They Called Me Trash—But I am actually the Billionaire Boss

8

Chloe’s jaw dropped. Ryan blinked rapidly, as if trying to process what he just heard. Even the butler froze mid-step, eyes fixed on the medal. The room went dead silent. No one had expected this

But then Fredrick laughed. “It's just a souvenir. You can buy them online these days. Please. A salesman with a presidential honor? Do we look stupid?”

He turned to Luna. “You believe this?”

Luna didn’t answer. Her fingers clenched under the table. She stared at the badge. It looked real, but... she had only given him $10,000. How could he afford something like that? Elias was just a salesman. It didn’t make sense.

Fredrick gave a dismissive wave. “Recently, the president issued a medal, yes. To the real ‘king of war,’ the CEO of Umbratech. But someone like you?” Fredrick laughed cruelly. “You’re just a salesman. How could you ever be the real king of war?”

His words sent a ripple of disdain through the room. Fredrick looked at Elias as if the very idea of him possessing such a medal was laughable.

Luna's voice cut through the silence. “Enough, Fredrick,” she said, her eyes on the medal Elias held. “This is a thoughtful gift. You should respect it.”

Fredrick’s eyes narrowed. “Thoughtful?” he repeated. “If that’s what you want to call it, fine. But it’s obvious this is just some cheap imitation. No way someone like him could have earned something so prestigious.”

Harold cleared his throat, trying to ease the tension. “Let’s not judge a gift by its price. What matters is the thought behind it.” He glanced at Elias. “Don’t mind the comments. I appreciate your effort ,young man.”

Elias gave a slight nod. “Of course.”

He could’ve shut them all down with one line. But he didn’t. There was nothing he could say without blowing his cover.The leak inside Umbratech still needed digging. That mattered more.

Ryan leaned forward. “Well then,” he said, clearing his throat. “Let’s talk about something meaningful. The partnership proposal with Umbratech.”

Fredrick’s grin returned, teeth flashing like a man convinced he’d already won. “Yes, let’s. My uncle’s known Adams personally for over ten years. And guess what?” He leaned back in his chair and gave the room a moment to breathe. “Adams is arriving in the city tomorrow.”

A ripple of interest passed through the table. Even Harold’s brows lifted slightly.

Elias didn’t move. His face was unreadable, his glass of water resting untouched beside his hand. But inwardly, he was thinking . Adams hadn’t said a word. No flight notice. No schedule shift. No encr message.

Adams never traveled without Elias’s knowledge.

He'd built the company with few he trusted, and Adams had always been one of them. A man that precise didn’t change plans last minute—especially without approval. Which meant either Adams was playing a dangerous game... or someone else was lying.

Either way, Elias noted, his company wasn’t just leaking—it was bleeding.

He kept his tone casual. “That’s good news, then,” he said. “Adams rarely leaves the capital. Crestwick must have really caught his attention.”

Fredrick laughed. “You could say that. Big money always gets attention. But here’s where it gets interesting.”

He turned to Harold. “That means, sir, if we work this right, your family will hold every major contract in Crestwick City. Your firm will sit at the top of the pyramid.”

Harold didn’t respond at once. He was listening, but his gaze drifted to Elias. Not for approval. For insight.

“And,” Fredrick added, drawing the word out like it cost him, “I’ll only move forward... if Luna agrees to be mine. Officially.”

The table went silent. Luna’s smile faded. Harold eyed Fredrick with unease. The man clearly didn’t know what to believe. Fredrick glanced around, soaking in the attention like it was applause.

But he wasn’t done.

“Besides,” he said, waving toward Elias, “this whole relationship is fake. They met yesterday. Rivers was on a blind date with another woman. He got rejected—badly. And Luna? She just stepped in and asked him to pretend. All this?” He gestured around the table. “A performance. Just for you.”

Harold’s hand clenched around his wine glass. His face darkened.

“Is this true?” he asked coldly, eyes fixed on Elias.

Luna’s heart pounded in her chest. She parted her lips, but no words came out. The silence around the table was crushing, every pair of eyes was fixed on her.

Then she felt it—Elias’s hand sliding gently over hers. He leaned in close, just for her. “Don’t panic,” he whispered.

And before she could think, his hand moved to her waist. He turned to her fully and kissed her.

Luna’s breath caught in her throat. She froze for the briefest moment, stunned—but something inside her gave in. Then she kissed him back.

It felt wrong and right at the same time.His touch was warm. She could barely hear over the roar of her heartbeat.

When they pulled apart, The room had gone completely still. No one spoke. No one moved.

Elias didn't flinch. His voice was calm, like he was stating facts.

"We fell in love at first sight. I know that might sound ridiculous, but it’s the truth. No games. No pretending. Just two people who felt something they couldn’t ignore.”

He gave Luna a soft glance, “In my life, I’ve dealt with a lot of pretenders. People who wear masks and hide behind their titles. But with Luna, there’s nothing but honesty. That’s why I’m here.”

Luna didn’t speak. Her lips parted, but no sound came out.

All she could do was nod, cheeks tinged with a light flush. She didn’t understand him. Not yet. But in this moment, she followed his lead.

Fredrick’s chair scraped back violently. He stood, hand slamming onto the table. “You think that proves anything?” His voice cracked through the room. “They’re pretending. It’s a stunt.”

No one answered him.

Harold exhaled heavily. He pinched the bridge of his nose, as if trying to will away a headache that had long overstayed its welcome. His eyes weren’t on Fredrick or Elias. They were on Luna.

“She’s not a child,” Harold muttered, mostly to himself. “She makes her own choices.”

Still, he turned to Fredrick with the kind of tired patience only a grandfather could muster.

“Fredrick,” he said slowly, “I’ve known you since you were young. You’ve always had ambition. But maybe Luna isn’t the match for you.”

Fredrick’s jaw tightened.

Harold continued. “How about I introduce you to my old friend’s daughter? A lovely girl. Educated. Level-headed. Comes from a good family.”

Silence could be heard.

Fredrick blinked. Then, slowly, he smiled. Not the warm kind. The kind that stretched too wide and never touched his eyes.

“If that’s the way you want it, Father,” he said. “I have no objection.”

He leaned back in his chair, fingers tapping the armrest. But Elias noticed the twitch in his eye. The way he clamped his jaw.

Fredrick wasn’t letting this go.

“I’ll be sure to give her a fair shot,” he added with just enough charm to sound civil. But there was no sincerity in the words.

Harold nodded, accepting the answer at face value. He turned his attention elsewhere, the matter seemingly settled.

But Fredrick was already miles ahead.

Let Elias enjoy his little win. Let Luna cling to her fake romance. It wouldn’t last. He would find the cracks—pull them open and let everyone see the truth underneath.

There was one person who could do that.

The blind date.

The woman Elias was originally met before Luna stepped in. She would have the details—the timing, the setup, maybe even evidence. If Elias was pretending with Luna, then the blind date woman would confirm it. Better yet, she might be angry. Jealous. Humiliated enough to talk.

And if she wasn’t?

Fredrick had other ways to get what he needed.