need to get to the office. The suppliers are threatening to pull out—”

“Emma, you look exhausted. Maybe you should—”

“I can handle it.” Her voice was sharp. “I have to handle it. No one else will.”

Liam opened his mouth to respond—but the front door burst open.

“Where is she?” a commanding voice demanded. “Where is my granddaughter?”

Emma’s face drained of color. “Grandmother Margaret…”

An elderly woman swept into the kitchen, her silver hair twisted into a perfect bun. Her cold eyes swept the room, landing on Emma with open disapproval. Behind her followed several relatives, their expressions grim.

“Emma Harper,” Margaret’s voice dripped with disdain. “Look at you—playing house while our family empire crumbles.”

“Grandmother, I can explain—”

“Explain?” Margaret’s cane struck the floor. “Explain how you’ve destroyed twenty years of careful relationships? How you’ve made our family a laughingstock?”

Emma rose slowly. “The situation is temporary. I have a plan—”

“Plans?” A younger woman stepped forward, her designer dress immaculate despite the early hour. “What plans, cousin?”

“Tara.” Emma’s jaw tightened. “This isn’t your concern.”

Tara Carter smiled coolly. “Oh, but it is. When the family business fails, we all suffer.” She turned to Margaret. “Grandmother, surely you can see Emma is in over her head.”

“I’ve made mistakes,” Emma admitted, “but I can fix them.”

“Fix them?” Margaret scoffed. “You’ve lost our biggest investor! Our workers haven’t been paid in weeks! How exactly do you plan to fix bankruptcy?”

“The Enzo partnership was toxic anyway. I’ll find better—”

“Better?” Tara interrupted with a mocking laugh. “Emma, you’re delusional. Face it—you’re not capable of running this company.”

“That’s enough,” Emma’s voice rose. “I won’t stand here and listen to—”

“You’ll stand there and listen to the truth!” Margaret’s cane slammed against the floor again. “Your grandfather made a mistake putting you in charge. A young woman with no experience, married to…” her gaze slid toward Liam, “…this nobody.”

Liam remained silent, calmly sipping his coffee.

“Hand over the company, Emma,” Tara pressed. “I have connections you don’t. I can save our family.”

“Never.”

“Then you’re selfish!” Tara’s mask slipped, her hunger for power exposed. “You’d rather watch everything burn than admit you’re not strong enough!”

“I am strong enough!”

“Prove it!” Margaret barked. “Show us one real plan that isn’t built on empty promises!”

Emma’s hands trembled. “I… I just need more time—”

“Time?” Tara laughed bitterly. “We don’t have time! Every day you delay, more damage is done. Step aside before it’s too late.”

Margaret nodded slowly. “Perhaps Tara is right. The family needs strong leadership, not stubborn pride.”

“No.” Liam’s quiet voice cut through the chaos.

Every head turned toward him.

“Excuse me?” Margaret’s brows arched. “Did the househusband just speak?”

“Emma is perfectly capable of running the company,” Liam said evenly. “She just needs support, not sabotage.”

Tara burst out laughing. “Support? From you? What could you possibly offer besides cooking and cleaning?”

“Stay out of this, Liam,” Emma whispered. “Please.”

“Listen to your wife,” Margaret sneered. “At least she knows her place.”

Liam’s eyes hardened. “With respect, ma’am, you don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Margaret’s voice rose dangerously. “Don’t I? I built this family’s name while you were probably begging on street corners!”

“Grandmother, please—” Emma tried to intervene.

“No, let him speak,” Tara smirked. “I want to hear what brilliant insight our family chef has.”

Liam was about to respond when the front door slammed open again.

“Who dares tell my daughter to step down?” Victoria Harper’s voice boomed through the house.

She entered like a storm, her heels clicking against the marble floor. Behind her came a tall, handsome man in a tailored suit.

“Victoria,” Margaret said coolly. “We were merely discussing—”

“I heard what you were discussing,” Victoria snapped. “And I won’t stand for it.”

The man beside her stepped forward, his presence commanding.

“Ladies, perhaps I can help resolve this,” he said smoothly.

Every woman in the room straightened.

“Ethan Morgan,” he introduced himself with a confident smile. “I came as soon as I heard about the Harper family’s difficulties.”

Tara’s eyes widened. “Ethan Morgan? From Morgan Capital Partners?”

“The same,” he said, his eyes glinting. “I believe I can offer a solution.”

Murmurs filled the room. The Morgan family was influential, their investment firm respected across the city.

Victoria beamed. “Ethan, how kind of you to come. Please, tell them.”

Ethan’s gaze found Emma. “I’m prepared to invest fifty million dollars into the Harper company. Immediately.”

Gasps rippled through the room.

“Fifty million?” Margaret’s stern façade cracked. “That would solve everything.”

“More than solve it,” Ethan said smoothly. “It would expand your operations beyond what you’ve dreamed.”

Tara’s envy was barely contained. “That’s… incredibly generous.”

“I believe in investing in quality,” Ethan replied, eyes locked on Emma. “And the Harper family has always represented quality.”

Victoria glowed with pride. “You see? Ethan understands Emma’s worth—unlike some people.”

“But,” Ethan’s tone softened, “such an investment requires certain… assurances.”

Emma frowned. “What kind of assurances?”

He took a step closer, lowering his voice. “The kind that comes with permanence, Emma. I’m not just offering business cooperation.”

The room fell silent.

“Ethan is doing this because of his feelings for you,” Victoria announced proudly. “Which means you absolutely cannot step down as president. The family needs you to stay.”

Emma’s face flushed. “Mother, this is—”

“This is perfect!” Margaret declared. “A union between our families would secure everyone’s future.”

Ethan reached for her hand, his smile confident. “What do you say, Emma? Will you marry me? Let me save your family—and give you the life you deserve?”

The room held its breath. Tara looked stricken with jealousy. Margaret’s eyes gleamed. Victoria clasped her hands together, thrilled.

Emma’s lips parted, but no sound came.

Then Liam’s cold voice sliced through the air like a blade.

“I disagree.”