The Heiress He Underestimated novel Chapter 2

The Heiress He Underestimated

Chapter 2 Orders And Obedience

Elera woke up at 5 AM like she did every morning. She pulled on her running clothes and tied her hair back. The morning jog was part of her routine, and if anyone was watching, they would see exactly what they expected to see–a rich girl with too much time on her hands.

The streets were quiet this early. She ran through the park, letting her mind work through the problem of Zephyros Valdris. She had done some basic research on him last night. Successful businessman, wealthy family, impeccable reputation. But there had been something in his eyes yesterday. Something calculating.

At 6:30 she was back home, showered, and sitting at her vanity getting ready for the day. Her phone buzzed.

It was her father.

“Lunch today. 1 PM. Don’t be late.”

No please. No asking if she was available. Just orders, as always.

She arrived at the restaurant at exactly 1 PM. Her father was already seated, and he wasn’t alone. Three of his business partners sat around the table, all men in their fifties with expensive suits and dismissive expressions.

“Elera, darling, you remember Mr. Chen, Mr. Rousseau, and Mr. Williams?”

“Of course.” She smiled and took her seat. “It’s lovely to see you all again.”

“Your father tells us you’ve caught Zephyros Valdris’s eye,” Mr. Chen said, looking at her like she was a moderately interesting painting. “Quite a coup for a girl with your… limited prospects.”

Her father laughed, actually laughed. “Now, now, Elera may not be a businesswoman, but she has other qualities. Don’t you, sweetheart?”

“I try my best, Daddy.”

“She’s a sweet girl,” her father continued, as if she wasn’t sitting right there. “Not much going on upstairs, but she’s pretty and well–mannered. That’s all Valdris really needs in a wife anyway.”

The men chuckled. Mr. Rousseau leaned forward. “Just make sure you don’t try to involve yourself in his business affairs, my dear. Men like Valdris don’t appreciate women who overstep.”

“Oh, I would never,” she said, widening her eyes. “Business sounds so complicated. I don’t think I could understand it even if I tried.”

“Smart girl,” Mr. Williams said approvingly. “Know your limitations. That’s rare these days.”

The lunch continued like that for another hour. They talked around her, about her, occasionally to her–but always with that same condescending tone. Like she was a child who needed simple words and patient explanations.

When she finally escaped, she sat in her car in the parking lot and gripped the steering wheel. Her hands were shaking slightly. Not from anger–she had learned to control that years ago. Just from the exhaustion of maintaining the act.

Her phone buzzed. The unknown number again.

“How was lunch?”

She stared at the message. Whoever this was, they were watching her closely. “Fine.”

“Liar. I saw your face when you walked out.”

Despite herself, she felt a small smile tug at her lips. “Who are you?”

“Does it matter? I’m someone who sees you, Miss Nethys. The real you. Not the mask.”

Her heart skipped a beat. “There is no mask. I am exactly what I appear to be.”

“If you really believed that, you wouldn’t have hacked into Valdris’s email last night.”

Her blood went cold. She looked around the parking lot, but saw no one watching. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Of course you don’t. Just like you don’t know anything about the security flaw in his system that you exploited at 11:47 PM. Impressive work, by the way. Most people wouldn’t have found that backdoor.”

She sat very still. Someone knew. Someone had been monitoring her while she thought she was being careful.

“What do you want?” she typed.

“To meet you. The real you, not the act you put on for your father and his friends.”

“Why?”

“Because I have a proposition. One that might save you from Valdris and whatever he’s planning.”

She thought about the emails she had found last night. The detailed plans Xan had for humiliating her. The photos and videos he wanted to collect. It had made her sick to read, but it had also told her exactly what kind of man he was.

“I’m listening.”

“Not over text. Meet me tomorrow. The Meridian Hotel, penthouse suite. 3 PM.”

“I have dinner plans with Xan.”

“Cancel them.”

He leaned in slowly, giving her time to pull away. When she didn’t, he kissed her softly. It was gentle, respectful and designed to make her feel cherished.

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