The Billionaire Hidden in Plain Sight

Chapter Two

Liam stood in the empty living room, his phone still warm in his hand. Less than a minute had passed since his call to Ryan.

The phone buzzed.

"Sir, I have the information," Ryan said quickly. "It's the Enzo family. They're C-tier. The head of operations is  Nicholas  Enzo, and he's been using dirty tactics against the Harpers."

Liam's eyes narrowed. "What kind of tactics?"

"They pulled their investment from a major partnership at the worst possible time. The Harper company was counting on that money to complete a critical project. Without it, they're facing serious losses—possibly bankruptcy."

"And?"

Ryan hesitated. "There's more, sir.  Nicholas's son,  Derek Enzo, has been personally handling this. He... he told Mrs. Harper that if she wants the deal back on, she needs to visit his hotel room tomorrow night. Alone."

Liam's grip tightened on the phone. His voice dropped to a deadly calm. "Where is he now?"

" Enzo Group headquarters. Top floor, corner office."

"Send a car. I'm going there now."

"Sir, are you sure—"

Liam ended the call.

He walked out of the house without looking back. A sleek black luxury car was already waiting at the curb, engine purring. The driver opened the door without a word, and Liam slid inside.

The drive took fifteen minutes.

When the car pulled up to the  Enzo Group building—a towering glass structure in the business district—Liam stepped out and walked straight toward the entrance.

Two security guards immediately moved to block his path.

"Sir, you can't just—"

Before they could finish, several men in black suits appeared from behind Liam. They moved with practiced efficiency, subduing both guards in seconds without making a sound.

Liam didn't even glance at them. He strode through the glass doors like he owned the place.

Inside the lobby, a receptionist looked up in alarm. "Excuse me, sir, do you have an appointment—"

"Which floor is  Derek  Enzo's office?" Liam asked coldly.

"I—I can't give out that information without—"

One of the men in black stepped forward and placed a phone on her desk. She glanced at the screen, went pale, and stammered, "T-top floor. Corner office on the right."

Liam walked to the elevator.

The ride up was silent. When the doors opened on the top floor, Liam stepped out onto polished marble floors. Expensive artwork lined the walls. Everything screamed money and power.

He found the corner office easily.

Without knocking, Liam lifted his foot and kicked the door open. The lock shattered, and the heavy wooden door slammed against the wall with a deafening crash.

Inside,  Derek  Enzo was leaning against his desk with a woman in his arms. Her dress was half-undone, her makeup smeared. They both froze at the intrusion.

"What the hell?!"  Derek roared, shoving the woman aside. "Who the hell do you think you are?!"

Liam walked in slowly, his expression completely calm. He glanced at the woman, then back at  Derek. "Get out," he told her.

She didn't need to be told twice. She grabbed her purse and fled.

 Derek's face turned red with rage. "Do you have any idea who I am? I'll have you thrown in jail for this! I'll—"

"Are you the one targeting the Harper family?" Liam asked simply.

 Derek blinked. Then a slow, arrogant smile spread across his face. "The Harpers?" He laughed. "Those pathetic losers? Yeah, I'm dealing with them. So what?"

Liam's eyes didn't leave  Derek's face. "Explain."

"Explain?"  Derek sneered. "Why should I explain anything to some nobody who just broke into my office?" He straightened his shirt, regaining his composure. "But sure, I'll tell you. The Harpers are a D-tier family—bottom feeders. I can crush them whenever I feel like it."

"You pulled your investment," Liam said quietly.

"Damn right I did."  Derek grinned wickedly. "They were counting on that money like starving dogs waiting for scraps. Now they're drowning in debt, and there's only one way out."

"The hotel room."

 Derek's grin widened. "Oh, you know about that? Yeah. I told that ice queen Emma Harper that if she wants her precious company saved, all she has to do is visit me tomorrow night. Just one evening, and all her problems disappear." He licked his lips. "I've been waiting to break that stuck-up—"

Liam's fist connected with  Derek's jaw before he could finish.

 Derek stumbled backward, crashing into his desk. Papers scattered across the floor.

"You bastard!"  Derek snarled, wiping blood from his split lip. "You just signed your death warrant!"

Liam stood calmly in the center of the office. "I'm giving you two choices."

 Derek laughed harshly, pushing himself upright. "Two choices? You think you're in a position to give me choices?"

"First choice," Liam continued as if  Derek hadn't spoken. "Immediately restore the partnership with the Harper family. Transfer the full investment back into their account. Then kneel and apologize for what you said about Emma Harper."

 Derek stared at him for a long moment. Then he burst into mocking laughter. "Kneel? Kneel?! Are you out of your mind? Do you know who my father is? The  Enzo family owns half this city!"

"Second choice," Liam said quietly, pulling out his phone. "Watch your family's empire collapse within the hour."

"You're insane!"  Derek shouted. "You're a complete lunatic! Guards! GUARDS!"

Liam pressed a single number on his phone and held it to his ear.

"Ryan," he said calmly. "Execute Protocol Seven on the  Enzo family. All assets, all partnerships, all accounts. I want them finished."

"Yes, sir," Ryan replied immediately.

 Derek's laughter grew louder. "Protocol Seven? What kind of movie do you think you're in? You can't just—"

Liam ended the call and slipped the phone back into his pocket.

 Derek lunged forward with his fist raised. "I'm going to kill you, you worthless piece of—"

Liam sidestepped smoothly and drove his palm into  Derek's chest. The impact sent  Derek flying backward into the wall. He crumpled to the floor, gasping for air.

"You... you'll pay for this,"  Derek wheezed, clutching his ribs. "My father... he'll destroy you... your family... everyone you've ever known..."

Liam walked toward him slowly. "I gave you a choice."

 Derek struggled to his feet, his face twisted with rage and pain. "You're dead! Do you hear me?! DEAD!"

His phone rang.

 Derek froze. He pulled it from his pocket with shaking hands and glanced at the screen. His father's name flashed across it.

"See?"  Derek said with a shaky laugh. "My father's calling. He's probably already sending people to deal with you—"

He answered the call. "Dad, there's some crazy guy here who—"

"YOU IDIOT!" a furious voice exploded through the speaker, so loud that Liam could hear every word. "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!"

 Derek's face went white. "Dad? What—"

"George Bellingham just called! He's pulling out of the harbor deal! Alex Manufacturing  canceled the real estate partnership! Even the Westmont family is cutting ties!" The voice was nearly screaming now. "Who did you offend?! WHO?!"

"I—I don't know what you're talking about—"