The Billionaire's Secret Heir, His Greatest Regret

Elena's POV

The man who destroyed my family had just offered me three million dollars to save his company.

And the worst part?

I was seriously considering accepting it.

I stared at the contract on my desk, my fingers resting against the name printed across the first page.

BLACKWOOD GLOBAL.

Five years ago, that name had destroyed everything I loved.

My father's business. Our family's reputation. The future I had spent years planning.

And somewhere in the middle of that destruction stood a man who had introduced himself to me as Daniel Reed.

A man whose real name was Alexander Blackwood.

A man who had no idea he was the father of my four-year-old son.

"Please tell me you're not thinking about signing that."

I looked up as Sophie Bennett entered my office carrying two cups of coffee.

"Good morning to you too."

"Elena."

She placed my coffee on the desk and pointed at the contract.

"Tell me that's not what I think it is."

"It depends. What do you think it is?"

"A terrible idea wrapped in an expensive business proposal."

I almost smiled.

"Then you're correct."

Sophie dropped into the chair opposite mine.

She had been my best friend since university, my lawyer through countless difficult decisions, and one of the few people who knew everything about Alexander Blackwood.

Including Noah.

"Three million dollars," she murmured, reading the first page. "Six months of consulting services. Full access to their internal crisis-management records."

"Impressive, isn't it?"

"Suspicious is the word I'd use."

I leaned back.

Blackwood Global was facing allegations of financial misconduct involving one of its investment subsidiaries. Shareholders were demanding answers, regulators were reviewing transactions, and the company's reputation was deteriorating.

They needed someone to manage the crisis.

Apparently, they wanted me.

"What bothers me," I said, "isn't the money."

Sophie raised an eyebrow.

"That's new."

I slid another document across the desk.

"Look at the third paragraph."

She read silently.

Then her expression changed.

"Meridian Capital?"

I nodded.

Meridian Capital had acquired the remaining assets of Hart Financial Advisory five years ago.

My father's company.

The business he had spent twenty-seven years building before confidential documents were leaked and accusations of fraud destroyed his reputation.

The acquisition had happened so quickly that we barely understood what we had lost.

And Alexander Blackwood's company had benefited from it.

"Elena," Sophie said carefully, "this doesn't necessarily mean the scandals are connected."

"I know."

"But you think they are."

"Don't you?"

She didn't answer.

I looked toward the window.

Five years ago, I had been twenty-four, hopeful, and foolish enough to believe that people were generally honest.

Then I met Daniel Reed at a charity gala.

He had been charming without being arrogant, attentive without being intrusive.

For one evening, he made me feel like the most interesting woman in the room.

We talked about our families, our ambitions, and the lives we wanted.

He told me he worked in investment management.

He never mentioned being the billionaire heir to Blackwood Global.

I never imagined the stranger I trusted would become the man I hated most.

By the following afternoon, my father's company was under investigation.

Within days, Daniel had disappeared.

And when I finally discovered his real identity, Alexander Blackwood wanted nothing to do with me.

"You're thinking about him," Sophie said.

"I'm thinking about what happened to my father."

"That's not the same thing."

"No," I admitted. "It isn't."

My phone vibrated.

A photograph appeared on the screen.

Noah stood in my mother's kitchen wearing his blue school uniform and holding a toy dinosaur.

Underneath, my mother had written:

Your son says dinosaurs don't need breakfast. I've explained that little boys do.

Despite everything, I laughed.

Sophie leaned forward.

"How's my favourite little troublemaker?"

"Currently negotiating with Grandma over breakfast."

"Definitely your child."

I studied the photograph.

Noah had my stubbornness, my love of questions, and an extraordinary talent for turning every room into a construction site.

But his dark eyes belonged to someone else.

Every year, he looked more like Alexander.

And every year, the secret became harder to carry.

"Has he asked about his father again?" Sophie asked.

I nodded.

"Yesterday. He wanted to know whether his daddy likes dinosaurs."

"What did you tell him?"

"That I didn't know."

Sophie reached across the desk and squeezed my hand.

"You can't keep avoiding that conversation forever."

"I know."

I had never wanted Noah to feel unwanted.

But how was I supposed to explain that his father had disappeared before I even knew I was pregnant?

That the man responsible for half his existence was also connected to the worst period of my life?

"He deserves the truth," Sophie said gently.

"He does. When he's old enough to understand it."

"And Alexander?"

My expression hardened.

"Alexander doesn't get to walk into our lives simply because he owns half of Manhattan."

Sophie sighed.

"Then be careful about walking into his."

At four that afternoon, I called Blackwood Global.

A polished female voice answered.

"Executive administration. How may I assist you?"

"This is Elena Hayes from Hayes Strategic Consulting. I'm calling regarding your proposal."

"Of course, Ms. Hayes. We've been expecting your response."

I frowned.

"Who recommended my firm?"

"Your successful handling of the Westbridge Industries crisis attracted our attention."

That explanation made sense.

My team had recently helped Westbridge recover from a damaging executive scandal. The work had earned us recognition and several new clients.

Still, something felt wrong.

"Who approved the invitation?"

"The executive committee."

"Was Alexander Blackwood personally involved?"

A pause.

"I'm afraid I can't confirm that."

Of course.

"Who will attend the initial meeting?"

"Mr. Nathan Cole, representatives from our legal department, and Mr. Blackwood himself."

My stomach tightened.

Alexander.

After five years, I would finally stand in front of him again.

"Tomorrow at nine?" the woman asked.

I stared at the photograph of Noah on my desk.

I could decline.

I could protect the peaceful life I had spent years building.

Or I could walk into that building and perhaps discover why my father's company had been destroyed.

"I'll be there," I said.

That evening, Noah was waiting for me at my mother's apartment.

"Mommy!"

He ran toward me before I had properly closed the door.

I crouched and caught him.

"There's my handsome boy."

"I built a castle!"

"Really?"

"With seven towers. Grandma said it was too big."

From the kitchen, my mother protested.

"I said it was too big for the dining table!"

Noah giggled.

I kissed his forehead.

For a moment, everything felt simple.

Then he touched my cheek.

"Mommy?"

"Yes, sweetheart?"

"Does my daddy know how to build castles?"

My smile faltered.

"Why do you ask?"

"Because Oliver's daddy helped him build a spaceship."

I swallowed.

"Your daddy might know how."

"Can I meet him?"

The question struck harder than I expected.

I pulled him closer.

"Maybe someday, sweetheart."

He considered that.

"Okay. But he has to like dinosaurs."

I laughed softly.

"I'll make sure he knows."

Later, after Noah fell asleep, I sat beside his bed for several minutes.

He deserved more than uncertainty.

He deserved answers.

And perhaps it was finally time I found some.

The following morning, I arrived at Blackwood Global headquarters fifteen minutes early.

The glass skyscraper towered above Manhattan, its entrance crowded with executives carrying expensive briefcases.

I adjusted my navy blazer.

I wasn't the frightened young woman Alexander had abandoned.

I owned a successful consulting firm.

I had raised my son.

I had rebuilt my life.

Whatever happened today, I would not let him see me break.

A receptionist escorted me to the forty-second floor.

"Mr. Cole will join you shortly."

"Thank you."

I entered the conference room and placed my briefcase on the table.

Moments later, a tall man in a charcoal suit appeared.

"Elena Hayes?"

"Yes."

"Nathan Cole. Chief operating officer."

We shook hands.

"I've heard excellent things about your firm," he said.

"Thank you."

"We're hoping you can help us uncover what's really happening."

"That depends on how much access you're prepared to give me."

Nathan smiled.

"Straight to business. I like that."

Before I could respond, the door opened.

"Alexander," Nathan said. "Perfect timing."

I turned.

And forgot how to breathe.

He stood in the doorway wearing a black suit, his dark hair neatly styled, his expression cold and controlled.

Five years had changed him.

He looked older, harder, more powerful.

But I recognised him instantly.

The stranger from the charity gala.

The man who had held me close and promised to call.

The man who never did.

His eyes met mine.

For one brief moment, his composure vanished.

"Elena?"

Nathan looked between us.

"You know each other?"

I forced myself to stand straighter.

"We've met."

Alexander took one step forward.

"Elena, I've been trying to find you."

A bitter laugh almost escaped me.

"Really?"

His jaw tightened.

"Can we talk privately?"

"Whatever you have to say can wait, Mr. Blackwood. I'm here for business."

Something flickered across his face.

Regret, perhaps.

But regret couldn't return five stolen years.

Before he could answer, my phone vibrated against the table.

A message from my mother illuminated the screen.

Noah wants to know if his daddy has a name. What should I tell him?

I reached for the phone.

But Alexander had already glanced down.

His eyes narrowed.

"Noah?" he repeated quietly.

My heart slammed against my ribs.

I locked the screen.

"That's personal."

Alexander looked at me for a long moment.

Then he asked the one question I had spent five years dreading.

"Elena... do you have a child?"