The Billionaire's Betrayal: A love Child

Joyce’s heart is broken when she catches her fiancé, Gabriel, cheating with her sister on her bachelorette night. Seeking an escape, she stumbles into a casino where she meets billionaire Adrian Ortega, and a one-night stand sets a chain of events into motion. Two years later, Joyce's son, Rafael, is the key to unlocking Adrian's heart, but Gabriel's obsession and betrayal threaten to destroy them all. As lies, revenge, and secrets entwine, can Joyce and Adrian overcome the scars of their past and find love, or will Gabriel tear them apart forever?

Prologue

The nightclub was alive with music as I twirled and shook on the dance floor. Surrounding me were my closest friends who all came to my bachelorette party to celebrate with me. I would soon marry Gabriel Moreno, one of Madrid's most eligible bachelors and the dream of many women.

In the middle of my twisting and twirling, rocking to the beat of the DJ, I felt my phone buzz in my purse. At first, I ignored it, I mean I wanted to have fun but the buzzing didn't stop and curiosity got the better of me.

I pulled it out and saw a message from a private number:

Head to Gabriel's house immediately! There's something you must see urgently!

I was confused. Who would send such a cryptic message on my bachelorette’s night? And why would they ask me to check out Gabriel's house? He would certainly be at his bachelor's party so what exactly was going on?

“I'll just ignore it.” I dropped the phone back in my purse and continued dancing. However, the more I danced, the more unsettled my mind was. I kept thinking about that message until I couldn't take it anymore. I needed to see what was happening.

With a heavy heart, I made my decision.

“Hey, guys. I’m sorry, but I need to step out for a moment. There's something I need to check on.” I said at the top of my voice. I mean I had to, otherwise, they wouldn't have heard me with the loud music blaring from the D.J.’s speakers.

“The night is still young. Why are you leaving so early?” Ligia asked as she whined her hips.

“It's urgent. I'll come back when I'm done.” I replied.

"Alright, alright. But could you get back quickly? It's your night babe.” Antonia responded.

I smiled at them and slipped out of the club. I raised my hand and a taxi screeched to a halt in front of me. I got in the back seat and gave the driver a half smile.

“Calle de Velázquez, 12, Madrid,” I gave him the address.

“El Viso, señorita,” The driver nodded, eyeing me in the rearview.

“Yes, that's right.” I leaned back on the seat and stared at the city lights as they blurred past. Ever since I got that text, I felt a sense of uneasiness. I took a deep breath to calm myself yet I had no idea that my life was about to be turned upside down.

Chapter One

JOYCE’S POV

“Gabriel...” I stood at the door to his room and whispered his name. He couldn't hear me. I mean, how could he? He was on the bed, butt naked, having passionate sex with another woman. The shock hit me even more when I realized that was not just any woman. It was my blood sister. Natalia.

Gabriel was naked, his back arched with each thrust as he was inside Natalia…wrapped in her arms. Natalia was also stark naked. Her fingernails clawed at his back as her moans and groans filled the room.

Tears welled up in my eyes, threatening to spill over as I watched the scene in stunned silence. How could this be happening? The man I was about to marry, and my sister, the two people I trusted the most in this world were having sex with each other right before my eyes.

“Gabriel!” I screamed in anguish. Both of them froze and their heads snapped towards the door in shock.

Gabriel's eyes widened as he saw me standing there. He quickly removed himself from Natalia and got dressed while Natalia scrambled for a blanket to cover herself

“Joyce? What are you doing here.” Gabriel asked as he managed to slip into his boxers.

“What am I doing here? You're seriously asking me this question?” I yelled at him in fury.

“It's not what it looks like, I promise.” He rushed towards me, trying to grab my shoulders but I wasn't having it. I retaliated with a wicked slap to his face, the sound reverberating through the room.

“Shut up! I just caught butt naked on top of my very own sister and you have the guts to tell me that it's not what it looks like?” Tears stung my eyes as I stared into the eyes of the man I was supposed to marry in a few days.

“If you just calm down and listen to me,” Gabriel said, grabbing my shoulders. His touch previously felt so warm and cozy now made me feel disgusted.

“Leave me alone!” I shrugged his hands off me.

“Leave her alone, Gabby. She's not worth it anyway.” Natalia’s voice came from behind.

I turned my gaze towards her with furious eyes. The least she could have done was to show remorse for her actions, but No. There wasn't a bit of remorse in those eyes. Instead, she lay on the bed with a wicked smirk on her face.

“You just slept with my fiance and yet you're not even ashamed? How could you do this Natalia?” I questioned, my voice breaking with despair.

“I’ve been sleeping with Gabby for a while now. You really thought he was all yours?” Natalia's voice dripped with sarcasm.

“Why? Why would you do this to me?” I asked. I needed to know why the sister I loved so much would sleep with my fiance. All of this seemed very unreal to me, like a scene out of a telenovela.

“You want to know why Joyce?” She laughed as she rose from the bed. “I did it because I was jealous of you. You always had the best of everything when we were growing up. Everyone adored you and all the men only had eyes for you. I was sick of it.”

She walked towards me, hips swaying seductively, and stood. I could see the resentment in her eyes, something I had never seen before from Natalia. She was always a sweet girl who supported me in everything I did. I never knew she hid such bitterness in her heart.

“I always wanted what you had and guess what sis, it is now mine and there's nothing you can do about it.” Natalia puffed up her chest with pride.

My eyes widened in realization. “That unknown number. It was you who sent that message.”

“Well, ell, well. You're not so dumb after all.” She cackled and wrapped her arms around Gabriel. “When you're done bawling your eyes out then leave. You're interrupting us.”

My tear-stained eyes turned to Gabriel, hoping for some support. I wanted him to push Natalia away and come to me. Perhaps I would have forgiven him, perhaps I would have gone ahead with this marriage. But, he remained quiet and averted his eyes away from mine. His silence was more damning than any words he could have said and my heart broke into a million pieces.

Without another word, I turned and fled from the room, the house, and the life I thought I would have. I ran down the street like a crazed woman with no sense of direction. Passers-by were stunned by the fact that I flew past like a bat out of hell but I simply didn't care, I just needed to get away, as far as possible. Nothing made sense anymore, I felt worthless.

I crossed the street without looking, narrowly avoiding cars that blared their horns angrily as I dashed past. I didn't know where I was going, to be honest. I just ran until my legs ached and my lungs burned. It felt like I ran a 400-meter race.

Finally, my legs couldn't take it anymore and I came to a stop. Gasping for breath, I raised my face and stared at the huge entrance of a very popular casino in Madrid.

Without really thinking, I took a step forward and entered the casino.

Chapter Two

Adrian’s POV

The chips were piled high in front of me as I puffed my smoke. Surrounding me were a bevy of women, clinging to me, laughing at my jokes, and cheering me on as I played. If only they knew I didn't fancy them. To me, they were just whores, nothing more.

I glanced at my cards and then back at the other players. The dealer dealt the final card and I brought my hand to my chin, considering my next move.

“All in,” I said, my confident smile didn't ever falter as I pushed my entire stack of chips onto the center of the table. The other players hesitated and I could tell that they were unsure if they should match my bet or fold.

“Are you sure about this Adrian?” one of the girls, a heavily made-up blonde whispered in my ears.

“Yes, I'm sure and get your mouth away from my ears.” I retorted, pushing her lips away from my ear. “I need to concentrate and your breath stinks too.”

The blonde girl flushed in embarrassment and the other girls laughed at her, pointing fingers and making an object of mockery of her. I couldn't care less though, I was focused on my game.

It didn't take long before the players folded one by one, unable to meet my bet. The dealer revealed the final card, and I laid down my hand. The girls cheered me on and the other players sighed in defeat. I leaned back and puffed my cigar as the dealer pushed the entire mountain of chips toward me. I won yet again.

“You're unstoppable tonight.” One of the girls said, leaning in closer.

“I was just lucky.” I shrugged. This one didn't have bad breath, plus she had zero makeup on so I wasn’t irritated by her presence.

As I collected my winnings, a commotion occurred at the entrance of the casino which drew my attention. A woman had burst in, her eyes were red and swollen, her hair disheveled and scattered. She stood out like a sore thumb, seeming completely out of place in this glitzy environment.

“Urghh who's the party pooper.” One of the girls snorted with a disgusted look on her face.

“Your attention should be on more important things, Adrian.” Another cooed at me but I ignored her and fixed my eyes on the young lady.

The woman stumbled into the casino, almost knocking over a patron’s drink. She muttered an apology before making her way to the bar. From her unsteady movements, she was a damsel in distress and I was entertaining the idea of being her knight in shining armor. Her vulnerability had this sort of pull on me and I felt attracted to her for some reason.

The woman reached the bar and ordered a particularly strong whiskey, downing it in a few gulps before ordering another. I could see tears streaming down her face as she lifted the bottle to her lips.

I could sense that she was trying to drown something, some kind of sorrow or pain that was eating her alive.

The bartender's lips moved, asking her whether she was alright but she waved him off and ordered another bottle.

“Interesting,” I muttered to myself and leaned back in my chair as I continued to watch her. She didn't seem to care about the people around her or the fact that she was making a spectacle. The empty bottles piled up and I was starting to get genuinely concerned.

“Adrian, let's get back to the game.” One of the girls said, trying to pull my attention back to the table.

“In a minute,” I replied absently, my gaze still fixed on the woman as she downed her seventh bottle.

She reached for the eighth one and her hand slipped, sending the glass crashing to the floor. The bartender’s face turned red like an overripe apple and he slammed his hand on the counter.

“That’s it, you've had enough. Get out of here before I call security!” He yelled at the poor drunk woman.

She looked up at him in a daze, barely focusing on the bartender. Before she could respond, a security guard made his way towards her.

“Leave her alone!” I rose from my seat and moved towards the bar. The girls around me protested but I didn't give a damn. Those whores could go kiss dirt for all I cared.

The bartender's jaw widened and the security guard stopped in his tracks, unsure of what to do.

“Si… Sir Adrian. She's causing a scene.” The bartender complained but a single glare from me was enough to shut him up.

“She's with me. Continue your duties.” I instructed. The bartender nodded and continued cleaning cups and serving guests drinks while the security guard retreated to his post.

I turned my attention back to the woman who caught my attention, a feat very few women could boast of, to be honest. Her eyes seemed empty and she swayed slightly on her bar stool. I almost felt.. a bit of sympathy for her. Almost.

“Hey. You alright?” I pulled up a stool and sat down on the stool next to her, placing a hand on her shoulder to steady her.

“Wh-who are you?” She blinked at me with an unfocused gaze.

“My name is Adrian,” I said with a gentle tone that surprised me. When was the last time I was this gentle with a woman? “What’s your name?”

“Jo..J…Joyce. Wh….why are you here?” Her head lolled to the side as she slurred.

“Because you don't look so good. You look like you need help.”

“I'm perfectly fine on my own.”

“No, you're not. Talk to me, what's going on?” It felt a bit odd, questioning a drunk woman about her affairs but rumors had it that drunk people often say the truth, so...it was worth a try.

“My….my sister and my fiance…how could they…they…they...” She let out a bitter laugh and her words trailed off. She buried her face in her palms and began to sob hysterically, attracting the attention of the patrons.

“Hey. It's alright, come on let's get you out of here.” I patted her back, trying to console her.

“No! I don't want to leave. I…. I…I need more drinks.” She pushed my hand away.

“I think you've had enough to drink for one night. Come on, let's go.” I gently grabbed her arm and helped her to her feet. She struggled for a while but under my firm grip, she relented and allowed me to lead her out of the casino.

I guided her towards my black Lamborghini parked right in front helped her to the passenger seat and buckled her in.

Hopping into the driver’s seat, I started the engine and drove through the city. Taking her back to my place wasn't an option; my parents were visiting and if they saw her, they'd think she was my fiance or something.

The next best thing would be a hotel. After searching for a while, I found a decent one and pulled up to the entrance.

“Come on Joyce. Let's get you settled.” I helped her out of the car and guided her into the lobby. The receptionist furrowed her brows curiously and to be honest, I didn't blame her but she still handed over a key without comment.

We got to the room and I sat her down on the bed.

“You need to rest. You've had a rough night.” I said.

“No. I don't need rest, I need to forget.” She looked up at me with bleary eyes and smudged makeup.

“You'll do a lot of forgetting tomorrow I assure you. For now, you need rest.”

“No!” She screamed so loudly, that I feared the receptionist would come knocking on the door. “Gabriel cheated on me with my sister. If he can do it, so can I.”

“That’s it. You're not thinking straight.” I understood the implication of her words and gave her space. There was no way I was going to have sex with a drunk woman.

“Don’t tell me I'm not thinking straight, I know what I want.” She stood, stumbling slightly but she moved closer to me. “I want to forget everything. I want to forget him.”

“Help me.” She placed her hand on my chest. “Help me forget. Just for tonight.”

“Joyce. You have no idea what you want right now.”

“Shut up and kiss me dammit!” She grabbed my collar and pressed her lips on mine.

I wanted to resist, but there was just something about her. The taste of her lips, her scent, everything just turned me on.

“Sh..stop.” I tried to pull away, but she held on and her shoulders moved up to my shoulders.

“Please, make me forget.” The seductive undertone in her voice was the final thing that broke my resistance.

“Fuck it.” I gritted my teeth and kissed back with growing intensity. She responded eagerly and tugged at my shirt, unbuttoning it expertly. I lifted her and she wrapped her slender legs around my waist as I carried her to the bed.

We fell onto the bed, kissing and tugging at our clothes desperately. I was fully aroused at this point and I knew there was no turning back.

“Are you sure you want this?” I broke the kiss off and asked.

“Yes…please...make me forget.” She claimed my lips once again and before I could process what was happening, our clothes were on the floor and for that night, she found solace in my touch and drowned out her pains.

Chapter Three

Joyce's POV

“What the hell?!” I cursed out loud and woke up feeling very disoriented. My head felt like it was slammed by a ceramic baseball bat continuously and my entire body ached.

Blinking my eyes, my vision cleared a bit and I saw the white paint of the room I had woken up in.

“My room is not painted white,” I muttered to myself, feeling confused and trying my best to remember how I got here, but my mind was a foggy mess.

“What the hell?” I realized I was naked as I moved to sit up. I never fell asleep naked so what the hell was happening? I felt a sharp pain in between my legs and suddenly fragments of memories from last night resurfaced.

Gabriel and Natalia’s betrayal, the casino, the endless booze, and then the hazy image of a handsome man in an expensive three-piece suit came to mind. He was tall and lean with wild blonde hair and stormy gray eyes.

“Adrian,” I whispered, remembering his name when he introduced himself to me at the bar. My cheeks burned in embarrassment as I remembered the hot, passionate sex we had last night.

“Great, I had sex with a stranger, no protection and I enjoyed it.” I slapped myself on the forehead. “Not your best next Joyce.” Despite how bad it looked, I couldn't deny that it was probably the best sex I had in years. Even better than when Gabriel…..

“Gabriel.” The painful reality of my situation came crashing down hard. I was supposed to be happily married in a few days to my dream man yet all my hopes and dreams were shattered in a single night.

Tears threatened to cloud my vision once again but I furiously cleaned my eyes. I wasn't going to cry because of this again. I had shed enough tears last night, it was time to face my new reality and rebuild.

I reached for my phone, the screen was filled with notifications of missed calls from friends who were probably worried about my safety. I should have called back but I honestly wasn't in the mood.

Scrolling through the list, I half expected to see at least one missed call from Gabriel, but there was nothing. No texts, no missed calls.

I chucked in self-mockery. I was still pinning for a man that had already forgotten about me.

With a sigh, I blocked and deleted both Gabriel's and Natalia's contacts.

I swung my legs over the side of the bed and stood up to go take a bath when something on the table caught my eye. It was a neatly folded note and a huge stack of cash. Curious, I walked over, picked up the note, and unfolded it.

“I’m sorry for what you're going through. I hope this helps - Adrian.”

I dropped the note and picked up the cash. It was a huge stack and I quickly counted it: 200,000 euros.

My blood slowed down significantly. Who did I run into that would give a stranger this much cash? Part of me wanted to reject the money as it felt like he was paying for the sex. I was not a whore.

But still, another part recognized my need for the money. With another deep sigh, I silently thanked him, dropped the money back on the table, and headed to the bathroom for a quick shower.

*****

Three weeks later, I found myself in the cramped bathroom of my apartment, hunched over the toilet seat and vomiting like a college student at a frat house on a Sunday morning. This was the third time I was vomiting today and I was already getting sick of it.

“This can't go on,” I muttered to myself and flushed the toilet. “I need to see a doctor.”

I grabbed my phone and keys, throwing on a jacket before heading out. I hailed a cab and directed the driver to the nearest hospital.

Once I arrived, I checked in with the receptionist and sat in the waiting area. A nurse called my name, and I followed her to an examination room. She took my vitals and asked some questions.

“Have you been experiencing any symptoms besides nausea?” she asked as she jotted down some notes on her clipboard.

“Fatigue mostly and a little bit of dizziness,” I replied.

“Alright, we'll run some tests to determine the cause. Please wait here, and the doctor will be with you shortly.”

I nodded and waited patiently. After a few minutes, the doctor entered the room.

“Good afternoon, Joyce. I'm Dr Martinez. I understand you've been feeling unwell?”

“Yes, this is the third time I've vomited today. I don't know what's wrong with me.”

“I see. Let's run some tests to get to the bottom of this, shall we?” He rose from his seat and motioned for me to follow him.

We went to the lab where a nurse drew blood and collected a urine sample. A quick ultrasound was also performed for good measure and I was directed back to the waiting room.

While waiting for the results. My thoughts flashed back to a particularly handsome stud I found myself yearning for these past few days. Adrian. Our meeting was just so….wait a second.

My blood went cold as a wave of realization hit me. After the night we had sex, I never took the morning-after pills. My mind connected the dots and my gut clenched as I earnestly prayed to God. I prayed the test results wouldn't be what I was thinking because if it was, I wouldn't know what to do.

“Alright, deep breaths.” I tried to calm myself down but the memory of Adrian's touch, his scent, and the passionate sex we had kept resurfacing.

“Joyce, the tests have come back and I have some news for you.” He began with a gentle tone.

I held my breath and braced myself, muttering silent prayers to whatever celestial being who cared to listen.

“Congratulations, you're three weeks pregnant.”

The words hit me like a speeding bullet train. Pregnant? My worst fears had come true. My mind went blank, the room started to spin and before I knew it, I passed out and collapsed into the chair.

Chapter Four

Gabriel's POV

Two years later

“You are worthless!” I grabbed a vase from the side table and hurled it against the wall in fury. Natalia gasped in shock as she watched my meltdown.

“What are you doing?!” She yelled.

“Shut up! All this would have been avoided if you just gave me an heir.” I hissed, grabbing a glass cup and smashing it to the ground. “It’s been two years. Two fucking years and yet you can't give me an heir.”

“How dare you, Gabriel!” Natalia’s eyes misted with tears which had zero effect on me. “There’s nothing wrong with me. I've been to the best doctors. Maybe, you’re the problem.”

I felt my anger rising even more. Did she just insinuate I was impotent? Me?

“Don't you dare turn this around!” I clenched my fists, trying my best not to lash out at her. “There's absolutely nothing wrong with me. You're the problem, you’re the one that's supposed to ensure the continuation of my legacy.”

“What legacy are you talking about, Gabriel? You're just a scumbag who uses people like puppets. I'm sick of you.” She screamed the tears she was holding for so long streamed down her cheeks.

“You don't understand anything. Acknowledge your mistakes and get yourself fixed woman.”

“I’m not a toy that needs fixing. Dammit.” She grabbed a vase in frustration and threw it in blind rage against the wall.

“Stop breaking things!” This argument was starting to become a screaming match. “You have no idea what's at stake here. My reputation….”

“Fuck your damn reputation!” She interrupted. “What about me? What about my feelings? My body? Do you think I haven't tried? Do you think I haven't suffered every time we fail?”

“Shut your foul trap woman!” I advanced towards her. “Don't you dare play the victim? I’ve done everything for you, given you everything. And you repay me by being barren? You’re absolutely worthless!” I hissed.

“You're a monster! You treat me like an incubator, not a wife. Maybe you're the one who is incapable you impotent hypocrite!”

Her words cut deep into my soul and before I knew it, my hand shot out and slapped her right across the face. The force sent her staggering backward, her hand flew to her cheeks as she gasped in shock. Her cheeks turned a deep crimson.

“You…..you...you hit me.” She whispered in disbelief.

“I should have never married you in the first place. You were a mistake. A huge mistake.” I finally spat out the words I kept bottled in for so long.

Her eyes widened in shock and her face paled. “Wh…What do you mean?”

“I mean, I would have been better off with Joyce. At least she understood me and never made me feel like a failure.”

“Joyce? That whore that took everything from me since we were a child?” Natalia’s voice broke but I didn't care. “You can't be serious. You would compare me to my sister? The woman you betrayed to be with me? How dare you. How dare you bring her into this!”

“Get out, I can't bear to look at you right now.” I waved her off.

Natalia let out another scream of anguish and ran out of the room

“Dammit!” I grabbed another glass, ready to smash it against the wall, But I stopped myself in the nick of time. The room was already a mess so what good will another broken item be?

Instead, I picked a bottle of whiskey and filled the cup with it.

Downing the content in a single gulp, I felt the burn of the alcohol and my mind began to wander back to a time when I had the best woman in the world all to myself. Joyce.

How had it all gone so wrong? I had fallen for Natalia's seduction so badly that it made me ignore all my family's warnings and cancel my marriage with Joyce to marry her sister. Now, she couldn't even give me what I desired the most. A child, an heir to my empire.

I downed the whole bottle and slumped on the chair. I badly wanted to hear her voice once again. Reaching for my phone, I typed in her number. It was crazy how after all these years, I still remembered her number even after I deleted it.

With trembling fingers, I dialed.

As expected a message flashed on the screen. “This number has blocked you.”

“Damn it!” I hurled the phone onto the bed in rage. Of course, she blocked me. After what I did to her, why would she want anything to do with me?

An urge to see her suddenly overwhelmed me. I wanted to know how she was doing, and how she was coping after all these years. After some thinking, I decided to visit her place.

I grabbed my jacket and stepped out of the room, calling my driver while I was at it.

“Get the Mercedes ready, We're going to Calle de Alcalà.”

The driver nodded and hurried to prepare the car. I stepped out of my villa as the car pulled up. Stepping in, the driver drove out of my compound and headed towards her home.

The drive felt interminable, as I replayed memories of Joyce in my mind. The look on her face when I left her, the pain I caused. I had to make things right, even if it was just to apologize.

We arrived at her apartment building after almost an hour. I could feel the eyes of the neighborhood on me but I didn't care. I was not here for them, I was here for Joyce.

I got down from the car and gulped, trying to calm my nerves as I walked towards the front door. After a brief hesitation, I rang the doorbell.

My heart pounded in my chest as I waited.

“Coming!” A voice sounded from inside.

Chapter Five

Joyce's POV

“Coming!” I answered when the doorbell rang. I hurried to open it, expecting to see the babysitter, instead, it was the mailman with a few letters in his hands.

“Good morning, Ms. Joyce,” He greeted as he handed the mail to me.

“Thank you,” I replied with a wide smile and took the letters. “Have a lovely day!”

“Same to you ma’am.” He responded and sped off on his bike.

I sighed and stepped back into my modest apartment at La Latina. Inside, Rafael, my two-year-old kid was in the living room, surrounded by toys and making a mess like he usually does.

“Mama, look!” He held up a stuffed dinosaur in the air.

I laughed happily and set the mail on the counter. It’s been two years. Two whole years after my tragic break up with Gabriel and my unexpected pregnancy. At first, I was in denial and wanted nothing more than to have an abortion. I wasn’t ready to raise a child then especially when I didn't know the father but with the doctor’s persistent pleas, I was convinced and now, I could say this was the best decision of my life.

“You’re such a strong boy,” I knelt at his level and gave him a warm hug.

He giggled and ran around the living room pretending to be a dinosaur. Watching him play felt so fulfilling and a warm feeling coursed through me. Despite everything, Rafael was my light and I swore that I would give him the best that this world had to offer.

“Rafael, the babysitter will be here any time soon. Mama has to go to an important interview today.” I called him over and ruffled his long hair. “Also, I really think you need a new haircut today.”

“I don’t need a haircut.” He pouted his lips

“If you get a haircut, I'll buy you your favorite chocolate.” I offered and his eyes lit up.

“Really?”

“Yes, only if you get a haircut.”

“Alright mama, I will.”

“Good boy, now play with your toy, I have to get ready.”

I kissed his forehead and quickly went to my room to shower and change. After a quick shower, I chose a navy blue suit that was both stylish and appropriate for the interview. I mean, you have to look your sharpest when you’re having an interview with one of the biggest companies in Spain.

I quickly dressed up and fixed my hair in the mirror. Satisfied with my appearance, I walked towards the living room and I heard the doorbell again. This time, it was the babysitter.

“Hi, Joyce!” Christie greeted me cheerfully.

“Hi, thank you so much for coming on such short notice,” I said, letting her in.

“It’s no trouble, at all. Hi, Rafael!” she called, waving to my son who responded with an excited “Hi”.

“Rafael, be good for Christie alright? No funny business. Mama will be back soon,” I kissed him lovingly on his forehead.

“I’ll be good mama.” He promised

After ensuring my son was settled, I grabbed my bag and headed out the door. Hailing a cab, I called out the address of the famous Santoria Industries.

As we drove, I could not stop thinking about the interview. I was vying for the position of personal assistant to the CEO of Santoria Industries which was one of the most prestigious jobs I could ever hope for. Even though little is known about the identity of the CEO, I wasn’t really concerned about that. My only focus was getting this job and providing a stable future for my son.

The taxi slowed down as we approached the Santoria Industries’ massive building. It was a modern construct of massive proportions that towered above the rest of the city’s skyline.

“Breathe, Joyce. You got this.” I took a deep breath to calm my frayed nerves. This was a chance to turn things around, I wasn't going to fumble it.

“Thank you so much,” I said to the driver and handed him the fare before stepping out of the car.

Straightening my posture and adjusting my blazer, I walked into the building. I was awestruck by the grandeur of Santoria Industries. The interior was just as impressive as I could have hoped.

I gulped and timidly approached the reception desk where a woman greeted me with a friendly smile.

“Good morning. How can I help you today?”

“Good morning,” I replied. “I’m here for an interview for the position of personal assistant to the CEO.”

“Of course, what’s your name?”

“Joyce Sanchez.”

“Welcome Ms Sanchez. If you could please sign in here and take a seat, someone will be with you shortly.”

I nodded and signed the register. Taking a seat in the waiting area, my eyes kept wandering around the lobby and admiring the sheer opulence of the place.

Everything screamed class and sophistication which made me feel more self-conscious and out of place.

After a few minutes, a young woman in a smart suit approached me.

“Ms. Joyce? Please follow me.”

I nodded and followed her through the corridors. We eventually arrived at a smaller area outside a conference room.

“You can wait here. The interview panel will be with you shortly.”

“Thank you,” I sat down and smoothed my skirt. To kill time, I went over my resume and practiced answers to potential questions in my head. I did not want to miss a single detail as nothing but perfection would be accepted by me.

After another short wait, a different woman came out of the conference room and addressed me.

“Ms. Joyce, we’re ready for you.”

I stood up and clutched my portfolio, offering a silent prayer to God, and walked into the conference room. Inside, three people sat behind a long table. They sized me up and introduced themselves.

The interview began with the usual questions about my background, previous work experience why I was interested in the position, what I could offer the company, and why I was a good fit. I answered those fairly well, and then we moved to questions about my strengths, my weaknesses, and how I handled difficult situations.

I answered each question as confidently as I could. I was somewhat sure I did well because they were impressed by the confidence in my tone. After what felt like an eternity, the interviewers nodded in satisfaction.

“Thank you, Ms. Joyce, we’re impressed with your qualifications one of the interviewers stated. The final step of the interview process is meeting with the CEO. If you could please wait for a moment, I'll escort you to his office.”

My heart pounded against my ribs. This was it. I was about to meet the mysterious CEO of Santoria Industries. I had managed to impress the interviewers, if I could just impress the CEO then this job was mine.

One of the interviewers led me through the hallway until we reached a set of imposing double doors. She knocked lightly and almost immediately, a deep voice from within responded.

“Come in!” The voice boomed and I furrowed my brows. Something about this voice felt familiar to me. I couldn't place my finger on it but I could swear that I'd heard that voice somewhere before.

The door swung open and we both entered the tastefully furnished office. Seated behind the massive mahogany desk in a high-backed leather chair, was the mysterious CEO.

“I’ve brought the chosen candidate for the job, sir.” The interviewer said with a slight bow.

“Leave us.” He waved his hand and focused his gaze on me.

“Good morning sir,” I took a few steps forward and got a good look at his face.

“No way?!” My heart stopped for a split second and my breath seized for a moment.

It was him.

Chapter Six

Adrian’s POV

“Miss? Kindly focus. You seem a bit distracted. Why are you staring into space?” I asked the woman before me, my voice snapping her back to reality.

“I-I’m sorry sir. It won't happen again.” She blinked, a bit flustered then took a deep breath to steady herself. I could see her cheeks blush a rosy pink.

I narrowed my eyes on her. She was still jittery that much I could tell but there was something about her that made me feel unsettled and I could swear that I had seen her face before. It was….weird in a way.

I tried to recall where I had seen her pretty face but my memory drew blank. I couldn't remember.

“Sit, let's see whether you're a nice fit for this job.” I directed her to sit before me. I proceeded with the interview, asking her the usual questions about her experience, skills, and why she wanted the position. She answered everything well enough but I still couldn't shake off that strange sense of familiarity.

The more she spoke, the more my instincts screamed that I'd met this woman before.

We finished the interview and maybe it was my curiosity, maybe it was my gut instincts but I decided to give this beautiful woman before me the job.

“Well congratulations,” I said, standing up and extending my hand. “You've got the job. Welcome onboard.”

She heaved a sigh of relief but she was still jittery and flustered. Just as she reached out to shake my hand, everything clicked. The familiarity, the shock on her face, the reason she seemed so off balance - it all made sense suddenly.

“Wait a second.” I said sharply “Do you have any affiliations with Gabriel Moreno? The CEO of Cielo Azul Enterprises?”

Her hand froze mid-air and I caught the look of shock on her face. But that slowly changed into a look of disappointment. Disappointment? Why was she disappointed??

“I was…his former fiancee. But things didn't work out.” After a few minutes, she sighed and responded.

His fiancee? This was odd. Very odd, almost too coincidental that she would end up in my office. Gabriel Moreno was my biggest business rival, an enemy that I hated with everything in me, and now his ex-fiancee was standing here, on the verge of working for me.

“Well...would you look at that.” I smiled, trying to put her at ease. “Life is full of surprises, isn't it? But don't worry, you'll find working with me very enjoyable. I look forward to seeing what you bring to the table, Miss….”

“Joyce,” she replied with a soft tone.

“Joyce?” I furrowed my brows. I've heard that name somewhere before and no, this wasn't about seeing her once with Gabriel, I couldn't quite picture the scene yet.

“Is something wrong?” She asked with hopeful eyes.

“No. Everything's….fine.” I decided to just let it be. It was probably my mind and imagination playing some funny tricks on me.

“Oh.” Her face fell. “Alright, thank you.”

“Congratulations once more, you'll begin working next week Monday,” I said. She replied with an unenthusiastic nod and left my office.

“Strange,” I muttered to myself as I watched her retreating figure, still trying to place where the hell had I seen her before. There was something beyond her connection to Gabriel that nagged me to no end, I just couldn't place my finger on it.

“I hate this feeling.” I tousled my hair in frustration. After a few minutes of deep thinking, I decided to let it go - for now. She would be starting work on Monday, which would give me plenty of time to figure it out.

I sat down on a chair, hand on my chin and mind wandering. Another idea was taking shape in my mind. Gabriel Moreno, the man who had been a thorn in my side for years, had just lost something to me. What I didn't know is how important he would value Joyce even after their break up. This was something I wanted to find out. The thought of using this to my advantage was too tempting to resist.

A devious smirk tugged at the corner of my lips as I reached for my phone. This should be fun.

I dialed Gabriel's number, using my private line so he wouldn't recognize it immediately. After a few rings, he picked it up.

“Who is this?” Gabriel's voice came through the line.

“Gabriel, my old friend.” I struggled to hold back a chuckle. “I’m surprised you don't recognize my voice.” I drawled, relishing the confusion I could almost feel on the other end.

“Adrian? What the hell do you want?” A growl escaped his throat which made me laugh out loud.

“Oh man, you should hear the sound of your voice,” I said casually and leaned back in my seat. “Actually, I wanted us to have a little chat. I was wondering if you happen to know anyone by the name, Joyce?”

There was a long pause on the other end, followed by a sharp intake of breath which didn't fly past my observation. “How the hell do you know about her?” Gabriel's voice was tense and defensive which could only mean one thing. She was still important to him.

“Well..it seems your ‘former’ fiancee has found herself a new job. Interesting how the world works isn't it? She's my new PA starting Monday.”

The silence that followed was almost deafening. My smirk widened as Gabriel tried to process what I just told him.

“You bastard.” After a while, he hissed. “You stay the hell away from her, do you hear me?”

I laughed loudly, knowing fully well that it would grate his nerves.

“And why would I do that Gabriel? She's an employee now, my employee. And from the sound of it, you still care about her very much. How...interesting.”

“Adrian, I’m warning you…”

“Warn all you like Moreno. But she's working for me now. And who knows? Maybe we’ll get to know each other better. After all, it's a small world.”

Before he could respond, I ended the call and chuckled to myself. The look of anger and hatred on his face — if only I could have seen it. This would have been a lot more fun!

I placed my phone down and relaxed, my thoughts wandering about the beautiful woman who would start working for me next week.