BENEATH THE BILLIONAIRE'S SECRET

Elena Carter took a deep breath before stepping through the grand revolving doors of Vasquez Hotels. The scent of expensive cologne and freshly polished marble filled the air. She had spent weeks preparing for this moment, but nothing could have braced her for the sheer opulence of Dante Vasquez's empire.

A sleek chandelier hung above the lobby, casting golden hues on the mahogany reception desk. Employees in crisp suits moved efficiently, barely sparing a glance at the new architect joining their ranks. Good. She wanted to blend in, not stand out.

Her heels clicked against the floor as she approached the front desk, presenting her employment documents. The receptionist, a woman with impeccably styled hair, glanced at her name before flashing a rehearsed smile.

"Elena Carter, welcome to Vasquez Hotels. Mr. Vasquez has requested to meet with you personally before you begin."

Elena's heart skipped a beat. This wasn't part of the plan. She had expected to start unnoticed, to navigate her way through the company's files before anyone paid her much attention. But meeting Dante Vasquez on day one? That was dangerous.

Still, she nodded, masking her unease. "Of course."

The elevator ride to the top floor was smooth, but her pulse wasn't. She had studied Dante Vasquez, watched countless interviews, and read every piece of information available. Ruthless, calculating, devastatingly charming when it suited him.

When the elevator doors slid open, she was met with floor-to-ceiling windows that framed the city skyline. A massive, glass-top desk stood at the center of the room, behind which sat the man himself.

Dante Vasquez.

He looked up from a document, piercing dark eyes locking onto hers. He was even more intimidating in person-towering, sharp-jawed, and dressed in a suit tailored to perfection. His presence alone made the air heavier.

"Elena Carter," he murmured, his voice smooth, assessing. "Welcome to my company."

She forced a polite smile. "Thank you, Mr. Vasquez. It's an honor."

He leaned back in his chair, studying her. "I make it a point to personally meet every high-profile hire." His tone was casual, but his gaze was anything but. "Tell me, Ms. Carter, what made you interested in working for Vasquez Hotels?"

The question was simple. The answer was anything but.

Because you destroyed my father.

Because I need to uncover the truth.

Because I need to bring you down before you do the same to someone else.

Instead, she smiled. "Vasquez Hotels is a leader in innovation. It would be an incredible experience to be part of such a prestigious brand."

He didn't blink. If anything, his expression darkened, as though he saw straight through her. "A very polished answer."

Elena's stomach tightened. Had she misstepped?

Then, to her surprise, he smirked, standing and buttoning his suit jacket. "Let's see if your work speaks as smoothly as your words."

He gestured toward the door, dismissing her. "Welcome to the game, Ms. Carter."

As she stepped out of his office, she exhaled slowly.

Game? She wasn't here to play. She was here to win.

Elena spent the rest of the day familiarizing herself with the office, her heart still hammering from the encounter with Dante. She had been prepared for an intimidating presence, but the way his gaze had lingered, the way he had watched her, unsettled her. Had he sensed something was off? Had she given herself away already?

She settled into her new workspace, a sleek glass cubicle overlooking the lower floors. It was functional, professional, and perfect for her mission. As she pulled out her laptop, she began mapping out her access points-what files she needed, who she had to watch.

A soft knock interrupted her thoughts.

"Elena?"

She turned to see a tall, slender woman with warm brown eyes and an easy smile standing at her desk. "I'm Rachel," the woman said, extending a hand. "Welcome to the team. I'm in marketing, but I like to meet all the new faces."

Elena shook her hand, grateful for the normalcy. "Nice to meet you."

Rachel leaned in slightly, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "So, you already met the boss, huh? Not everyone gets a personal audience with Dante Vasquez on day one."

Elena feigned nonchalance. "Guess I got lucky."

Rachel smirked. "Or unlucky. Depends on how you look at it."

Elena arched a brow. "Why do you say that?"

Rachel glanced around as if ensuring no one else could hear. "Dante Vasquez doesn't just meet people for no reason. If he has his eye on you, it means one of two things-you're either incredibly talented or incredibly dangerous."

Elena's stomach twisted. "And which one do you think I am?"

Rachel laughed lightly. "Too early to tell." She patted Elena's shoulder. "Just a friendly warning-watch your step. People who get too close to him either rise fast or fall hard."

Elena nodded, watching as Rachel walked away. She turned back to her computer screen, swallowing down her unease. She couldn't afford to be distracted. She had a mission to complete.

That night, she stayed late, waiting until most employees had left. She had found a list of restricted files in the company database-financial records, old contracts, confidential correspondence. If there were any traces of what happened to her father, they would be in there.

She inserted a flash drive into her laptop and began running a data transfer. The progress bar crept forward painfully slow. 10%. 20%...

A noise behind her made her freeze. A presence.

"Elena."

Her blood turned to ice.

She turned slowly to find Dante standing in the doorway, arms crossed, watching her with an unreadable expression.

"What are you still doing here?" he asked.

She forced a casual smile, despite the racing of her heart. "Just finishing up some work."

He stepped forward, closing the distance between them. "Work," he echoed. "On your first day?"

Elena swallowed. "I like to be thorough."

His gaze flickered to the laptop screen behind her, then back to her face. He studied her for a long moment, and for the first time, she wondered if he had already figured her out.

Then, he smiled-a slow, dangerous curve of his lips.

"I admire dedication," he said smoothly. "But be careful, Ms. Carter. Working late in a place like this... You might find yourself deeper than you intended."

Her pulse pounded, but she kept her expression steady. "I can handle myself."

Dante held her gaze for a beat longer, then gave a slight nod. "I hope so."

With that, he turned and walked away, leaving Elena gripping the edge of her desk.

As soon as he was gone, she exhaled shakily, turning back to her screen. The transfer had been completed.

She had what she needed. But now, there was no doubt about it-Dante Vasquez was watching her.

And he was playing his own game.