The Secret Billionaire Heir

Chapter 6

THIRD PERSON'S POV

Jake shot to his feet so fast that the chair behind him nearly toppled over.

A cold feeling spread through his chest as he stared at his phone. Emily's last words echoed inside his head over and over again.

 The way she had spoken bothered him. She had sounded pleased with herself. Worse, she had sounded entertained.

"What did you do?" Jake demanded into the phone.

Emily laughed softly. "If you keep talking instead of driving, you'll miss it."

Jake's stomach tightened "Emily, where is my sister?"

There was a brief pause. Then, she finally gave him an address.

Jake immediately recognized the location. It was one of the most expensive luxury hotels in the city - The Grand Meridian.

He felt even more confused. Why would Kathy be there?

"If you hurry, you might still catch the best part." Emily said.

The line went dead.

Jake stared at the screen in shock. He had a terrible feeling deep inside him.

His sister had spent the entire night desperately trying to save their mother. She had been crying in the hospital hallway only hours earlier. Kathy would never voluntarily attend some luxury gathering while their mother was fighting for her life.

Something was wrong…..very wrong.

Jake immediately started moving.

He barely remembered leaving the hospital building. His thoughts were completely focused on Kathy. The city lights blurred past as he rushed outside.

His hands shook while he flagged down a taxi.

"The Grand Meridian Hotel," he said urgently.

The driver glanced at him through the mirror. Jake still looked terrible.

His clothes were wrinkled and stained. Small cuts covered his hands. There was dried blood on one sleeve. He looked like a man who had survived a war.

The driver hesitated a bit, but something in Jake's expression made him nod. The taxi pulled away immediately.

Jake spent the entire ride staring out the window.

Every horrible possibility ran through his mind. Had Kathy gotten into trouble? Had someone taken advantage of her desperation? Had Emily done something cruel again?

His jaw tightened. The more he thought about it, the angrier he became.

He remembered Kathy standing in the hospital hallway, promising she would find the money somehow. He remembered the determination in her eyes. She would have done absolutely anything to save their mother.

And people like Emily knew that. People like Emily exploited weakness.

Jake clenched his fists.

"Kathy..." he whispered.

Meanwhile, several miles away, the atmosphere inside one of the Grand Meridian's private event halls couldn’t have been more different.

Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling. Soft golden lights reflected off marble floors.

Luxury watches gleamed on wealthy wrists while expensive wine flowed freely throughout the room.

The event was filled with executives, investors, socialites, and people who treated money as casually as breathing. It was a gathering for the elites.

Laughter echoed throughout the hall, but near the center of the room, one person wasn't laughing.

Kathy's feet felt like they were on fire. Every muscle in her legs screamed in pain. Her breathing had become ragged nearly an hour ago, yet she kept moving. She kept dancing.

Kathy was dressed in a red lingerie that left nothing to the imagination. Her hair was straightened to perfection. The make up on her face was bare. She had on the highest pair of heels she had ever worn in her life.

Music blasted through hidden speakers while dozens of wealthy guests watched her.

Some watched with amusement. Some watched with interest. Some watched the same way people watched animals performing tricks.

Kathy hated every second of it, but she didn't stop. She couldn't stop.

Tears burned behind her eyes as she forced herself to continue moving across the polished floor. Her shoes had long since rubbed the skin raw. Blood stained parts of her heels and toes.

Every step hurt. Every turn hurt. Every smile she forced onto her face hurt….yet she continued. Because every minute she danced meant more money toward her mother's surgery. At least that was what she had been promised.

Her chest tightened painfully.

She had never felt so humiliated in her life, yet whenever she thought about quitting, she pictured her mother lying unconscious in that hospital bed.

At a nearby table, Emily sat comfortably sipping wine. Unlike Kathy, she looked completely relaxed.

Her expensive dress shimmered under the lights while her jewelry sparkle.

A man in his late fifties sat beside her - Damien Stewart. He was one of Golden Crest International Bank's senior executives.

The man was rich, powerful and influential. He was the type of man whose approval could change careers overnight.

Damien watched Kathy dance with interest. He had an evil smile on his face.

Emily noticed.

"Well?" she asked sweetly.

Damien took another sip from his glass "She's quite something."

Emily smiled "I knew you'd like her."

Damien nodded. His eyes never left Kathy.

The young woman was clearly exhausted. Anyone could see it.

Her hair was filled with sweat. Her breathing was uneven as she struggled to spin the pole. Pain flashed across her face every few seconds before she forced another smile, yet somehow she kept going.

Damien seemed impressed by that.

"Where exactly did you find her?" he asked.

Emily laughed "Funny story."

Damien raised an eyebrow. Emily leaned back comfortably in her chair.

"She's my ex-husband's sister." She said.

Damien looked genuinely surprised.

"Really?"

Emily nodded, taking a sip of her wine "Desperate people work very hard."

Damien chuckled "That they do."

Nearby, Kathy nearly stumbled. A wave of pain shot through her feet. She bit down hard on her lip to stop herself from crying out.

Several people clapped, assuming her struggle was part of the performance. The humiliation nearly crushed her, but she kept moving.

She had to.

At another table was Emily's younger brother; Hunter, alongside their parents.

Hunter looked excited. Their mother looked pleased. Their father appeared satisfied. All three of them occasionally looked at Damien Stewart.

The wealthy executive represented opportunity and connections. Emily knew exactly why they were here. She had arranged all of this for one reason - she wanted Damien's favor. And Kathy had become the price.

Emily smiled sweetly at Damien again.

"Actually” Emily spoke “My younger brother, Hunter, has been looking for work."

Hunter straightened in his seat. His parents did too. All three suddenly looked extremely attentive.

Emily smiled hopefully. "I was wondering if there might be a position somewhere within Golden Crest."

Damien finally looked toward Hunter. The young man immediately forced his best smile.

Damien studied him briefly, then he shrugged casually.

"That's no problem." He said.

The words hit the family like winning the lottery. Hunter nearly jumped from excitement. Emily's eyes widened. Even her parents looked thrilled.

"Really?" Emily asked.

Damien nodded "I can arrange something."

Emily's face lit up instantly "Thank you, Mr. Stewart."

Damien waved dismissively. "It isn't difficult."

Emily practically glowed with happiness. Everything was working perfectly.

She had managed to repair some of the damage to her family's reputation. She had earned Damien's goodwill and Hunter was about to receive a prestigious position.

The evening couldn’t have gone better.

Then suddenly…..BOOM!

The doors slammed open and the sound echoed through the entire hall.

The music stopped instantly. Conversations died mid-sentence. Every head turned toward the entrance.

Emily frowned. Damien looked annoyed by the interruption. Hunter glanced over curiously.

And Kathy……Kathy froze. Her heart nearly stopped when she saw who it was.

Jake stood at the doorway, breathing heavily.  His face was filled with anger.

The expensive ballroom looked completely out of place around him. His clothes were still rumpled from the hospital. Small cuts marked his hands.

The moment Kathy saw her brother, tears filled her eyes. She felt so relieved that her knees nearly gave out.

"Jake..." she whispered.