The Billionaire's Heir I Never Knew Was Mine novel Chapter 96

Chapter 96: Did My Dad Force You?

The next day at the Imperial Hotel, the atmosphere inside the executive floor was unusually quiet, wrapped in the kind of silence that always seemed to settle before something unpleasant happened.

Zoey Sterling stepped out of the elevator with her usual poise and grace.

Everything about her exuded unquestionable control. Her calm expression, her graceful posture, and the effortless authority that made people instinctively lower their voices around her.

But the moment she opened the door to her office, that sense of control slipped away.

Someone was already inside.

Seated comfortably on the single sofa near the tall windows was a man who looked entirely too relaxed for someone who had entered the CEO’s office without permission.

Zoey was speechless when she saw Riley so early in her office.

He didn’t stand when she entered. He didn’t greet her. He didn’t even bother pretending that this situation required an explanation.

He simply looked at her nonchalantly.

Still, the intensity of his gaze alone was enough to make most people uncomfortable. It was sharp, as if he had been waiting there for a long time and had no intention of leaving until he got what he came for.

Zoey stopped near the door for the briefest moment. Then she smiled. Not a nervous or offended smile, but a calm one.

"Well, Riley..." she said lightly as she closed the door behind her. "This is new. Breaking into my office early in the morning? Are you trying to show off your street skills?" Her brow lifted slightly. "Should I compliment you or should I be concerned?"

Riley didn’t answer. His expression remained unreadable.

Zoey wasn’t surprised. In fact, his silence only confirmed what she had already guessed the moment she saw him sitting there.

He hadn’t come for a casual visit. But she had expected that.

So she calmly walked past her desk and headed directly toward the seating area, her movements smooth and composed.

Then, she sat down on the sofa opposite him and reached for the landline beside her.

"Can you bring two warm teas?" she said calmly into the receiver. After a short pause, she added, "And make sure it’s not the one that tastes like regret."

Another pause followed.

"Yes. That one."

She hung up and finally gave him her full attention.

Riley was still staring at her.

"What brings you here so early and without prior notice, Riley?" she asked, her voice light but threaded with quiet curiosity.

Silence answered her.

Zoey sighed softly, resting her arm against the armrest.

"If you came here just to stare at me," she said dryly, "the least you could do is offer a warm regard with friendly talk first. Otherwise, I’ll assume you’re occupying my time for nothing."

Still nothing from Riley.

Their eyes remained locked, neither of them willing to look away first, as if surrendering eye contact meant surrendering something far more important.

After another second passed, a knock interrupted the silence.

"Come in," Zoey called.

The door opened carefully, and her secretary stepped inside carrying a tray with two cups of tea. Her secretary, obviously, tried to hide her surprise at finding Riley there. Her gaze flickered briefly between Zoey and Riley, clearly sensing the heavy tension in the room, before she quickly placed the tray onto the table between them.

"Anything else, ma’am?" she asked tensely without losing her politeness.

"No," Zoey replied smoothly, never taking her eyes off Riley. "That will be all."

The secretary nodded quickly and left the room without another word.

Once the door closed, silence settled between them once more.

Zoey reached for her tea first.

Riley followed a second later.

Neither of them spoke while taking a sip, their gazes still locked over the rims of porcelain cups. The quiet no longer felt empty now. Filled with words neither of them had spoken yet.

When Zoey finally placed her cup back onto the saucer, the soft clink sounded unnaturally loud in the room.

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